Can Having Sex During Periods Lead to Pregnancy?

A widespread fertility misconception is that a woman cannot get pregnant while on her period. While your chances of becoming pregnant are decreased on days when you’re on your period, they’re not zero.If you’re relying on your menstrual cycle as a form of birth control, you might be surprised to learn that having sex during periods can cause pregnancy. Sure, it’s one of the less fertile times of the month but having unprotected sex during periods can increase the chances of pregnancy. Here’s what you need to know about fertility and having sex during periods.

Can Sex During Periods Cause Pregnancy?

The most likely time for a woman to become pregnant is during her menstrual period when the ovary releases an egg in a process known as ovulation. The egg then proceeds to the uterus, where it can be fertilized by a sperm cell.

The average menstrual cycle is 28 days, according to the Office on Women’s Health. Ovulation occurs 12 to 14 days before your next period starts.

After ovulation, the egg has only 12–24 hours to live. As a result, for pregnancy to happen, it must come into contact with a sperm cell at this moment. If a person has sex during periods for five days before and on the day of ovulation, they are most likely to become pregnant.

Because a woman with a 28-day cycle, has increased fertility between days 10 and 17 days where the first day of cycle is the 1st day when periods start till the day when next periods start.

The chances of getting pregnant depends on three major factors that include:

1. The length of a woman’s menstrual cycle.
2. Monthly variations in ovulation timing.
3. The time period for which the sperm survives inside a female’s body.

Menstrual cycles are still considered “normal” if they occur every 24–38 days but cycle length varies greatly from person to person. People who have shorter menstrual periods may ovulate sooner than those who have longer cycles.

It’s tough to know when a person is in their fertile period because of the huge difference in menstrual cycle duration and ovulation time.

Furthermore, sperm can survive for 3–5 days inside a female’s body which means that a person can become pregnant even if they have sexual contact 5 days before ovulation. According to some studies, having sex on the day before ovulation has the same likelihood of resulting in pregnancy as having sex during periods.

​​During menstruation, the body excretes blood, an unfertilized egg, and tissue from the uterine lining. An average female will bleed for about 5 days, though bleeding for shorter or longer lengths of time is also normal. So, while having sex during periods may result in pregnancy, it is unlikely to happen.

Positive Effects of Having Sex During Periods

Here are a few positive effects of having sex during periods:

1. Relief from Cramps

Menstrual cramps may be relieved by orgasms. During periods, your uterus contracts to release its lining, which causes menstrual cramps. Similarly, your uterus muscles contract multiple times while you have an orgasm and then muscles release. Period cramps should be relieved as a result of this release. Sex also releases hormones known as endorphins, which make you feel euphoric. Plus, engaging in sexual activity diverts your attention away from your period discomfort.

2. Shorter Periods

It’s possible that having sex during periods will make your periods shorter. During an orgasm, muscle contractions force the uterine fluids out faster. This could lead to shorter periods.

3. Increased Sex Drive

Hormonal changes affect your libido during your menstrual cycle. Many women claim that their sex desire increases during ovulation, which occurs approximately two weeks before their periods, while others claim that they feel more turned on throughout their period.

4. Natural Lubrication

Blood acts as a natural lubricant while you have sexual intercourse during periods. So, in this case, you don’t need to use store-bought lubricants for pleasure. 

5. May Relieve Your Headache

Migraine headaches strike about 50% of women during their periods. Despite the fact that most women with menstrual migraines avoid having sex during their symptoms, many of those who do say it partially or totally resolves their headaches.

Side Effects of Having Sex During Periods

The biggest negative effect of having sex during periods is the mess. If you have a high flow, blood can stain you, your partner, and the linens. Bleeding might make you feel self-conscious in addition to tainting the bed. Anxiety over making a mess might detract you from the pleasure during intercourse.

Another concern about having sex during periods is the chance of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as HIV or hepatitis. These viruses exist in the bloodstream and can be transferred by coming into contact with contaminated menstrual blood. When you have sex, always use condoms to lower your chance of spreading or contracting an STI.

If you intend to have sex during periods and are using a tampon, you must remove it first. During intercourse, a forgotten tampon can be pushed so high up into your vagina that it must be removed by a doctor.

Conclusion

Although it is possible to become pregnant while on your period, it is rather unlikely.

The odds of getting pregnant during or immediately after a menstrual cycle are determined by when a person has sexual contact, the length of their menstrual cycle, and the specific day they ovulate during that menstrual period. Because of these considerations, predicting the exact timing and duration of the fertile window is difficult.

This, combined with the fact that sperm can survive for up to 5 days, explains why specialists urge those who do not want to get pregnant to constantly use contraception. People who want to conceive can track their ovulation and check their fertility to improve their chances.
It is beneficial for a person to know how long their menstrual cycles are and when they generally ovulate, regardless of whether they want to start or avoid a pregnancy. Although having sex during periods can cause pregnancy, it is less likely for those with longer cycles.