Can You Get Pregnant On Your Period And Birth Control

Getting Pregnant While On Birth Control Pills

The birth control pill is popular with Canadian women. According to the Canadian Health Measures Survey released by Statistics Canada in 2015, some 16 percent of non-pregnant Canadian women aged 15 to 49 had taken either the combined pill or the progestin-only pill in the month before they were polled. And it is quite effective, though definitely not perfect. Amanda Black, a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at The Univeristy of Ottawa, notes that both the combined and the progestin-only pill have an eight percent failure rate with typical use. The main reason for failure? People dont take it consistently. For those taking the combined pill, its especially important to take it every day during the first week of your pack, says Costescu. If you miss any, even a single pill in that first week, there may not be enough estrogen to keep you from ovulating, and then theres a risk of getting pregnant, he says, explaining that the lull in hormones during the previous week off already begins the process of making an egg, so missing a pill in the first seven days can trigger ovulation. Theres even less room for error with the progestin-only pill, where being more than three hours late with your dose is a risk for pregnancy.

How Is It Possible To Get Pregnant On Your Period

Its very unlikely that having sex during your period will result in pregnancy but its not impossible! Heres why.

The first thing to know is that most women will ovulate about 12 to 14 days before starting their next monthly bleed. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days, and for most women, ovulation will happen between days 11 and 21 of their menstrual cycle.

The second thing to know is that sperm can survive inside the body for up to seven days after sex. However, for conception to happen, the sperm has to fertilise an egg within 24 hours of ovulation.

In short, the average woman only has about eight or nine days during her cycle when she can get pregnant. However, everyone is different, and some people have a shorter cycle, which means that there is less time between the start of their period and ovulation.

As an example, if you were to have sex on the second day of your period and ovulate seven days later, there would be a risk of pregnancy. The chances of this happening are low, but because its not always easy to know when youre going to ovulate, its difficult to predict the risk each time.

Bloating Before A Period Is A Common Pms Symptom

The week before your period, you may experience breast tenderness and swelling.

Symptoms such as bloating, swollen arms and legs, and bags under the eyes can also appear. Swelling and bloating are common symptoms of premenstrual syndrome that are caused by water retention.

Whether other symptoms of PMS are present or not, water retention is common during this time.

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Had My Period But Im Pregnant

Hi ladies. If you know me in real life please dont say anything! This is a huge secret right now. I had a normal period last week but then spotted to days this week which prompted me to take a pregnancy test and it was positive immediately! My husband and I are in shock because we were debating between two and three kids but its been decided for us now hahah. We have a son who will be 4 in January and a 6 month old son. I didnt notice my symptoms because Im up all night feeding a baby anyway so Im always tired, wrote off the headache and attributed nausea to maybe getting the stomach bug our oldest had earlier this week. Im wondering if anyone had had a full blown period and gone on to have a healthy normal pregnancy? I never had more than spotting with my other two boys. Im getting hcg levels drawn today when I hear back from my midwife but wanted some input from other real life experiences. Also, this is scary because I had 4 miscarriages between our two current boys so Im worried. Thanks in advance ladies!

Can You Get Pregnant Right After Stopping The Pill

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Is pregnancy possible?

Birth control pills are among the most popular pregnancy prevention tools for women. They may also be used to help treat acne and uterine fibroids. The pill works by delivering hormones that prevent an egg from being fertilized.

There are different types of pills with varying amounts of hormones. For pregnancy prevention, the pill has a high efficacy rate when taken every day, and at the same time of day.

The question is, what happens when you stop taking the pill? The answer ultimately depends on where you are in your menstrual cycle.

If you stop taking the pill in the middle of your pack, you could get pregnant right away. On the other hand, if you finish out the months pills, pregnancy may be possible after your cycle gets back to normal. Its important to know that simply taking the pill for a while doesnt offer long-term effects after you quit it must be taken every day to prevent pregnancy.

Keep reading to learn how the type of birth control pill can affect your chance of pregnancy, what you can do to prevent pregnancy between birth control methods, and what to do if youre trying to conceive.

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Top Things To Know About Your Period On The Pill:

• Your âperiodâ on the contraceptive pill is actually called withdrawal bleeding. It happens when the levels of hormones in your pills drop.

• Withdrawal bleeding is usually lighter and slightly different than the period you had before taking the pill

• Some people experience only very light bleeding or donât bleed at all during placebo pill days

• Your bleeding on the pill is likely to change over time

Do you get a period on when youâre on the combined hormonal contraceptive pill*? On the days you take no pills or take the pills in your pack with no hormones, you may experience bleeding. This bleeding is different than a period if you werent taking the contraceptive pillâand you may have times when you bleed very little or not at all.

*This article refers to the use of combined hormonal contraceptive pills, which contain both estrogen and progestin . Bleeding patterns will be different for people taking the progestin-only minipill.

When Taking The Birth Control Shot Are You Supposed To Get Your Period

Category:

when takin the shot are u suppost to get ur period the followin month?

In the first six to 12 months of using the shot, its normal for your menstrual cycle to be irregular. For most women, periods become fewer and lighter. After one year, half of all women who use the shot will stop having periods altogether. Some women, however, experience increased spotting and light bleeding between periods. Some women may worry that they are pregnant if they do not have a regular period. But when the birth control shot is used correctly, it is very effective. If you are concerned about a possible pregnancy, you can always take a pregnancy test. Learn more about the birth control shot.

Tags:periods, the shot

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Learn More About Paragard

• IUDs, including Paragard, have been associated with an increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease . Dont use Paragard if you have a pelvic infection, certain cancers, a copper allergy, Wilsons disease, or PID.
• If you miss a period, have persistent abdominal pain, or if Paragard comes out, tell your healthcare provider . If it comes out, use back-up birth control.
• Paragard may attach to or go through the uterus and cause other problems.
• Pregnancy with Paragard is rare but can be life threatening and may cause infertility or loss of pregnancy.
• Periods may become heavier and longer with spotting in between. Bleeding may be heavier than usual at first.
• Paragard does not protect against HIV or STDs.

Also Check: Calculate Due Date Based On Last Period

Can A Girl Get Pregnant If She Has Sex During Her Period

Can a girl get pregnant if she has sex during her period? Jamie*

Yes, a girl can get pregnant during her period. This might happen when:

• A girl has bleeding that she thinks is a period, but it’s bleeding from . Ovulation is the monthly release of an egg from a girls ovaries. It is the time when she is most likely to get pregnant if she has sex.
• Ovulation happens before the bleeding from a girl’s period has stopped.
• Ovulation happens within a few days after a girl’s period is over. Sperm can fertilize an egg for 3 days. So if a girl has sex on the last day of her period and ovulates in the next few days, the sperm may still fertilize the egg.

Having unprotected sex at any time is risky. Along with the risk of getting pregnant, you could also get an STD, such as chlamydia, genital warts, or HIV. The only way to completely prevent pregnancy and STDs is abstinence .

If you do have sex, use a condom every time to protect against unplanned pregnancy and STDs. For added protection, many couples use condoms along with another method of birth control, like birth control pills or an IUD. Talk to your doctor about the best type of birth control for you.

*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.

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The Period You Get While On The Pill Isnt A True Period

Sure, you bleed during the week that you take the sugar pills. But technically thatâs âmonthly withdrawal bleeding.â Itâs slightly different than a regular period.

Normally, you ovulate in the middle of your menstrual cycle. If the egg your ovaries release isnât fertilized, your hormone levels drop, causing you to shed the lining inside your uterus, and you get your period.

Birth control pills, though, prevent ovulation. With most types, you take hormones for 3 weeks followed by 1 week of pills without them. Though they keep your body from releasing an egg, they usually donât prevent it from building up the lining of your uterus all month. The period-like bleeding during that fourth week is your bodyâs reaction to the lack of hormones from the last week of the pill.

But You Still Should Have A Birth Control Plan

Though your chances of unexpectedly getting pregnant are greatly reduced if you fall into one of these categories, they aren’t nonexistent if you’re fertile. If you want to avoid pregnancy, it’s best to have an effective birth control method that you will use correctly and consistently. And since no form of birth control method outside of abstinence is 100% effective, you may also want a backup such as emergency contraceptives on hand.

Recommended Reading: How Do You Know Your Ovulation Period

At What Age Should You Stop Taking Birth Control

You can keep using birth control up until menopause, which occurs around the age of 55, after which getting pregnant naturally is very rare. Women are generally advised to stop using the combined pill at 50 and to switch to another method of contraception, such as a progestogen-only pill, due to safety reasons.

However, condoms should always be used no matter your age to prevent STIs.

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When Is Your Fertile Window

what days can you get pregnant?

The truth is, your fertile window each month is actually pretty smallabout five to seven days total. To conceive, a mans sperm must fertilise a womans egg within 48 hours of ovulation .

The cycle can be broken into two primary phases: the follicular phase and the luteal phase.

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Unexpected Bleeding On The Contraceptive Pill

Spotting can happen outside of your usual withdrawal bleed time. This is called breakthrough bleeding. It doesnât mean your pill isnât working, but it can be frustrating to deal with .Up to 1 in 5 people experience breakthrough bleeding when first taking the contraceptive pill .It is not usually a cause for concern and will often stop after a few weeks or months . Others will need to try a different pill brand, with different levels of hormones. Many experts recommend choosing a pill with the lowest dose of estrogen , and only changing to a higher dose if breakthrough bleeding is a persistent problem .

Spotting can also be caused by missed pills, as the drop in hormone levels can cause a small amount of withdrawal bleeding.

When Should I See My Doctor About Irregular Bleeding

Since every womans body reacts differently to these birth control methods, it can be hard to know when irregular bleeding is abnormal. You should see your doctor if you experience abnormal bleeding:

• And are pregnant
• And have a lot of pain during your period
• After intercourse
• And you have been using the same method of birth control for more than three months
• That is unexpected
• And you are younger than 8 years old or have no other signs of puberty and have vaginal bleeding

You should also see your doctor if you are taking a combined contraceptive pill and your periods have stopped completely during the week of placebo pills, although in many cases this can be normal.

There are treatments available for irregular bleeding that can help, or your doctor may recommend changes to your birth control method.

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Other Factors To Consider After Stopping Birth Control

Contrary to popular belief, previous use of birth control does not increase the likelihood of miscarriage or birth defects after conception. Rest assured in knowing your birth control did not hinder a potential healthy pregnancy!

According to recent research, 83% of couples have successfully conceived within the first year after stopping birth control.

Though some methods of birth control have a quicker return to fertility than others, every woman is different in terms of age, anatomy, health status, fertility challenges etc. Give yourself some grace while your body transitions back to its natural cycle. If it has been 3 months since you stopped taking birth control and you still have not had a period, it may be time to reach out to your doctor for a discussion.

Good luck and baby dust to you!

Can You Get Pregnant On Other Forms Of Birth Control

Yes, you can get pregnant on other birth control options. Even permanent methods of birth control such as a tubal ligation or vasectomy have failure rates of 0.5 percent and 0.15 percent. Here are some typical use failure rates for other methods:

• Vaginal ring: Seven percent. You need to wear one ring for three weeks, take it out for a week, then insert a new ring.
• Cervical cap: 17 percent. Mistakes include not using it every time, inserting it incorrectly, and neglecting to use spermicide. Needs to be refitted after pregnancy.
• Diaphragm: 17 percent. Mistakes include not using it every time, inserting it incorrectly, and neglecting to use spermicide. Needs to be refitted after pregnancy.
• Sponge: 14 percent for women who have never had a baby and 27 percent for women who have had a baby. It needs to be prepared with spermicide and inserted before sex.
• Spermicides: 21 percent when used alone. Spermicides are best used in conjunction with another method, such as a condom or the lactational amenorrhea method .
• Lactational amenorrhea method : Two percent if used perfectly, which means exclusive breastfeeding at least every four hours during the day and six hours at night and only for the six months after giving birth.
• Fertility awareness: Two to 23 percent. There are several methods for keeping track of your menstrual cycle and ovulation. These methods require commitment and consistency.

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Getting Pregnant With The Patch Ring Or Shot

There are a few more options when it comes to birth control, and these include the patch, the vaginal ring and the Depo-Provera shot. Black says the failure rate for typical use of the patch and the ring is the same as the pill: eight percent. The Depo-Provera shot has a failure rate of just six percent with typical use.

With all three types of contraception, adherence is the biggest risk factor. They need to be used as directed to work effectively. Costescu says with the patch, which you replace once a week , one issue is that it may accidentally fall off. With the ring, he explains that replacing it on time is key. And it can only be removed for short periods of time if you want it to remain effective. Some women choose to remove the NuvaRing when theyre sexually active, and we recommend that it only be removed for up to three hours so, it cant be taken out, for instance, for an overnight date, he says.

Black adds that the same medications that make the pill less effective would have a similar effect on the patch and ring.

With Depo-Provera shots, Costescu notes, you must visit a health-care provider every three months to get the shot. He also says that the shot may be a good option if youre on anti-seizure medication, as the high dose of hormones that come with this type of birth control means those medications may not interfere with its effectiveness.