Can I Get Pregnant While On My Period?

Key takeaways: 

• It’s possible to get pregnant on your period, but only if you have a short cycle.

• The fertile window is only six days long, and for most people, this won’t coincide with days of menstruation.

• Tracking your cycle and understanding your pattern can help you know exactly when you’re fertile.

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A question so many of us have wondered at some point: “Can I actually get pregnant while I’m on my period?” It’s one of the most common (and totally valid) concerns people have. We all want to feel in control of our own reproductive health, and understanding how our bodies work is a big part of that. So let’s break it down with clarity, care, and no shame—just the facts you deserve to know.

Short answer: Yes, it’s possible. While this is rare, it is technically possible to get pregnant if you have PIV sex while on your period. This is due to sperm survival, as sperm can survive in the female reproductive system for up to five days (Beautiful Cervix Project, 2024).

Longer answer: Keep reading. 

We wrote this article so you can understand more about the answer because, like with so many things in women’s health, the full answer has more nuance. We believe it’s important to understand more about your body, especially when it comes to intimacy and the female reproductive system. 

Whether you're actively trying to get pregnant or simply getting to know your body better, understanding how your menstrual cycle works will give you confidence, clarity, and calm.

Understanding your menstrual cycle.

The menstrual cycle has four distinct phases: the menstrual phase (period), the follicular phase, ovulation, and the luteal phase. The cycle begins on the first day of your period — meaning the first day of full flow (spotting doesn't count) — and typically lasts between 21 to 35 days, though every woman’s body is different.

Learn more about the four phases in our blog here.

Ovulation is the time when your body releases an egg - usually occurs midway through your cycle, around days 13 to 15 in a 28-day cycle. However, this is just an average point. In reality, even people with a 28-day cycle do not always ovulate on day 14. One study found that less than 10% of women with a 28-day cycle ovulated on day 14!

Sperm can live inside the womb  for up to 6 days, meaning that if you have unprotected sex near the end of your period and ovulate a few days later, pregnancy is possible (Planned Parenthood Federation of America, 2025).

Keep in mind many of us will find that our menstrual cycles vary throughout our fertile years, and can be impacted by factors such as stress, travel,  exercise, and changes to diet. Many women also find they have shorter menstrual cycles as they get older and less predictable 

Pregnancy during your period is possible.

• During the early 1-3 days of your period, when bleeding is the heaviest, the chances of pregnancy are low to none.

• However, if you have a short cycle (for example, 21 days or less), you may ovulate earlier, making it possible for sperm to still be present when the egg is released.

• As mentioned, sperm can survive in the womb for up to 6 days. So, if you ovulate shortly after your period ends, and you've had sex near the end of your bleeding, there is a chance of becoming pregnant.

It may be less likely, but it can happen, especially in women with shorter cycles or irregular periods. 

If you’re not planning on getting pregnant, we’d advise you to have protected sex during your period, so you can use condoms or take other forms of birth control. 

We advise having protected sex regardless, as unprotected sex can result in STIs (sexually transmitted infections) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023).

Take care of your body during sex, at every stage of your menstrual cycle.

It’s always empowering to learn about your own body, and knowing more about when your most fertile times are - for pregnancy purposes or just to know - is a great step in taking care of and developing a deeper understanding of yourself.

Having sex on your period can be a wonderful experience, and you can learn more about it in our blog post here.

With love,
Vira