It is not possible to become pregnant outside the fertile period . This is because, for fertilization to occur, it is necessary to release the egg, which only occurs in the fertile phase. What happens is that it is not always possible to know when fertile days occur, as they are estimates. This causes ovulation to advance or delay.
In some cases, what happens is that intercourse happens just before ovulation. Since sperm survive up to 72 hours in the vaginal canal, if the egg is released, fertilization can happen.
For example, if sexual intercourse happened on the 10th and the woman ovulated on the 13th, it is possible that some sperm has survived and is able to fertilize the egg.
The fertile period occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle and lasts between 4 and 6 days.
Most women have cycles of 28 to 30 days, which indicates that the day of ovulation is usually the 14th day of the cycle. Then, the fertile period happens between the 11th and 17th day of the cycle.
However, these dates are only estimates .
If menstrual cycles are irregular (with varying lengths of time) the chances also increase. This is because, in these cases, the woman is unable to correctly calculate the date of the fertile period.
Therefore, it is not advisable to use only the tablet as a contraceptive method. It can even be used, as long as it is always accompanied by another prevention method (tablet and contraceptive or tablet and condom , for example).
In addition to the estimated calculations, the female organism gives some signals that can help to identify the fertile period:
- Increased libido;
- Increased body temperature by up to 1 ° C;
- Increased vaginal discharge (similar to egg white);
- Light stings or vibrations in the pelvic area (known as mid-cycle pains).
Is it possible to get pregnant outside the fertile period and taking birth control pills?
Those who use contraceptives correctly do not have a fertile period, as the drug inhibits ovulation. However, women who use contraceptives (pill and injection) in an unregulated manner, forgetting to take doses or taking them at very different times, are at risk of becoming pregnant. That’s because the drug loses its effect and allows ovulation.
Read more: How do I know if I’m ovulating? Tips and calculator for getting pregnant
What is the probability of becoming pregnant in the fertile period?
The probability of getting pregnant during the fertile period varies according to some factors, but in general, it is quite high. The age and health conditions of women and men can interfere with the quality of the gametes (egg and sperm) available.
Before the age of 30, a woman in good health has about a 75% chance of becoming pregnant.
At 40 years of age, those chances drop to less than 10%, although you still need to use contraception if you don’t want to get pregnant.
Other complications, such as diseases (mainly in the male and female reproductive system) can also make conception difficult, even if the woman is in the fertile period.
Read more: Is it possible to get menstruating? Risks during the menstrual cycle
It is not possible to become pregnant outside the fertile period. However, the woman may not know she is ovulating, have unprotected sex and end up pregnant.
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