A lot of people think that if a girl has sex during her period,
she can't get pregnant. But it is possible for a girl to get pregnant
while she is bleeding. There are a couple of reasons why this can
happen:
- Not all vaginal bleeding is the result of a menstrual period.
Sometimes a girl will have a small amount of vaginal bleeding
at the time of ovulation - the time when she is most fertile.
During ovulation, an egg is released from one of the ovaries and
travels down a fallopian tube to the uterus. It's common for girls
who are ovulating to have some vaginal bleeding that can be mistaken
for a period.
- Sometimes ovulation can occur before the bleeding from a girl's
period has stopped, or it may occur within a few days after her
period is over. Sperm can fertilize an egg for up to 3 days after
ejaculation. So in both cases, having sex before the period is
finished can result in pregnancy.
Having unprotected sex at any time, including when you're bleeding,
is very risky. Along with the risk of becoming pregnant, there is
also a risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD), such
as chlamydia, genital warts, or HIV. The only surefire way to prevent
pregnancy and STDs is abstinence. If you do have sex, use a condom
every time to protect against STDs. And talk to your doctor about
additional forms of contraception. |
