---
title: "Conception Possible During Menstruation? | Sutter Health"
description: "I've heard that you can't get pregnant during your period. Is this just an old wives tale? Should I be concerned about protection during this time?"
url: "/ask-an-expert/answers/conception-possible-during-menstruation-1051061341"
---

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# Conception Possible During Menstruation?

* * *

Medically reviewed by

-   Ryszard J. Chetkowski, M.D.

## Question

I've heard that you can't get pregnant during your period. Is this just an old wives tale? Should I be concerned about protection during this time?

## Answer

You can get pregnant only around the time of ovulation, which for most women with regular 28-day cycles corresponds to days 12-16.

So if your period comes at the expected time and is normal in terms of flow, it's most unlikely that you would be ovulating during the bleeding, which in turn renders conception also very unlikely.

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