What the chance of getting pregnant after your period

Can you get pregnant right after your period? How to tell

If someone ovulates soon after their period ends, then has sex in the days around ovulation, they could become pregnant.

It is theoretically possible to get pregnant at any point in the menstrual cycle, especially if their cycle is often irregular. This means they could become pregnant before, during, or straight after a period.

This article explores how it is possible to get pregnant right after a period, factors that increase the chances, and how to prevent unplanned pregnancy.

A person can get pregnant right after their period.

For this to occur, they have to have sex near the time of ovulation, which occurs when the ovaries release an egg.

The closer to their period a person ovulates, the higher their chances of becoming pregnant right after a period. And the closer to ovulation that a person has sex, especially if they have sex before ovulation, the higher the odds of pregnancy.

A 2019 study used data about more than 225,000 periods from a fertility monitoring app. The study found that a person may get pregnant by having intercourse from 7 days before ovulation up to 1 day after ovulation.

Most females ovulate toward the middle of their menstrual cycle, around day 14 and almost always before day 20.

Day 1 of a person’s menstrual cycle is always the first day of their period, so the average person’s ovulation occurs around 2 weeks after their period starts.

For a person whose ovulation timing hovers near the average, it would be possible to get pregnant by having sexual intercourse as early as day 7, right after a period, and sometimes while still bleeding.

Therefore, for people who do not wish to conceive but want to have sex during this time, it is still important to use birth control.

However, it is important to note that becoming pregnant at this time is unlikely. Therefore, for people trying to conceive, it is better to have sex around 12–14 days before the next period begins.

A 2019 study used data from a fertility app to compare more than 600,000 menstrual cycles. It found that people with very short cycles usually ovulate around day 10. However, it is important to note that the study took place in a group of around 600,000 people, and this particular effect occurred in fewer than 1% of cases.

Someone with a short cycle who had sex in the days leading up to the moment of ovulation could theoretically get pregnant as early as 3 days after the start of their period.

Anyone can become pregnant right after their period.

A 2018 article found that a healthy person’s cycle can vary by up to 9 days a year. Therefore, even someone who normally ovulates around day 17 or 18 might occasionally ovulate much earlier.

A person may be more likely to become pregnant during or right after their period if they:

frequently have unprotected sex
have a very short or irregular menstrual cycle
are over the age of 40 years and approaching menopause. A 2002 study found that women aged 40–45 ovulated slightly earlier in their cycles than younger women.

The chances of becoming pregnant vary from person to person and from cycle to cycle.

On average, a 30-year-old person’s odds of getting pregnant are about 20% per cycle, assuming they are having unprotected sex.

By the time someone is 40, the figure is less than 5% on average. However, individual fertility varies greatly, so some 40-year-olds may be significantly more fertile than some 25-year-olds.

The odds of becoming pregnant also depend on when a person has sex relative to ovulation. An app-based study of people who were trying to get pregnant found the average chances of pregnancy were as follows:

Timing of sex relative to ovulation	Average chance of pregnancy
7 days before ovulation	3%
6 days before ovulation	6%
5 days before ovulation	9%
4 days before ovulation	18%
3 days before ovulation	27%
2 days before ovulation	33%
1 day before ovulation	42%
the day of ovulation	20%
the day after ovulation	8%

Therefore, people should not rely on when their period is due to decide whether to have sex.

The most crucial factor is ovulation. A period indicates the beginning of a new cycle, but it reveals little about when a person might ovulate.

The most effective strategy for avoiding pregnancy is to refrain from sex. Sexually active people who do not wish to become pregnant should use contraceptives such as condoms or birth control.

Using two methods can offer additional protection, for example, when a person uses both hormonal birth control and condoms.

Several fertility monitoring techniques make it easier for a person to pinpoint their fertile window and avoid sex or use contraceptives during this time.

These methods are more effective if a person has regular periods. Some fertility monitoring strategies include:

Charting basal body temperature: A person’s morning body temperature usually rises shortly after ovulation.
Using ovulation predictors: These tests typically give a positive result a day or two before ovulation, but it is possible to get a positive without ovulation.
Looking for fertile cervical fluid: Thick cervical fluid with a texture similar to raw egg whites indicates ovulation is approaching.
Checking cervical position and texture: Some females find that the position and texture of their cervix changes throughout their cycle.

The most reliable pregnancy symptom is a missed period followed by a positive pregnancy test.

Many pregnant people do not have symptoms early in the pregnancy, just as many people who are not pregnant have symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

Some potential early pregnancy symptoms include:

nausea
vomiting
dizziness
fatigue
aversions to certain foods and smells
breast pain
more frequent urination

Home pregnancy tests are reliable, especially if a person waits until the day their period is due.

If the test is negative, try waiting a few days. This gives levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) time to rise, increasing the likelihood of a positive result.

A doctor or midwife can test for pregnancy using blood or urine tests that may be more sensitive than a home pregnancy test. It is not typically possible to see a developing baby on an ultrasound until several weeks into the pregnancy.

A doctor or midwife can test for pregnancy, check for normal fetal development, and advise about early pregnancy health.

A healthcare provider can also help discuss a person’s options for managing an unintended pregnancy.

Pregnancy is not an emergency, and it is safe to wait a few weeks to speak with a healthcare provider unless a person wants to monitor HCG levels or has pregnancy-related health questions.

Call a healthcare provider if a person experiences:

intense abdominal pain
bleeding during pregnancy
nausea so severe that they are unable to keep down any food

The timing of a person’s period does not have much to do with when they can become pregnant.

Moreover, a person can have bleeding from something other than their period.

Therefore, counting the days after a period is not an accurate way to determine the likely time a person might get pregnant.

It is safer trying to pinpoint the likely time of ovulation, as well as the days of fertility that come before and after.

Can you get pregnant right after your period? How to tell

If someone ovulates soon after their period ends, then has sex in the days around ovulation, they could become pregnant.

This article explores how it is possible to get pregnant right after a period, factors that increase the chances, and how to prevent unplanned pregnancy.

A person can get pregnant right after their period.

For this to occur, they have to have sex near the time of ovulation, which occurs when the ovaries release an egg.

Most females ovulate toward the middle of their menstrual cycle, around day 14 and almost always before day 20.

Day 1 of a person’s menstrual cycle is always the first day of their period, so the average person’s ovulation occurs around 2 weeks after their period starts.

Therefore, for people who do not wish to conceive but want to have sex during this time, it is still important to use birth control.

However, it is important to note that becoming pregnant at this time is unlikely. Therefore, for people trying to conceive, it is better to have sex around 12–14 days before the next period begins.

Someone with a short cycle who had sex in the days leading up to the moment of ovulation could theoretically get pregnant as early as 3 days after the start of their period.

Anyone can become pregnant right after their period.

A 2018 article found that a healthy person’s cycle can vary by up to 9 days a year. Therefore, even someone who normally ovulates around day 17 or 18 might occasionally ovulate much earlier.

A person may be more likely to become pregnant during or right after their period if they:

frequently have unprotected sex
have a very short or irregular menstrual cycle
are over the age of 40 years and approaching menopause. A 2002 study found that women aged 40–45 ovulated slightly earlier in their cycles than younger women.

The chances of becoming pregnant vary from person to person and from cycle to cycle.

On average, a 30-year-old person’s odds of getting pregnant are about 20% per cycle, assuming they are having unprotected sex.

By the time someone is 40, the figure is less than 5% on average. However, individual fertility varies greatly, so some 40-year-olds may be significantly more fertile than some 25-year-olds.

Timing of sex relative to ovulation	Average chance of pregnancy
7 days before ovulation	3%
6 days before ovulation	6%
5 days before ovulation	9%
4 days before ovulation	18%
3 days before ovulation	27%
2 days before ovulation	33%
1 day before ovulation	42%
the day of ovulation	20%
the day after ovulation	8%

Therefore, people should not rely on when their period is due to decide whether to have sex.

The most crucial factor is ovulation. A period indicates the beginning of a new cycle, but it reveals little about when a person might ovulate.

The most effective strategy for avoiding pregnancy is to refrain from sex. Sexually active people who do not wish to become pregnant should use contraceptives such as condoms or birth control.

Using two methods can offer additional protection, for example, when a person uses both hormonal birth control and condoms.

Several fertility monitoring techniques make it easier for a person to pinpoint their fertile window and avoid sex or use contraceptives during this time.

These methods are more effective if a person has regular periods. Some fertility monitoring strategies include:

Charting basal body temperature: A person’s morning body temperature usually rises shortly after ovulation.
Using ovulation predictors: These tests typically give a positive result a day or two before ovulation, but it is possible to get a positive without ovulation.
Looking for fertile cervical fluid: Thick cervical fluid with a texture similar to raw egg whites indicates ovulation is approaching.
Checking cervical position and texture: Some females find that the position and texture of their cervix changes throughout their cycle.

The most reliable pregnancy symptom is a missed period followed by a positive pregnancy test.

Many pregnant people do not have symptoms early in the pregnancy, just as many people who are not pregnant have symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

Some potential early pregnancy symptoms include:

nausea
vomiting
dizziness
fatigue
aversions to certain foods and smells
breast pain
more frequent urination

Home pregnancy tests are reliable, especially if a person waits until the day their period is due.

If the test is negative, try waiting a few days. This gives levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) time to rise, increasing the likelihood of a positive result.

A doctor or midwife can test for pregnancy, check for normal fetal development, and advise about early pregnancy health.

A healthcare provider can also help discuss a person’s options for managing an unintended pregnancy.

Pregnancy is not an emergency, and it is safe to wait a few weeks to speak with a healthcare provider unless a person wants to monitor HCG levels or has pregnancy-related health questions.

Call a healthcare provider if a person experiences:

intense abdominal pain
bleeding during pregnancy
nausea so severe that they are unable to keep down any food

The timing of a person’s period does not have much to do with when they can become pregnant.

Moreover, a person can have bleeding from something other than their period.

Therefore, counting the days after a period is not an accurate way to determine the likely time a person might get pregnant.

It is safer trying to pinpoint the likely time of ovulation, as well as the days of fertility that come before and after.

Is it possible to get pregnant immediately after menstruation

PreviousNext

Why is it considered impossible to get pregnant after menstruation?
What is the chance of getting pregnant immediately after menstruation?
If you can get pregnant after your period, why do people use the calendar method?
Why can you get pregnant after menstruation?
- Is it possible to estimate my individual risk of getting pregnant right after my period?
- Is it possible to improve the reliability of the calendar method?

What is the probability of getting pregnant immediately after menstruation, what factors affect this, is it worth relying on calendar calculations? We will answer your questions.

Some women use the calendar method of contraception. It consists in calculating the period when fertilization is impossible. At first glance, the method seems to be quite reliable, because it is based on modern medical knowledge. However, the practice of obstetrics and gynecology shows that the result of its use is often an unplanned pregnancy ¹ .

Why is it considered impossible to get pregnant after menstruation?

Since ancient times, scientists have understood that the menstrual cycle is associated with the likelihood of pregnancy. Reasoning about this is found in the writings of Hippocrates, in ancient Chinese treatises on medicine, and in other ancient sources. At the beginning of the 20th century, doctors completely decided on how conception occurs, and realized that it was possible for a very short period after ovulation - the release of an egg from the ovary into the fallopian tube. Shortly thereafter, the Ogino-Knaus method (this is the scientific name for the calendar method) appeared.

What the Japanese and Austrian gynecologists have suggested can be expressed like this:

According to the adherents of the calendar method, it is impossible to get pregnant during the first seven days of the cycle. From the 8th day after the start of menstruation, you can get pregnant until the 19th day. From the 20th day, the sterile period begins again. These calculations have a sound grain and even a scientific basis, but they are based on the idea of \u200b\u200bthe ideal menstrual cycle and do not take into account many different accidents. And they, as you know, sometimes happen.

What is the probability of getting pregnant immediately after menstruation?

In medicine, there is such a thing as the "Pearl index". This indicator reflects the effectiveness of various methods of contraception and is equal to the number of unplanned pregnancies during the year per 100 women. If the index for some method of protection is low, this means that the method is effective, if it is high, the method does not work well.

Combined oral contraceptives ² have a Pearl index less than 1 (one unplanned pregnancy within a year among 100 random women using this method). Condoms have 2 or slightly higher, taking into account force majeure that can happen to them during intercourse. One of the most unreliable methods of contraception - coitus interruptus - shows an index of 22 ³ . The calendar method even beats him: according to experts, the Pearl index for this method is from 24 ¹ and higher, i.e. about a quarter of women who are protected only according to the calendar are convinced of the ineffectiveness of the method from their own experience.

Here is the answer to the question, what is the probability of getting pregnant after menstruation is very high. All it takes is a small calculation error, a tiny change in the menstrual cycle, an unusual set of circumstances - and you are faced with a choice of what to do with an unplanned pregnancy.

Another important question: is it possible to get pregnant during menstruation? Read in this article.

If you can get pregnant after your period, why do people use the calendar method?

At first, the calendar method was promoted by the Roman Catholic Church. It was believed that believers should not use any other method of contraception, except for this - natural. Thus, in Western countries, the nickname "Vatican roulette" was firmly entrenched behind the unreliable calendar method ⁴ . These days, the church no longer takes this position, but there are people who continue to use this method for religious reasons.

The method is popular in poor countries for a quite banal reason: contraceptives cost money, and you can look at the calendar for free. To help these women, a special "contraceptive necklace" ⁵ has been developed. It looks something like this:

The red bead near the clasp indicates the first day of menstruation, the white beads indicate the days on which the probability of pregnancy is minimal, the blue ones indicate the fertile period. There is a ring on the necklace that needs to be moved every day.

In developed countries, couples most often practice the calendar method due to the reluctance of men to use condoms, and women to take “hormonal pills”. And, of course, because many are still convinced of the effectiveness of this roulette.

Why can I get pregnant after menstruation?

Because the human body is very complex, and sometimes all sorts of unexpected situations happen. Here are just a few of them:

In an ideal menstrual cycle, ovulation occurs 14 days before the onset of menstruation ⁶ . In reality, the maturation of an egg in the ovary can begin as early as the last days of menstruation, and its release almost immediately after it ends. The reason for this may be a change in hormonal levels, severe stress and other factors.
Once in the vagina, spermatozoa find themselves in a highly acidic environment and die within a few hours. However, those that have reached the cervix or the uterus itself can remain alive for up to 3 days, in some cases even longer ⁷ . Thus, it may happen that sexual intercourse took place on a safe day, but tenacious spermatozoa waited for the release of the egg.
Often women tend to think of any bleeding as menstruation. However, it can also occur for other reasons, such as cervical erosion or too violent sex. Confusing such bleeding with the onset of menstruation, you can make a very serious mistake in the calculations.

Is it possible to estimate my individual risk of getting pregnant immediately after my period?

There are a number of conditions that increase the chance of getting pregnant after your period. If you have one of them, you are at increased risk:

Irregular menstruation
Very short cycle, less than 21 days
Prolonged menses, more than 7 days

Even if you've happily ruled out all of these factors, don't assume that you or your partner don't need protection right after your period. Pregnancy should be desired and planned. Until you are going to become a mother, use more reliable methods - barrier (condom, diaphragm, uterine cap) or hormonal (combined oral contraceptives, intrauterine device, and others).

If you suspect that fertilization could have occurred, learn how to detect pregnancy before menstruation from our article.

Is it possible to improve the reliability of the calendar method?

It is possible, and there is even a special term for this - the symptothermal method of fertility recognition (STMRP). In addition to tracking the cycle according to the calendar, it includes monitoring the basal temperature and the condition of the cervical mucus. The day before ovulation, the basal temperature rises by about half a degree compared to normal, and the mucus in the cervix becomes wet and viscous.

This method has a low Pearl Index of less than 1, providing a chance of unplanned pregnancy at the level of hormonal contraceptives. But with one small caveat - only with the right understanding and the most precise observance of all procedures. If you decide to practice this method, it is advisable to undergo training under the guidance of a specialist. It will not be easy to master symptothermal diagnosis on your own.

Links to sources:

Hatcher, RA; Trussel J; Stewart F; et al. (2000). Contraceptive Technology (18th ed.). New York: Ardent Media. ISBNs 0-9664902-6-6.
Ammer, Christine (2009). The encyclopedia of women's health (6th ed.). New York: Facts On File. pp. 312–15. ISBN 978-0-8160-7407-5.
Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (June 21, 2013). U.S. Selected practice recommendations for contraceptive use, 2013: adapted from the World Health Organization Selected practice recommendations for contraceptive use, 2nd edition. MMWR Recommendations and Reports. 62(5): 1–60.
Vatican Roulette. Definition at Urban Dictionary.
Standard Days Method and CycleBeads ^® .
Geirsson RT (1991). Ultrasound instead of last menstrual period as the basis of gestational age assignment. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1(3):212–9.
Clubb E. Natural methods of family planning. JR Soc Health. 1986 Aug;106(4):121-6.

Authors: Huggies experts

Is it possible to get pregnant immediately after menstruation?

There are many methods of contraception with varying degrees of effectiveness. The popular calendar method, based on the calculation of ovulation days, is not very reliable. Based on it, conception is possible from about 12 to 17 days of the menstrual cycle, taking into account the life span of the egg. However, approximately 30% of women who used this method were able to get pregnant after menstruation and even during critical days. How doctors explain this situation and how conception during menstruation and the calendar method are related, we will consider below.

Physiologically, with a regular cycle, a woman is capable of conception at the time of maturation and release of a healthy egg from the ovary. This requires a period of 12 to 15 days, counting from the first day of menstruation. If during the "fertile window" there was sexual intercourse without contraception, then the probability of conception is high. In this case, the woman's body begins active preparation for bearing the fetus. The hormonal background changes, the uterus increases, changes occur in the mammary glands. If a woman does not become pregnant, hormone levels drop and after about 2 weeks, menstrual bleeding begins.

Is it possible to get pregnant immediately after menstruation, and what is the probability of conception connected with? There are several well-established causes:

Too long bleeding time (7-9 days). By the end of menstruation, the egg can already mature and leave the ovary. In this case, there is a high chance of getting pregnant after menstruation.
Irregular periods, in which it is impossible to understand exactly when ovulation occurred. By the way, therefore, with an irregular cycle, the calendar method is not recommended for calculating safe and fertile days.
The period after childbirth, when the menstrual cycle has not yet been established. When breastfeeding, menstruation may be absent for a long time. In this case, ovulation can occur and the probability of conception remains high.
Short menstrual cycle (19-21 days). Ovulation may occur by the time the bleeding ends.
Chronic use of certain drugs causes spontaneous ovulation.
Release of more than one egg. There is a possibility of maturation of two or more eggs at once, the release of which is not synchronized. The first may be fertilized at the beginning of the cycle at the end of menstruation.
Violation of the ovulation schedule. Most often, a woman can become pregnant immediately after menstruation, if she has suffered a cold, severe stress, and heavy physical exertion. Sometimes early ovulation occurs when the climate changes (a trip to the sea).
Bleeding that is not related to menstruation. We are talking about short-term spotting, provoked by various reasons, which are easy to mistake for the beginning of menstruation. At the same time, there is a high probability of becoming pregnant in the first days after the end of the discharge, since they are not associated with ovulation.

Based on these data, it is easy to understand why the calendar method is not always reliable and is not suitable for many women. What is the chance of getting pregnant immediately after menstruation? With a regular menstrual cycle, following all the rules and an accurate schedule of basal temperature, in 95% of cases it is impossible to get pregnant immediately after menstruation. However, if at least one condition is violated, the likelihood of becoming pregnant increases. It is important to remember something else: the possibility of conception on any day of the female cycle is 1-5%. This means that five out of a hundred women will be able to get pregnant after menstruation or even during critical days.

Therefore, if you stop using protection by having sex during critical days, then be prepared for the fact that you can become pregnant. Especially if you refuse contraception every cycle.

If you use the calendar method with the opposite goal - you want to get pregnant faster and try to determine the most favorable days for conception, then the optimal period for this is the middle of the cycle.

A more reliable way to determine ovulation is with a basal body temperature chart. It allows not only to determine the most suitable period to get pregnant, but also to show violations in the reproductive system in case of unsuccessful attempts at conception.