• 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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How Your Sleep Schedule Affects Digestion

How Your Sleep Schedule Affects Digestion

In today’s fast-paced world, staying up late has become a norm—whether for work, binge-watching, or scrolling on phones. But did you know your late-night habits can negatively impact your digestion?

Yes! Your sleep schedule and digestive health are deeply connected. Let’s explore how poor sleep affects your gut, the symptoms to watch for, and simple ways to improve both.

 

Sleep and Gut – What’s the Link?

Your body follows a 24-hour internal clock, called the circadian rhythm. This biological clock not only controls your sleep-wake cycle but also governs other body functions—including digestion.

When you sleep on time, your digestive system gets enough rest and follows its natural detox and repair routine. But irregular or insufficient sleep disrupts hormonal flow, slows down digestion, and affects gut bacteria.

 

Signs Your Sleep Is Hurting Your Digestion

Let’s look at how poor sleep shows up in your gut health:

 

1. Bloating & Gas in the Morning

Waking up with a heavy, bloated stomach could mean your food didn’t digest properly overnight due to late meals and sleep disruption.

 

2. Constipation or Irregular Bowel Movements

Your colon is most active in the early morning. Late nights confuse this rhythm, making bowel movements irregular or difficult.

 

3. Frequent Acidity or Heartburn

Poor sleep posture or sleeping soon after eating can lead to acid reflux and heartburn at night or in the morning.

 

4. Low Appetite or Indigestion

Sleep deprivation weakens stomach acid production and gut motility, leading to poor breakdown of food.

 

5. Brain Fog and Fatigue

Your gut produces over 90% of serotonin—a chemical that affects mood and alertness. Poor sleep affects gut function, which in turn impacts mental clarity.

 

Your Gut Microbiome Has a Sleep Cycle Too

Inside your intestines live trillions of bacteria—your gut microbiome. These bacteria help digest food, absorb nutrients, and maintain immunity.

Recent studies show that gut bacteria also follow a circadian rhythm. When your sleep is disturbed, these good bacteria get confused too—leading to:

  • Poor digestion
     

  • Inflammation
     

  • Weakened immunity
     

  • Increased sugar cravings
     

 

What’s the Ideal Sleep Schedule for Good Digestion?

Aim for:

  • Sleeping between 10 PM and 6 AM
     

  • 7–8 hours of quality, uninterrupted rest
     

  • Avoiding meals 2–3 hours before bedtime
     

This helps your digestive organs function properly during sleep and your body to detox naturally.

 

6 Simple Tips to Improve Sleep and Digestion Together

 

1. Follow a Fixed Sleep Schedule

Go to bed and wake up at the same time daily—even on weekends.

 

2. Avoid Heavy Late-Night Meals

Have dinner 2–3 hours before bed. Choose light, easy-to-digest foods.

 

3. Limit Caffeine and Sugar in Evenings

They disturb sleep patterns and irritate your digestive lining.

 

4. Add a Night Walk

A 10–15 minute slow walk after dinner improves digestion and helps your body wind down.

 

5. Practice Screen-Free Time Before Bed

Blue light from screens affects melatonin production—try reading, journaling, or deep breathing instead.

 

6. Stay Hydrated During the Day

But avoid too much water just before bed to prevent waking up to pee.

 

When to See a Doctor

If you face chronic indigestion, acidity, constipation, or fatigue, even with a good lifestyle, consult a healthcare provider. You may need tests for:

  • Gut health
     

  • Liver enzymes
     

  • Hormone levels
     

  • Vitamin deficiencies
     

  • Sleep disorders like sleep apnea
     

You can easily book these via SecondMedic.com, which offers Thyrocare lab services and home sample collection.

 

Conclusion

Your gut and brain are best friends. And your sleep schedule plays a major role in keeping this bond healthy.

If you’ve been feeling bloated, tired, or irregular lately—it may not be your food, but your sleep. Now that you know how your sleep schedule affects digestion, try making small changes to improve both. Better sleep = better gut = better life.

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