Can sperm survive in menstrual blood?

The female reproductive system can leave you with many questions, whether you’re trying to get pregnant or not. In this article, we’re answering the question, can sperm survive in menstrual blood?

This article includes:

• What happens to the body during a period?
• Can sperm survive in menstrual blood?
• Can you get pregnant on your period?
• Learning about your cycle
• Birth control methods

What happens to the body during a period?

Every woman has a menstrual cycle, and while they contain the same stages, they can be very different. The menstrual cycle occurs each month and is a time when the body releases an egg that could become fertilised.

The average menstrual cycle lasts for 28 days. Some women will experience shorter cycles, and others will have longer cycles. Some women also have irregular periods, which can make it harder to track periods.

Every month, an egg is released from the ovary. The egg travels down the fallopian tube, where it may become fertilised. Meanwhile, the uterine lining is thickening. If fertilisation occurs, the egg will implant itself into the womb. If fertilisation does not occur from unprotected sex, the uterine lining will shed. This is your menstrual blood or period.

It can be a good idea to keep track of your periods if you are trying for a baby. This can help you to identify other stages of your cycle.

The process of releasing an egg is called ovulation. There are easy tests you can use at home to check when you are ovulating. Knowing this information may help you to conceive. The result will be presented as the amount of Luteinizing Hormone in your urine.

Any time you have unprotected sexual intercourse, you increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Therefore, you should consider using a birth control method if you are not trying to conceive.

Can sperm survive in menstrual blood?

Sperm can survive for up to five days inside the vagina. This is the same regardless of the time of the month that you have sexual intercourse. So, if you’re wondering, does period blood kill sperm cells? The answer is no; the sperm cells can survive.

While you may not get pregnant during your menstrual period, you can become pregnant very soon after. The chance of getting pregnant during your period is higher when you have unprotected sex close to the end of the period. This is because you may be closer to the ovulation stage.

During ovulation, an egg only survives for around 24 hours, waiting to be fertilised. After this time, the egg is re-absorbed into the woman’s body.

Can you get pregnant on your period?

While the chances of getting pregnant during your menstrual period are pretty low, the chance is still there. There are a few instances that can lead to increased chances of becoming pregnant during your period.

Short cycle

Your period occurs at the start of the next cycle. Ovulation may occur around halfway through the cycle. However, women with a shorter cycle can find that they don’t have as much time between stages.

If you have unprotected sex on the last day of your period and then ovulate shortly after, the sperm might still be active. Fertilisation could occur, and you could therefore become pregnant. There would be a lower chance of getting pregnant if you were to have period sex on the first day. It is worth noting that there is still a chance of pregnancy occurring.

Bleeding but not your period

There could be a different reason why you are bleeding. If you mistake this for a period and have unprotected intercourse, you may become pregnant. Another reason could be that you are already pregnant. This bleeding could be associated with implantation bleeding. This can cause light bleeding and cramping.

Make sure you take a pregnancy test at the recommended time after having unprotected sexual intercourse or missing a period. Taking a test too soon could leave you with a false result. You should contact your doctor after finding out that you’re pregnant. They can ensure that you are on track to receive the right care.

Learning about your cycle

There is plenty of information around regarding menstrual cycles. If you can, it’s a good idea to have an understanding of yours and when the stages occur.

Many recommend the use of ovulation tests. Knowing when ovulation occurs can help you to identify your most fertile window due to LH levels in your urine.

Many women use the cervical mucus method. This involves assessing your mucus to see where you’re up to in your cycle. For example, a clear and slippy mucus may indicate that you are more fertile.

Birth control methods

Alternatively, there are many birth control methods that you can use. You can have hormonal birth control and non-hormonal birth control. It all depends on what works best for you.

A professional can advise if you’re unsure which method to go for. They may ask about your history and any plans for children you may have in the future. They will be able to provide you with reliable options based on this information.

Some options can include the contraceptive pill, the implant, the contraceptive injection or a coil. All of these methods have benefits and drawbacks, as well as offering different levels of reliability. When used correctly, they should have higher levels of reliability.

Many barrier methods work in a few different ways. For example, they may halt the release of an egg and thicken the cervical mucus. Thickening the mucus makes it harder for sperm cells to travel to the egg.

Ultimately if you are trying to prevent pregnancy, you shouldn’t rely on your period as a method of contraception. Instead, you should consider using a more reliable method. If you are trying to conceive, there could be other times during the month that you may have a higher chance of becoming pregnant. Sperm can survive for up to five days after intercourse and can continue to do so despite being on your period.

You should seek medical advice after one year of trying for a baby if you are under 35. If you are over 35, you should seek advice after six months. An expert can provide you with testing and advice to support you on your trying-to-conceive journey.