Can i get pregnant during my period?

Posted by Dr. Seth Feigenbaum

The answer is:It's possible - but highly unlikely.

The normal length of the menstrual period in a woman is 28 days. The days are counted from the first day of a period to the first day of the next period. The first day of a menstrual cycle is counted as day 1. That is the day when the period starts. Day 5 is the last day of the period. During the 12th to the 16th days, an egg from one of the two ovaries reaches maturity and it is released. It is immediately sucked up by one of the fallopian tubes. The fallopian tubes have receptacles in the shape of tulip ready to absorb the egg. An egg remains alive for 24 hours in the fallopian tube. If a sperm is present or reaches there during this period the egg gets fertilized and you become pregnant. If the egg is not fertilized in time it goes out with your uterine lining in the next period. It is during the period that the egg is being developed for release during the current cycle.

Not all women have the same length for their cycles. Some of them have cycles as short as 22 days. Women who have a shorter cycle ovulate earlier. The ovulation occurs a few days after the beginning of the period. The exact day of the ovulation can be determined by monitoring the basal body temperature(Read more about How to chart your temperature and cervical mucus). A sperm can remain alive in your reproductive system for up to three days. So, theoretically the sperm can survive until you ovulate again during the next cycle. If you have a shorter cycle the chances are that any day you can get pregnant. In contrast, those who have a constant 28 day cycle the fertile period is 12th day to 16th day.

It is normal to have breakthrough bleeding or spotting in between two periods. Sometimes it is mistaken for a regular period. This spotting occurs during ovulation, your most fertile time. The actual day of ovulation can vary as time taken for development of the egg within the ovary differs. To determine the exact ovulation day, ovulation kits are available in the market(Read more about Best reviewed ovulation predictor kit). Some of them are based on the peak of luteinizing hormone or LH. Others are based on rising estrogen levels.

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