Is it possible to get pregnant menstruating? Risks in the menstrual cycle

Although it is rare, it is possible for a woman to become pregnant during her menstrual period.

In general, the woman’s fertile period occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle, between the 11th and the 17th. A new cycle begins to be counted from the 1st day of menstruation.

For example, if the woman menstruated on the 1st and, considering that her cycle is 28 days, the fertile period will be between the 11th and 17th of that month.

But this can vary between women, as the duration can be longer or shorter. In that case, fertile days are also changed.

During menstruation, women are less likely to become pregnant, because the egg has already been eliminated by the body.

But in very short cycles, conception can still happen if a new egg is being released at the same time.

But when a woman becomes pregnant during bleeding, it is more common that it is not menstruation, but just an escape, which can occur due to infections, endometriosis or natural changes in the body.

Read more: Is it normal to menstruate twice a month? What can it be?

Contents

In what cases can a woman become pregnant during menstruation?

Women are more likely to get pregnant during menstruation than:

  • They have short cycles, with less than 21 days;
  • They have long periods (more than 8 days);
  • They usually have leaks or bleeds.

The possibility of becoming pregnant during menstruation is greater for women who have unregulated cycles, since it becomes more difficult to calculate when the egg will be released and ready to be fertilized.

In cases where there is leakage bleeding, the risk of confusing them with menstruation is also greater.

Read more: When to take the pharmacy and blood pregnancy test?

Is it possible to get menstruating by taking contraceptives (pill and injectable)?

Yes, but it is rare. If the cycle is too short or the bleeding is long, there are risks of pregnancy during menstruation. If taken correctly, contraceptives (pill and injection) are 99% effective and reduce these chances. It is necessary to use the right method and still, there are risks (even if rare).

Several factors can interfere with the action of the oral pill, such as regularity, the body’s absorption and the use of other medications.

But it is important to note that it is an unusual case.

Is it possible to get menstruating by having intercourse?

-Yeah . Withdrawal is not a practice indicated as a contraceptive method. This is because this practice has up to a 20% chance of failing, since there may be sperm in the pre-ejaculatory fluid (lubricant naturally expelled during male arousal).

In addition, withdrawal can fail when the man does not have enough control or does not know exactly when to ejaculate. Which increases the chances of a pregnancy.

Menstruation is the least favorable time for a pregnancy, but it does not prevent it. That’s because even though she is ovulating, the woman’s body may have already released the egg for the next cycle.

If this new egg is fertilized, it will generate an embryo.

What is the probability of getting pregnant on the first day of menstruation?

Pregnancy on the first day of menstruation is uncommon, but it is not impossible. Women with shorter cycles (21 days) ovulate around the 5th day, which makes conception possible during menstruation.

For women with normal cycles (28 days) or longer, the chances of getting pregnant during menstruation are small, but they do exist.

Do you have a chance of getting pregnant on the last day of menstruation?

Yes, but the chances are small The probability is greater if the menstrual cycles are too short or if the menstruation lasts for days than normal (between 2 and 7 days).

In the first case, pregnancy is possible because cycles smaller than the average, that is, with less than 28 days, allow the fertile period to be anticipated.

Thus, the propitious days for pregnancy can coincide with the final days of menstruation.

In the second case, of prolonged bleeding, the possibility of conception is possible because, in general, the fertile period begins in the 11th of the menstrual cycle.

If menstruation has not stopped and the fertile period begins, the egg will be released normally and can be fertilized.

The chances of pregnancy increase as the days go by. Thus, the possibility of fertilization is greater on the last day of menstruation than on the first.

But it is worth remembering that most women do not have short cycles or long bleeds.


Although it is quite unusual, there are chances that some women will become pregnant during menstruation.

Therefore, to avoid pregnancy, contraceptive methods should be used together (pill and condom , for example).

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