Ovulation is the process during which the mature egg is ejected from the ovary. Knowing your menstrual cycle and when the ovulation process occurs is very important for every woman. Understanding these two things is essential when trying to conceive or when preventing a pregnancy. Then can you ovulate right after your period?
Can You Ovulate Right After Period?
Yes, there exists the possibility of ovulating right after period. The length of your menstrual cycle determines when the ovulation occurs. Your menstrual cycle lasts from the first day of your menstrual period until the first day of your next menstrual period. A normal menstrual cycle lasts about 28 days.
However, some women have a shorter or a longer menstrual cycle. In cases when the menstrual cycle lasts about 21 days and the menstrual period bleeding lasts for about 7 days, there is a great possibility of having the ovulation right after period. In general, ovulation occurs 12 to 16 days before the next menstrual cycle begins.
Can You Get Pregnant Now?
Sperm tends to survive up to 5 days. If you do ovulate right after a menstrual period, it is possible to get pregnant from sexual intercourse which you had during menstrual periods.
Sometimes, spotting between periods is mistakenly considered as regular menstrual period. Bleeding during the ovulation process can occur. Anytime you notice spotting between periods or any irregular bleeding, talk to your health care provider.
How to Know If You Are Ovulating
Can you ovulate right after period? Yes, you can. But are there any signs or tests to say you are ovulating?
Signs of Ovulation
Common ovulation signs are as follows:
- Light spotting
- Change of the cervical fluid
- Change of the cervical firmness and position
- Abdominal pain which is dull, usually located on one side of the abdomen
- Abdominal bloating
- Tenderness of the breasts
- Elevated levels of luteinizing hormones
- Increased libido
- Constant changes of the basal body temperature chart
- Increased sense of smell, taste, and vision
Women will not notice all the above-mentioned signs of ovulation. In general, women will notice only a few signs of ovulation with each menstrual cycle.
Charting Your Basal Body Temperature
When trying to detect the exact time of ovulation, charting the basal body temperature can help. The body temperature should be measured every day using a thermometer and the findings are written on a chart every day.
The temperature should be measured immediately after you wake up, before even getting out of the bed. Wake up around the same time of the day every morning, so the readings of your basal body temperature can be measured at the same time.
If you notice that your basal body temperature has increased by 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit, you are probably ovulating. Maybe understanding how basal body temperature charting works is not easy during the first months. However, after a couple of months, you should be able to understand this charting of your basal body temperature and notice patterns.
If you and your partner are trying to conceive, basal body temperature charting will help you know when the right time for sexual intercourse is.
Ovulation Predictor Test
Can you ovulate right after period? Yes, you can but in order to know the right time of ovulation, ovulation predictor tests can help.
Today many tests are available on the market which can help you conceive faster. One of these tests is the ovulation test which is very similar to a pregnancy test. You need to pee on the test stick or you need to pee into a cup and then deep the test stick into the cup.
Ovulation predictor test will measure the levels of the luteinizing hormone in the urine, which peaks just before ovulation. If the results of this test are positive, you are probably ovulating.
However, in some cases, a positive test does not always suggest the right ovulation period. When diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), there are a couple of LH peaks during one menstrual cycle. This means that the ovulation test will be positive a couple of times during the menstrual cycle, which can be quite confusing.
Can You Get Pregnant During Period?
Can you ovulate right after period? You already know the answer. Can you get pregnant on your period? Yes, you can get pregnant during your menstrual period. However, getting pregnant during a menstrual period is highly unlikely. If this occurs, the ovulation process occurs very early during a menstrual cycle and you need to have unprotected sexual intercourse which led to conceiving.
Usually, the egg is still developing while you are having your period. However, many factors can complicate the normal ovulation process and make you ovulate earlier than normal. A hormonal imbalance, a poor diet, thyroid gland disorders, use of certain medications and even stress can have a great impact on the ovulation process, making you ovulate and get pregnant during period.
Mistaking Spotting for a Regular Period
However, another chance to get pregnant during "period" is that you are not having your period.
Spotting between menstrual periods is common for women who have irregular menstrual periods. Spotting around the time of ovulation is often a sign of ovulation along with other ovulation signs such as abdominal pain located just on one side, etc. Spotting can also occur due to breakthrough bleeding, especially within the first few months after starting to use hormonal contraceptives.
If you are not planning a pregnancy, use a contraceptive birth control method. Also, don’t forget to use protection against sexually transmitted diseases and practice safe sex.