Medically Reviewed by
Photo:Pixabay
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.
Hi, am Ellie. My period started Feb 27 and ended March 3. My bf and I have sex the 5th of March and he ejaculated inside can I get pregnant????
Hello Orlia, yes, though there is a small risk of this happening so soon after the end of your period, there is still a possibility that you might have conceived.
I had my periods on the 28th to 6th then had unprotected sex on the 13th to 16th and my cycle is 28 days. Can I conceive during this period?
Hello there Mary, click here to find out your most fertiles days.
Hi, i had flow on 20th Nov 2018 and ended on 25th Nov 2018. Had unprotected sex only once with my husband a week later and I’m breast feeding and bottle feeding my 1year old baby also. I’m confirmed pregnant. How’s that possible? Still can’t accept the fact!!!! please explain
Hi there Lele, many women think breastfeeding is a form of birth control. You can still get pregnant while having unprotected sex and breastfeeding.
Hello! I am Armie. I am married. I had my period last February 8 – 11. My husband and I had sex on these dates: 13, 14, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, and today. Can I be pregnant?
Thank you!
Hi there Armie, yes, hopefully you have conceived!
I had my period last January 22-28 i had unprotected sex last feb 1 early morning (4 days after my period). My cycle is usually 28/29 days. Is there a possibilty that i could be pregnant?
Hello Ching, yes you might be pregnant.
Hello
I had my period on the 22nd and ended on the 28th. I had unprotected sex on the 1st. My cycle is 28-30 days. Is there a possibly that i could be pregnant?
Hello Ching, yes there is a possibility of pregnancy.
hi, my period start from 27dec and ended on 31dec and i had unprotected sex on 31, then on 3 and 4january and this time my cycle was of 26days.What are my chances of getting pregnant?thanks
Hi there Mim, you might be pregnant. Take a pregnancy test to determine this.
Started period dec 9 ended on dec. 15 When is the period of ovulation or where I am most fertile and when am I not to avoid becoming pregnant?
Hi there Lu, use the below link to determine your most fertile days.
https://menstrual-cycle-calculator.com/
hi dear I had my period from 22 Nov to 30 Nov I had unprotected sex 31 could I be Pregnant.
Hello TG, there is not a high likelihood that you have conceived as a result of this.
Hi got my periods from 22nd- 25th can I get pregnant by having sex on 25th- 27th?
Hi there Dorcas, there is always a small risk of getting pregnant during unprotected sex. So we advise to use some form of contraception.
Hi my period started at 17-21 and I had unprotected sex with my bf last month. Is it possible for me to be pregnant?
Hello Jom, yes there is a possibility that you might be pregnant. Take a pregnancy test to confirm same.
Hi i’m Ashlyn , I had my period on 13th of this month. and on the night of 16th, I know I still have my period. Then on 17th (friday), we had an unprotected sex. Is there a big chance that i’ll get pregnant?
Hello Ashlyn, there is always a risk of pregnancy involved if unprotected sex takes place.
Hi
This is Mrs Saketh here… I had periods on 26th of October and it ended on 30th of October… I had unprotected sex on 1st November…. Is there any possibility of getting pregnant?
Hello Mrs. Saketh, there is always (though a small risk) a chance of pregnancy when you have unprotected sex.
Hi I had my period on 5th of this month which ends 9th and I had unprotected sex 10th the next day. And 20th I had unprotected sex again. Am 26 cycle what are my chances of getting pregnant. Am I pregnant.
Hello Chantell, due to the fact that you had unprotected sex, especially on the the 20th, your chances of having conceived are very high.
Hi
Am Jolie my periods started 23 sep and ended on 27 sep. I had unprotected Sex on 1st October. my cycle has been 22 to 23days. Could i be pregnant ?
Hi Jolie, with a cycle that short it is quite possible to get pregnant that soon after your period ended. According to the calculator you were fertile from the 27th to the 1st which means that you would have been fertile at that time. You should have already gotten your period around the 13th of this month so if you haven’t I would recommend a pregnancy test.