Menstrual Hygiene Day 2023: Myths vs Facts: Can You Get Pregnant While On Your Period

Friday, May 26, 2023, 10:18

Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed on 28 May every year. The day aims to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management. It was initiated by the German-based NGO WASH United in 2014 and the date 28 was chosen to acknowledge that 28 days is the average length of the menstrual cycle.

World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2023 theme is 'making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030.'

Can You Get Pregnant While On Your Period?

Whether you can get pregnant while on your period is a question that many have - after all, period sex is considered to be very pleasurable and intimate. The added pleasure is of course the 'extra lubrication' and the need to not use any protection and not having to worry about pregnancy (but please for the love of god, use protection- ALWAYS).

But, sorry to break it to you guys, YES, it is possible to get pregnant while on your period.

Let me explain it further, so, during a normal menstrual cycle, an egg is released from the ovary around the middle of the cycle. This egg is then available to be fertilised for around 12 to 24 hours. If sperm is present during this time, it is possible for it to fertilise the egg and conception to occur [1].

What are the chances of getting pregnant during periods?

The chances of getting pregnant while on your period are quite low, however, because the egg is usually only available for a very short window of time and sperm can only live inside the body for a maximum of 5 days. During your period, the uterus is shedding its lining, making it difficult for a fertilised egg to implant and therefore making conception unlikely [2].

That being said, it is still possible to get pregnant during your period. If you have intercourse without using any form of contraception, there's always a chance that sperm can fertilise an egg during the short window of time when one is released.

How to avoid getting pregnant during periods?

If you don't want to get pregnant, it's important to use contraception whenever you have sex. This includes during your period. The most effective forms of contraception are long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) and combined hormonal contraception (CHCs) [3].

These methods are highly effective at preventing pregnancy, and you don't need to remember to take them every day, making them a great choice for those who aren't comfortable with the idea of getting pregnant while on their period [4].

On A Final Note...

While it is not possible to get pregnant while on your period, as the egg is released from the ovaries at a different time than when menstruation occurs. However, it is possible to become pregnant shortly after your period ends, as sperm can live inside a woman's body for up to five days.

Therefore, if your period ends on a Monday and you have unprotected sex on a Wednesday, there is a chance you could become pregnant.