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by Sophie Bell | Medically reviewed by Joseph Aquilina, Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist | June 2020 | It’s not likely, but it is possible. Your chances of getting pregnant just after your period depend on how short your menstrual cycle is, and how long your period lasts. Signs of pregnancyThink you might be pregnant? Discover the top 10 early signs. One of your ovaries will release an egg (ovulation) about 14 days before your period starts. The first day of your period, when you start bleeding, is counted as the first day of your cycle. If you have a 28-day cycle, you’ll usually ovulate some time between day 10 and day 15 of your cycle. During your period an egg is usually developing, ready for release mid-cycle. The time it takes for an egg to mature within the ovary can vary. This means that the day you ovulate can also vary from cycle to cycle. Having a short cycle and a longer period could increase your likelihood of getting pregnant just after your period. If your cycle is short, 22 days for example, then you could ovulate just days after your period, if your period lasted seven days. The longest that sperm can survive in fertile cervical mucus is seven days. So it may just be possible for you to get pregnant if you ovulate a little earlier than usual. However, it is more likely that sperm will have a life span of two to three days, even less if there is no fertile cervical fluid. Most pregnancies happen after sex within the five days before, and on the day of, ovulation. To conceive, your egg needs to be fertilised within 12 hours to 24 hours of ovulation. It’s also possible to mistake breakthrough bleeding, which is spotting between your periods, for a regular period. So you could experience bleeding during your fertile time. If you are experiencing bleeding between your periods, you should tell your GP. Learn how to identify signs that you’re fertile. Think you might be pregnant? Take our pregnancy quiz, or see the top 10 signs of pregnancy to look out for. Sophie Bell is an editor at BabyCentre. She updates and creates health content and is responsible for email newsletters. When are you more likely to conceive?We’re talking about the 'fertile window’ – the days in a woman’s menstrual cycle when pregnancy is possible. The ‘fertile window’ depends on the length of the menstrual cycle, which varies among women. The ‘fertile window’ is the day an egg is released from the ovary (ovulation) and the five days beforehand. Having sex (intercourse) during this time gives you the best chance of getting pregnant. Ovulation Calculator
Myth bustingMYTHA woman can get pregnant any time of the month. FACTA woman can only get pregnant on a few days during her menstrual cycle. Why?Because eggs and sperm only live for a short time:
Eggs and sperm need to come together at the right time for fertilisation to happen to create an embryo. Getting the timing rightIf you're trying to get pregnant, timing is everything. Dr Karin Hammarberg explains how to work out when you are ovulating and the right time to have sex to improve your chance of pregnancy.
When does preconception health begin?Professor Sarah Robertson, Director of Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, highlights the key time before pregnancy that your health is most important to ensure your child has the best start to life.
How to know you are ovulatingKerry Hampton, a registered nurse and fertility specialist, discusses the importance of fertility awareness, and how to determine your fertile window to improve your chances of conceiving.
Page created on: 28/08/2018 | Last updated: 25/11/2022 Can I get pregnant just a week after my period?Yes, although it's not very likely. If you have sex without using contraception, you can conceive (get pregnant) at any time during your menstrual cycle, even during or just after your period.
How many days after your period ends Are You fertile?You ovulate about 12 to 14 days before the start of a new menstrual cycle. Your fertile window is the five days leading up to ovulation, plus the day of ovulation and the day after ovulation — so about seven days in total.
Can I ovulate a week after my period?Many women typically ovulate around 12 to 14 days after the first day of their last period, but some have a naturally short cycle. They may ovulate as soon as six days or so after the first day of their last period.
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