• Published on: Aug 28, 2021
  • 4 minute read
  • By: Dr Rachana Choudhary

Can You Get Pregnant During Your Period? How Likely Is It?

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Can you get pregnant during your period? How likely is it?

In theory, you can get pregnant on your period. The chances of getting pregnant range between 1% to 5%, depending on when you ovulated and when your menstrual cycle starts.

Note: First talk with gynaecologist before trying anything here. They'll help figure out the best time for you to start an experiment (and take pills that will prevent pregnancy) - so any attempts are low-risk due to those precautions!

Lesson One: Doctor What's a Good Time?  If you're not ready for a child right now (or want one now), have follow-ups with the gynaecology doctor about what would be the best time for experimenting without risking it more than necessary (which is what makes following guidelines important).

If a woman is ovulating, it is possible to get pregnant. Ovulation can happen at any point during the menstrual cycle and women have an average of 14-24 eggs maturing in their ovaries at any given time. Sperm are known to remain alive inside the body for 5 days, so there's plenty of opportunity for pregnancy while on your period.

Sperm can survive outside the uterus for about 5 days after sex if deposited into fertile cervical mucus. The female reproductive tract becomes receptive to fertilization only about two days before ovulation takes place (release of an egg from one of the ovaries). But sperm may stay viable inside you or your partner's body anywhere from 3 up to five full days It is possible to become pregnant on your period. Though, it is not that common.

The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, from the day after your last one begins until the first day of the following cycle. That means you can get pregnant about two weeks out of every four—so 12 months out of every year and around 25% of a year. But for many women (10% or more), periods are irregular which makes contraceptive choices tricky when trying to track ovulation cycles and so more difficult to stay safe from pregnancy without risking an unplanned baby or STI exposure to have sex with their partner if they haven’t been using condoms during intercourse was broken hormonal contraceptive pill use so far during this new cycle Answer: This is more likely. The male orgasm happens when semen is sent into the vagina through penile ejaculation. Men usually produce millions of sperm every day and females ovulate only one egg per month, so what do you think?

I am sorry to say that some people conceive this way. But if you want to reduce your risk, it would be better for your partner to use a contraceptive like condoms or not have sex at all during your period. Other ways of getting pregnant on your period are by using in vitro fertilization or even with another man's sperm (heterosexual women can get pregnant from anal sex). The menstrual cycle is not a straight line, though it usually does start and end at the same time each month, so technically you can always get pregnant during your period. As doctors, we often discuss the risk of getting pregnant in terms of days past ovulation- with all other things being equal for two people who have sex on the day they ovulate (i.e., 12 days apart), one's chance of becoming pregnant is 12%. If it has been less than a day since ovulation, however, even if the female partner is bleeding (like right after her period), there is still sperm in her vagina that could potentially make its way up into her uterus and fallopian tubes enough to fertilize an egg from that cycle.

There are four indicators to know if you can get pregnant on your period. One, is the possible pregnancy? The possibility of getting pregnant in a cycle is high unless there was an illness or termination of pregnancy during that time. Two, Can women get their menstrual period while they’re pregnant? A woman's body does not produce enough natural hormones for her to have a monthly menstruation during her pregnancy because it is at its peak around the end of gestation (towards the 36 week mark). Three, Can you be fertile when on your periods?

When we ovulate our estrogen hormone levels rise and keep sperm alive up until halfway through our cycles when egg starts producing less estrogens.

It's possible because of ovulation that can happen mid-cycle. The odds change depending on certain factors like your cycles and whether you have any STDs. For instance, if an egg is just released from the ovary before menstruation starts then it has about 12 hours to fertilize with sperm so as long as there was recent intercourse at least 12 hours prior to a woman's first day of the period then it is definitely possible to get pregnant while on her period!

The best time for getting pregnant without birth control use is 4 days before your next period (the very next day before your yearly birthday). Birth control pills make it difficult for pregnancy so the chances are fairly low that you would become pregnant this

The chance of getting pregnant during your period is highly unlikely.  The probability that you’ll get pregnant during one menstrual cycle has been estimated to be approximately 1%. In order to conceive while menstruating, a sperm would need to make it past the fluids and reach the egg outside the uterus—that's a lot easier said than done. (e.g., about an inch away from impregnating a woman) Sperm does not actually live very long- typically less than 3 days at body temperature (we can't measure this precisely as sperm production is often unknown and fluid can make them last longer). It is possible to conceive a baby if it happens during ovulation, which typically occurs in the middle of your menstrual cycle.

In other words, there's reason to believe you can get pregnant while on your period as long as your periods are regular and you're ovulating at the time of conception. If we assume that an average woman has 280 days in her menstrual cycle, then any day from Day 91 through Day 365 would be the day when she could fall pregnant - assuming she had intercourse after the fertile window opened at around 4-6 pm on Day 11. As a rule of thumb, dating apps and sexual health websites recommend waiting until seven or more days after menstruation begins before having sex again.

There are a number of factors that play a role in this, chief among them timing. In general, most women ovulate about two weeks from the last menstrual period (LMP), or cycle day 13. A woman's menstrual cycle can be as short as 21 days or as long as 35 days, though long cycles are more uncommon than shorter ones. This means a woman could be pregnant if they have sex on around day 14-17 of their cycle after LMP if ovulation happens to fall on either those days or one day previous to any one of those days. If it is not even going to happen in the next 4-5 months but you would like to get pregnant and need some STD testing done.

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Monthly Health Survey via SecondMedic App: A Smarter Approach to Preventive Healthcare

Monthly Health Survey via SecondMedic App: A Smarter Approach to Preventive Healthcare

Healthcare is gradually shifting from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. Traditional health models rely heavily on annual checkups or medical visits only after symptoms become severe. However, many chronic and lifestyle-related conditions develop silently over time. The Monthly Health Survey via the SecondMedic App addresses this gap by enabling continuous health monitoring and early risk identification.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and NITI Aayog, early detection and preventive care are critical to reducing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in India. Digital health tools play a key role in achieving this shift.

What Is the Monthly Health Survey?

The Monthly Health Survey is a structured digital questionnaire delivered through the SecondMedic App. It captures key health indicators such as:

  • recurring symptoms
     

  • lifestyle habits
     

  • stress and sleep patterns
     

  • nutrition and activity levels
     

  • chronic condition markers
     

By repeating the survey monthly, subtle health trends become visible.

 

Why Monthly Health Tracking Matters

Annual Checkups Miss Gradual Changes

Many health issues develop slowly. Annual tests may appear normal while symptoms quietly progress between visits.

Monthly surveys:

  • detect early warning signs
     

  • capture symptom patterns
     

  • identify lifestyle-related risks
     

 

Health Is Dynamic, Not Static

Stress, sleep, diet and activity fluctuate monthly. Regular tracking reflects real-life health variation more accurately than isolated tests.

 

How the Monthly Health Survey Works

Each month, users answer a guided set of questions related to:

  • physical symptoms
     

  • mental wellbeing
     

  • lifestyle behaviours
     

  • known medical conditions
     

The app analyses responses to highlight:

  • risk trends
     

  • symptom persistence
     

  • areas needing attention
     

This structured approach simplifies health awareness.

 

Key Health Areas Covered

Symptom Monitoring

Persistent fatigue, headaches, breathlessness or digestive issues are tracked across months to identify patterns.

 

Lifestyle Risk Factors

The survey captures:

  • sedentary behaviour
     

  • sleep quality
     

  • stress levels
     

  • dietary habits
     

These factors strongly influence long-term health outcomes.

 

Chronic Disease Indicators

For individuals with diabetes, hypertension or thyroid conditions, monthly monitoring supports better disease control and early escalation.

 

Role in Preventive Healthcare

Preventive healthcare focuses on stopping disease before complications arise.

Monthly health surveys support prevention by:

  • identifying risks early
     

  • prompting timely consultations
     

  • supporting lifestyle modification
     

  • reducing emergency care needs
     

WHO and NITI Aayog both highlight digital monitoring as a cornerstone of preventive health systems.

 

Benefits for Individuals

Early Awareness

Users become aware of health changes before symptoms become severe.

 

Empowered Decision-Making

Access to regular health insights encourages proactive lifestyle choices.

 

Reduced Anxiety

Structured tracking reduces uncertainty and fear about unexplained symptoms.

 

Better Doctor Consultations

Survey data provides doctors with a clearer health history, improving consultation quality.

 

Benefits for Chronic Care Management

For chronic conditions, consistency is key.

Monthly surveys help:

  • track symptom control
     

  • identify early deterioration
     

  • support medication adherence
     

  • reduce complications
     

This continuous loop improves long-term outcomes.

 

Data-Driven Personalised Care

The survey supports personalised care by:

  • tailoring recommendations
     

  • prioritising high-risk users
     

  • guiding preventive interventions
     

This approach moves healthcare from generic advice to individualised guidance.

 

Privacy and Responsible Use

Health data is sensitive.

The survey framework is designed to:

  • collect only relevant information
     

  • support medical decision-making
     

  • maintain confidentiality
     

Responsible data use builds trust and long-term engagement.

 

Why Digital Surveys Are Effective in India

India’s healthcare challenges include:

  • large population
     

  • limited access to preventive care
     

  • high lifestyle disease burden
     

Digital surveys overcome barriers by:

  • being accessible anywhere
     

  • requiring minimal time
     

  • enabling large-scale preventive monitoring
     

This scalability makes them highly impactful.

 

Integration with Broader Health Ecosystems

Monthly health surveys work best when integrated with:

  • medical consultations
     

  • diagnostic services
     

  • preventive checkups
     

  • digital health records
     

Integration ensures continuity of care.

 

Long-Term Impact on Healthcare Outcomes

Over time, regular health tracking leads to:

  • earlier diagnoses
     

  • reduced hospitalisations
     

  • better chronic disease control
     

  • lower healthcare costs
     

  • improved quality of life
     

Lancet studies show that continuous monitoring significantly improves preventive outcomes.

 

Who Should Use a Monthly Health Survey?

  • adults over 30
     

  • individuals with chronic conditions
     

  • people with high-stress lifestyles
     

  • those focusing on preventive health
     

  • corporate wellness participants
     

Proactive monitoring benefits all age groups.

 

Conclusion

The Monthly Health Survey via the SecondMedic App represents a modern, preventive approach to healthcare. By capturing health trends regularly rather than annually, it empowers individuals to act early, supports doctors with better insights and reduces the burden of advanced disease. In an era where prevention is the most effective medicine, monthly health surveys transform awareness into action and data into healthier lives.

 

References

  • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – Preventive Healthcare and Early Detection Report

  •  NITI Aayog – Digital Health and Preventive Care Strateg

  •  World Health Organization (WHO) – Digital Health Monitoring Guideline

  •  Lancet – Preventive Healthcare and Continuous Monitoring Studies

  • National Health Authority – Digital Health Mission Indi

  •  Statista – Digital Health App Adoption Trends India

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