Some women, choosing a method of contraception, are wondering if it is possible to get pregnant on the 3rd day of menstruation. Of course, in theory, many people know that this should not be. But sometimes there are different deviations. To answer this question, you need to consider some of the features of the female reproductive system. You also need to know the opinion of experienced gynecologists. This will be discussed later.
Physiological features
Some couples who are not ready to conceive a child are wondering if it is possible to get pregnant on the 3rd day of menstruation with a cycle of 28 days or longer. If the practice of calculating “dangerous” days, as well as the contraceptive method “interrupted sexual intercourse,” you need to know several features of such methods.
Many women are sure that it is impossible to get pregnant during menstruation. Doctors have an opinion on this. Each experienced gynecologist will answer that there are exceptions to each rule. The onset of pregnancy during menstruation is possible. There are many reasons for this. Therefore, those couples who categorically do not want to have children at the moment need to choose more reliable methods of contraception.
To suggest whether it is possible to become pregnant during menstruation on days 3 or 4, you need to familiarize yourself with some physiological characteristics of the female body. The reproductive system is a complex mechanism that, under the influence of various factors, can malfunction. Therefore, the classic menstrual cycle can go a little differently.
Many women know what is considered the norm. The menstrual cycle ideally lasts 28 days. Allowable deviations of 7 days in one direction and the other. The cycle should be regular, nested within the established framework. Each time in one of the ovaries the egg matures. She ovulates exactly in the middle of the cycle. With a 28-day cycle, the egg becomes ready for fertilization 14 days before the next menstruation. The monthly cycle is considered starting from the first day of menstruation.
The process of conception in the classic version can be calculated by day. So, after ovulation, the egg is ready for sperm fertilization. If this happens, on the 7th day after this event, it attaches inside the uterus. So pregnancy comes.
Menstrual cycle
Can I get pregnant on the 3rd day of menstruation? With a regular menstrual cycle, the likelihood of such an outcome is extremely low. But such an event cannot be completely ruled out. If the cycle is irregular, the probability of pregnancy during this period increases. In this case, it is impossible to practice the method of contraception, in which "dangerous" and "safe" days are calculated. The exact duration of each phase of the cycle cannot be determined in this case.
It is also worth considering that sperm can retain their ability to conceive in the uterine cavity for a long time. Therefore, it is impossible to predict at what point fertilization has come. Usually the menstrual cycle consists of the following parts:
- From day 1 to day 14, the dominant follicle in the ovary matures. It contains the egg.
- On day 14-16, ovulation occurs. This process usually lasts about 3 days. At this time, the egg leaves the follicle, goes to the uterine cavity. Sometimes this leads to pain in the ovary.
- 16-28 days of the cycle are called the luteal phase of the cycle. At this time, in addition to estrogen, progesterone begins to be actively produced. This process controls the corpus luteum, which forms at the site of a mature follicle. This is necessary so that new eggs do not mature during this period. If fertilization occurs, the corpus luteum begins to intensively produce the hormones necessary to maintain pregnancy. If this does not happen, it becomes smaller. The endometrium overgrown during this time begins to be rejected. Months come, a new cycle begins.
Fertility
The probability of becoming pregnant on day 3 of your period is determined by a term such as fertility. It is low from 1 to 7 days and from 20 to 28 days of the cycle. During this period, fertility is 0-5%. From 8 to 10 days and from the 17th to the 19th cycle (if it is a 28-day one), this indicator is 40-60%, and during the period from 11 to 16 days the probability of becoming pregnant becomes the highest. Fertility at this time is 80%.
What affects conception?
Knowing what happens on the 3rd day of menstruation, many women do not understand why conception is still possible. There are many reasons for this. First of all, you need to consider that sperm retain their ability to fertilize in the female body for up to 7 days. In addition, serious malfunctions sometimes occur in the female reproductive system. It becomes almost impossible to calculate the duration of each phase of the cycle. This happens under the influence of adverse factors. Various causes increase the likelihood of fertilization during menstruation. The main ones are:
- The cycle becomes irregular. Because of this, ovulation can occur at another time, for example, at the very beginning of the cycle.
- Male germ cell activity. Sperm 2 hours after intercourse, most die. But the most active of them can pass through the cervical canal. They enter the uterine cavity. Here they remain alive for several days. For this reason, with a long cycle, the probability of becoming pregnant on the 3rd day of menstruation is less than with a short cycle.
- Oral contraceptives. If you use such drugs not according to the instructions, irregularly, an unplanned pregnancy may occur. If you stop taking contraceptives before your period, conception can also occur.
- Recently made abortion as well as childbirth. During the recovery period, there is a chance of conception even on the third day of menstruation. The hormonal balance after such events is disturbed. Because of this, ovulation may be completely absent or may occur on any day of the menstrual cycle. Especially after childbirth it is almost impossible to determine when conception can occur.
To avoid an unplanned pregnancy, you need to use reliable contraceptives.
Irregular cycle
Considering whether it is possible to get pregnant on the 3rd day of menstruation, it is worth noting that this happens with an irregular cycle. If menstruation is not normal, this can cause an unplanned conception. This situation is more likely if the woman’s cycle is shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days. This indicates a certain malfunction in the body. Because of this, the date of ovulation is difficult to determine.
An irregular cycle indicates hormonal disorders and malfunctions. Some processes in the body because of this occur incorrectly. This leads to a delay in menstruation or, conversely, to too frequent menstruation. It is impossible to calculate at what time ovulation will occur. Sometimes it comes from two ovaries at the same time or with some delay. Because of this, one egg is already ready for elimination from the body along with menstruation, and the second has just left the follicle.
It is extremely important to eliminate hormonal disruptions, to establish the proper functioning of the body before pregnancy. Otherwise, it can cause significant difficulties. This threatens both the fetus and the health of the woman. You need to regularly visit a gynecologist and choose a method of contraception with it. You may need to undergo a comprehensive treatment.
Implantation bleeding
A situation is not ruled out when menstruation abruptly ended. On the third day of the menstrual cycle, conception can occur. The fact is that in some cases a woman can confuse her period with implantation bleeding. When a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus, slight bleeding may occur. Sometimes it’s just a few drops of blood. In some women, implantation bleeding is very profuse. It lasts 1-2 days.
Therefore, if menstruation abruptly ends on the third day, you need to do a pregnancy test. Of course, after fertilization, no bloody discharge is out of the question. This is a sign of pathology. But if the discharge caused pregnancy, this is quite normal. But implantation bleeding cannot last longer than 2 days. Therefore, menstruation that stopped on the 3rd day may be false.
This situation requires consultation with a doctor. He will conduct an examination, prescribe a number of diagnostic procedures. Implant bleeding can be confused with other pathologies. If the pregnancy test was negative, you need to conduct it after 2 days. It is also advisable to donate blood for hCG. The presence of this hormone indicates the onset of pregnancy.
Implantation bleeding can have a different nature. Sometimes it’s just brown discharge called daub. But sometimes the bleeding is quite plentiful. It is such cases that are most often perceived by women as the onset of menstruation. Such periods often come on time. But sometimes they can come earlier. It is possible that menstruation will come later. Such false menstruation can also be accompanied by pulling pain in the lower abdomen. To distinguish them from real menstruation is quite difficult. But much more often, implantation bleeding begins earlier than menstruation should occur.
Optimal contraception
Sexual intercourse on the third day of your period may result in pregnancy. To prevent this from happening, you need to properly protect yourself. If you choose the wrong type of contraceptive, the risk of an unwanted pregnancy cannot be completely excluded.
One of the most reliable means is considered a condom. It protects not only sperm from entering the uterus, but also various infections that are sexually transmitted. Therefore, gynecologists call barrier contraception the most effective and useful.
Another effective method that guarantees protection against the occurrence of an unwanted pregnancy on any day of the cycle is the use of hormonal oral contraceptives. If the drug is correctly selected, and the woman does not miss taking pills, the probability of an unplanned conception is 0%. But it is important to correctly use such tools.
In the first 2 weeks of starting to use, you need to use additional contraceptives. Tablets are taken at the same time. The maximum latency may be 12 hours.
It is important to choose the right drug. To do this, before starting the test, a hormone test is performed. Also, tablets are ineffective if, after 3 hours after their intake, an upset stomach, vomiting or diarrhea occurred.
Also, many women put in a spiral to protect against unplanned pregnancy. This is effective, but not one hundred percent protection. Therefore, the risk of unwanted conception exists even when using an IUD.
Intimacy during menstruation
Is it possible to have sex during menstruation? Most often during this period, the couple refuses intimacy. This, firstly, reduces the risk of an unwanted pregnancy, and secondly, avoids the development of the inflammatory process.
The opinions of doctors on the issue of whether it is possible to have sex during menstruation differ. Categorically, this is not forbidden. But at the same time, you must use a condom, strictly observe the rules of hygiene. During this period, the female body is especially vulnerable to infections. Immunity is slightly reduced, and the cervical canal opens. This paves the way for uterine pathogens.
For this reason, gynecologists do not recommend making intimate contacts during menstruation. Even if the partner is permanent, this can lead to serious consequences.
Sperm can hardly get into the uterus during menstruation. During this period, the most unfavorable environment is created for them. Therefore, you can become pregnant, rather, thanks to those male cells that remained in the uterus after the last sexual intercourse until the onset of menstruation. Although it is possible that with menstruation, some sperm can still penetrate the uterine cavity. The likelihood of this is not excluded, although it is negligible.
How to check whether pregnancy has occurred?
There are several ways available to determine if a conception has taken place before menstruation begins. Knowing whether it is possible to become pregnant on the 3rd day of menstruation, some women may begin to panic. To dispel doubts, you need to contact a gynecologist and donate blood for hCG. As soon as the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine cavity, this hormone begins to secrete.
This usually occurs 5-10 days after ovulation. A blood test is much more accurate than other methods. Therefore, he will show pregnancy before the onset of menstruation. You can do a pregnancy test. It must be the most accurate. In this case, he will determine the development of pregnancy before the delay of menstruation.
First signs
Knowing whether it is possible to get pregnant on the 3rd day of menstruation, you need to consider a number of subjective sensations. If conception still occurs, certain symptoms often appear. Some women do not feel them.
Most often, a feeling of drowsiness, fatigue appears, even in the absence of serious stress, overwork appears. In the pelvic region, heaviness is felt, and pulling pain occurs in the lower back. Bloating, flatulence appears, legs may begin to swell. The chest becomes sensitive, even painful. It increases in size, can become covered with a vascular network. Body temperature rises slightly, appetite decreases, nausea appears, especially in the morning. A woman becomes susceptible to odors.
To avoid an unwanted pregnancy, you need to choose the right, reliable method of contraception. Conception can occur on almost any day of the cycle.