Can you Get Pregnant Just After Your Period Ends

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Preet Pal SB

There is a widespread problem that exists among many couples who are sexually active. It is that they are relying on what is considered the safe period of the month to engage in sexual activities without taking any precaution.

The odds of a woman getting pregnant after having sex right after her period is low, but it could actually happen to anyone. If you need to know more, then read on as this article seeks to answer the question of can you get pregnant just after your period ends?

It is possible for you to conceive right after your period ends as this time you are just starting to enter your fertility window. However, your chances will be very low in reality.

If you are having sex without using any birth control method, you can get pregnant or conceive at any time in your menstrual cycle, including during or immediately after your period. It will all come down to how long your menstruation lasts and the actual length of your menstrual cycle.

Understanding the Menstrual Cycle

In case you are not aware of this, your menstrual cycle will start on day one of your period and last up to day one of your next period.

Your most fertile time will be at ovulation – happens when your ovaries release an egg – which normally takes place twelve to fourteen days before the start of the next period.

This period is called the fertile window, and it’s the time when you’re more likely to conceive.

For a typical cycle that takes place every twenty-eight to thirty days, this fertility window is normally between day eleven and twenty-one.

It is important to point out that the sperm can survive inside the body sometimes for as much as seven days after a woman has sex.

You will be approaching your fertile window if your period last for five to seven days and you engage in sex immediately after.

This means you could get pregnant very soon after your period ends if you ovulate early, particularly if your menstrual cycle is naturally short.

If you have a short cycle and long periods, it is still possible for your ovaries to release an egg very quickly after your period ends. This egg can get fertilized as normal, and pregnancy occurs if and when that happens.

Of course, you should also remember that your chances of getting pregnant immediately after your period will increase each day after the bleeding stops.

If you have been trying to conceive desperately, then this will be a good time to have sex to increase your chances.

More Information about Your Chances of Conceiving

In addition to the above, you can get pregnant or conceive if your period has never come before, throughout your first period, or immediately after having sex for the first time.

It is also quite possible for you to become pregnant throughout the alleged safe period of the month even when your partner withdraws his penis before ejaculating.

Semen is normally released during sex, including the precum one, so any form of sex without protection could result in pregnancy.

There are also rare instances when women end up pregnant even though they did not have penetrative sex with their partner.

The sperm can be very resilient, lasting up to several days following ejaculation. This means that pregnancy is a definite possibility if either one of you has sperm on your hands or any other part of your body, and it comes in contact with your vagina.

If you are looking to conceive or get pregnant, one of the best ways to increase your chances is to invest in an ovulation testing kit.

There are many different types available today, ranging from the simple strips which test the urine to the digital computers which monitor things monthly.

It is often more difficult for women to detect ovulation without these tests.

Another, less accurate method of detecting ovulation is to measure basal body temperature (BBT). It is a widely used way to detect ovulation due to ease of the test.

In this method, women need to measure body temperature each day in the morning before starting any kind of activity. Ovulation is marked by 0.5-1.0° F rise in the BBT.

It is worth knowing that BBT test is less accurate than ovulation testing kits, and may fail to detect ovulation in some cases.

Bottom Line

There is really no safe period of the month to engage in sexual activities without using contraception and avoid getting pregnant. You could even conceive if you have sex during your period.

However, you will be more fertile at certain times during your menstrual cycle, and this is the period when you are more likely to conceive. At times, ovulation can occur within a few days after your period ends.

In addition, sperm could fertilize an egg three days or seventy-two hours after ejaculation. Aside from the chances of becoming pregnant, you also have the risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease, such as genital warts, chlamydia, or HIV/AIDs, so you should use contraception at all times when having sex.

If not, abstinence is the only sure way to avoid unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. You can talk to your medical doctor about the different contraception methods available to you.