You can get pregnant only in a limited “fertile window” each cycle, but that window is wider than just the exact day of ovulation, and pregnancy is possible at other times (just much less likely).

Key idea: your fertile window

  • An egg is released at ovulation and can be fertilized for about 12–24 hours.
  • Sperm can survive inside the reproductive tract for up to about 5 days in good conditions.
  • That means pregnancy can happen from sex in the 5 days before ovulation plus the day of ovulation (about a 6‑day “fertile window”).

Typical cycle timing (28 days as an example)

If your cycle is around 28 days:

  • Ovulation often happens around day 14 (day 1 = first day of bleeding).
  • Most fertile days: roughly days 10–14. Many sources broaden this to about days 8–19 for cycles 26–32 days long because ovulation can shift.

So, for a 28‑day, regular cycle:

  • Least fertile : early period days (roughly days 1–7), though pregnancy is still not impossible.
  • Most fertile : days just before and including ovulation (roughly days 10–14).
  • Lower but not zero chance : late in the cycle, after ovulation until your period comes.

Can you get pregnant on your period?

  • Probability is usually low , especially in the first days of bleeding, because ovulation is typically still many days away.
  • But if you have short cycles (for example 21–24 days), you may ovulate earlier, and sperm from sex near the end of your period could still be alive when ovulation happens, making pregnancy possible.

Can you get pregnant right after your period?

  • Yes. As bleeding ends, you move closer to your fertile window, especially with a 28–30‑day cycle, where many people’s fertile days fall roughly between day 11 and day 21.
  • Sex on the last day of your period or in the days immediately after can lead to pregnancy if ovulation follows a few days later and sperm are still present.

Can you get pregnant just before your period?

  • For most people with predictable cycles, the days just before a period are usually among the least fertile , because ovulation has already passed and the egg is gone.
  • However, cycles can vary from month to month, so this is not a guaranteed safe time if you are trying to avoid pregnancy.

Simple illustration (28‑day regular cycle)

  • Days 1–7: Period, lowest chance, but not zero.
  • Days 8–9: Fertility rising, pregnancy possible.
  • Days 10–14: Around ovulation, highest chance of pregnancy.
  • Days 15–16: Fertility falling, but pregnancy still possible.
  • Days 17–28: Generally low chance, especially in the last few days before your next period, though not absolutely impossible.

If your cycles are not 28 days, ovulation usually occurs about 10–16 days before your next period , and the fertile window shifts accordingly.

Important notes

  • Using cycle timing alone is not a reliable method of contraception, especially if your cycles are irregular.
  • Apps and calculators can help you estimate fertile days, but they are approximations, not guarantees.
  • If you are trying to get pregnant , many experts suggest sex every 1–2 days in the presumed fertile window (the days leading up to and including ovulation).
  • If you are trying to avoid pregnancy , use a reliable contraceptive method in addition to any cycle tracking.

Bottom line: you are most likely to get pregnant in the 5 days before ovulation and the day of ovulation, but there is no day in the cycle where pregnancy is truly impossible if you have sex without contraception.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.