• Published on: Aug 28, 2021
  • 4 minute read
  • By: Dr Rachana Choudhary

Can You Get Pregnant During Your Period? How Likely Is It?

  • WhatsApp share link icon
  • copy & share link icon
  • twitter share link icon
  • facebook share link icon

Can you get pregnant during your period? How likely is it?

In theory, you can get pregnant on your period. The chances of getting pregnant range between 1% to 5%, depending on when you ovulated and when your menstrual cycle starts.

Note: First talk with gynaecologist before trying anything here. They'll help figure out the best time for you to start an experiment (and take pills that will prevent pregnancy) - so any attempts are low-risk due to those precautions!

Lesson One: Doctor What's a Good Time?  If you're not ready for a child right now (or want one now), have follow-ups with the gynaecology doctor about what would be the best time for experimenting without risking it more than necessary (which is what makes following guidelines important).

If a woman is ovulating, it is possible to get pregnant. Ovulation can happen at any point during the menstrual cycle and women have an average of 14-24 eggs maturing in their ovaries at any given time. Sperm are known to remain alive inside the body for 5 days, so there's plenty of opportunity for pregnancy while on your period.

Sperm can survive outside the uterus for about 5 days after sex if deposited into fertile cervical mucus. The female reproductive tract becomes receptive to fertilization only about two days before ovulation takes place (release of an egg from one of the ovaries). But sperm may stay viable inside you or your partner's body anywhere from 3 up to five full days It is possible to become pregnant on your period. Though, it is not that common.

The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, from the day after your last one begins until the first day of the following cycle. That means you can get pregnant about two weeks out of every four—so 12 months out of every year and around 25% of a year. But for many women (10% or more), periods are irregular which makes contraceptive choices tricky when trying to track ovulation cycles and so more difficult to stay safe from pregnancy without risking an unplanned baby or STI exposure to have sex with their partner if they haven’t been using condoms during intercourse was broken hormonal contraceptive pill use so far during this new cycle Answer: This is more likely. The male orgasm happens when semen is sent into the vagina through penile ejaculation. Men usually produce millions of sperm every day and females ovulate only one egg per month, so what do you think?

I am sorry to say that some people conceive this way. But if you want to reduce your risk, it would be better for your partner to use a contraceptive like condoms or not have sex at all during your period. Other ways of getting pregnant on your period are by using in vitro fertilization or even with another man's sperm (heterosexual women can get pregnant from anal sex). The menstrual cycle is not a straight line, though it usually does start and end at the same time each month, so technically you can always get pregnant during your period. As doctors, we often discuss the risk of getting pregnant in terms of days past ovulation- with all other things being equal for two people who have sex on the day they ovulate (i.e., 12 days apart), one's chance of becoming pregnant is 12%. If it has been less than a day since ovulation, however, even if the female partner is bleeding (like right after her period), there is still sperm in her vagina that could potentially make its way up into her uterus and fallopian tubes enough to fertilize an egg from that cycle.

There are four indicators to know if you can get pregnant on your period. One, is the possible pregnancy? The possibility of getting pregnant in a cycle is high unless there was an illness or termination of pregnancy during that time. Two, Can women get their menstrual period while they’re pregnant? A woman's body does not produce enough natural hormones for her to have a monthly menstruation during her pregnancy because it is at its peak around the end of gestation (towards the 36 week mark). Three, Can you be fertile when on your periods?

When we ovulate our estrogen hormone levels rise and keep sperm alive up until halfway through our cycles when egg starts producing less estrogens.

It's possible because of ovulation that can happen mid-cycle. The odds change depending on certain factors like your cycles and whether you have any STDs. For instance, if an egg is just released from the ovary before menstruation starts then it has about 12 hours to fertilize with sperm so as long as there was recent intercourse at least 12 hours prior to a woman's first day of the period then it is definitely possible to get pregnant while on her period!

The best time for getting pregnant without birth control use is 4 days before your next period (the very next day before your yearly birthday). Birth control pills make it difficult for pregnancy so the chances are fairly low that you would become pregnant this

The chance of getting pregnant during your period is highly unlikely.  The probability that you’ll get pregnant during one menstrual cycle has been estimated to be approximately 1%. In order to conceive while menstruating, a sperm would need to make it past the fluids and reach the egg outside the uterus—that's a lot easier said than done. (e.g., about an inch away from impregnating a woman) Sperm does not actually live very long- typically less than 3 days at body temperature (we can't measure this precisely as sperm production is often unknown and fluid can make them last longer). It is possible to conceive a baby if it happens during ovulation, which typically occurs in the middle of your menstrual cycle.

In other words, there's reason to believe you can get pregnant while on your period as long as your periods are regular and you're ovulating at the time of conception. If we assume that an average woman has 280 days in her menstrual cycle, then any day from Day 91 through Day 365 would be the day when she could fall pregnant - assuming she had intercourse after the fertile window opened at around 4-6 pm on Day 11. As a rule of thumb, dating apps and sexual health websites recommend waiting until seven or more days after menstruation begins before having sex again.

There are a number of factors that play a role in this, chief among them timing. In general, most women ovulate about two weeks from the last menstrual period (LMP), or cycle day 13. A woman's menstrual cycle can be as short as 21 days or as long as 35 days, though long cycles are more uncommon than shorter ones. This means a woman could be pregnant if they have sex on around day 14-17 of their cycle after LMP if ovulation happens to fall on either those days or one day previous to any one of those days. If it is not even going to happen in the next 4-5 months but you would like to get pregnant and need some STD testing done.

Read Blog
Mosquito-Borne Diseases

Mosquito-Borne Diseases to Watch Out for in 2025

With changing weather patterns, longer monsoons, and rising humidity, 2025 is expected to see a spike in mosquito-borne illnesses across India. These diseases may seem common, but their symptoms can be severe—and in some cases, even fatal.

Let’s break down the mosquito-borne diseases to watch out for in 2025, their symptoms, risks, and how you can protect yourself and your loved ones.

 

What Are Mosquito-Borne Diseases?

These are illnesses spread by mosquito bites. When a mosquito bites someone infected with a virus or parasite, it can carry and transmit it to the next person it bites.

Mosquitoes like Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex species are the main culprits in spreading:

  • Dengue
     

  • Malaria
     

  • Chikungunya
     

  • Japanese Encephalitis
     

  • Zika Virus (less common in India)
     

 

Why 2025 Could Be a Riskier Year

Due to:

  • Heavy rainfall
     

  • Urban waterlogging
     

  • Higher humidity
     

  • Poor sanitation and stagnant water
     

…mosquito breeding will increase, especially during and after monsoon season. Experts suggest 2025 may see early outbreaks and longer illness durations.

 

1. Dengue Fever

Spread by: Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (bite during the day)
Symptoms:

  • High fever
     

  • Severe headaches
     

  • Muscle and joint pain
     

  • Skin rash
     

  • Low platelet count
     

Risks: If untreated, it can develop into Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, which causes internal bleeding and organ failure.

Test to confirm:

  • Dengue NS1 Antigen (early detection)
     

  • IgM/IgG antibodies
     

 

2. Malaria

Spread by: Anopheles mosquitoes (bite at night)
Symptoms:

  • Cyclic fever and chills
     

  • Sweating
     

  • Headaches
     

  • Vomiting
     

  • Muscle pain
     

Risks:
Severe malaria can affect the brain (cerebral malaria) or kidneys. Delayed treatment is dangerous.

Test to confirm:

  • Malaria antigen test
     

  • Peripheral smear test
     

 

3. Chikungunya

Spread by: Aedes mosquitoes
Symptoms:

  • Sudden fever
     

  • Joint pain that may last weeks or months
     

  • Headache
     

  • Rash
     

  • Fatigue
     

Risks:
Chronic arthritis-like symptoms may linger long after the virus is gone.

Test to confirm:

  • Chikungunya IgM Antibody test
     

 

4. Japanese Encephalitis (JE)

Spread by: Culex mosquitoes
Mostly affects: Children and young adults in rural or semi-urban areas

Symptoms:

  • High fever
     

  • Confusion
     

  • Seizures
     

  • Stiff neck
     

  • Vomiting
     

Risks:
Severe cases can lead to brain swelling, coma, or even death. JE has a vaccine available.

Test to confirm:

  • JE IgM Antibody ELISA
     

 

5. Zika Virus (Less Common but Rising Risk)

Spread by: Aedes mosquitoes
Symptoms:

  • Mild fever
     

  • Rash
     

  • Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
     

  • Joint pain
     

Special risk:
In pregnant women, Zika can cause birth defects like microcephaly.

Test to confirm:

  • Zika virus RT-PCR test
     

 

How to Protect Yourself in 2025

Here are easy steps to prevent mosquito bites and reduce illness risk:

Use Repellents

  • Apply mosquito repellents on skin and clothes
     

  • Use plug-in vaporizers or coils at home
     

Avoid Stagnant Water

  • Clear water from flower pots, coolers, and garbage areas
     

  • Clean water tanks and gutters regularly
     

Wear Full-Sleeved Clothes

  • Cover arms and legs, especially during dawn and dusk
     

Install Nets

  • Use mosquito nets around beds and windows
     

Get Tested Early

  • If you feel feverish or have symptoms after a mosquito bite, get tested quickly from trusted labs like SecondMedic.com, powered by Thyrocare
     

 

Conclusion

The year 2025 may bring fresh challenges in the form of rising mosquito-borne illnesses. Staying informed, preventing bites, and getting tested early are your best defenses.

Don’t wait for symptoms to worsen. Be alert, act early, and protect your loved ones from mosquito-borne diseases to watch out for in 2025.

See all

Live Doctor consultation
Live Doctor Chat

Download Our App & Get Consultation from anywhere.

App Download
call icon for mobile number calling and whatsapp at secondmedic