Q&A: Can I get pregnant during my period?

Yes, but it's probably more difficult.

Women are fertile for up to six days before ovulation. If a woman has a long duration of uterine bleeding (called menses) and/or her ovulation occurs early, then it is possible that the fertile time and the menses may overlap. Intercourse during this overlap could produce a pregnancy.

The presence of blood may make conceiving more difficult, however, for a variety of reasons:

• Blood may interfere with the ability of sperm to reach the egg in the fallopian tube
• Blood in the uterus may be harmful to the growth and development of the embryo before implantation
• Uterine bleeding implies that the lining is thin and therefore less receptive to embryo implantation