What happens if a woman becomes pregnant during her period?

It would be very rare for a woman to get pregnant during her period. For that to happen, she would have to be ovulating while having a period and the fertilized egg would have to be able to implant on a uterus that is shedding it’s lining (so very rare).

Typically women ovulate 14 days before their period starts (though some woman ovulate sooner and some later). The egg is only ‘viable’ for 12–24 hours after ovulation. This means it must be fertilized within that time frame. Once the egg is fertilized it can take 5–12 days for the fertilized egg to implant in the uterus. Once that happens, the body will start making hCg and other hormones will shift (estrogen and progesterone) to sustain the pregnancy. Once this happens periods usually stop. It’s uncommon for a woman to have a period once she is pregnant, but it’s not unheard of.

As far as how early symptoms can manifest, it’s different for every woman and every pregnancy. The soonest would be after implantation since that is when the hormones shift. So a woman could notice that a few days before her missed period or about 8 or 9 days past ovulation (depending on how long implantation took).

A bunch of things can happen including that the pregnancy will continue to term. When I found out I was pregnant with my second son, it was a surprise because I’ve been having my periods (not the situation you’re talking about but proof that the body is weird.)

@Seaofclouds is correct, but it is possible to get pregnant during your period; so if you’re practicing birth control you’ll be advised to continue even of you have intercourse during you period. People who think that having intercourse then is safe from pregnancy are called “parents”.

My egg got itself fertilized on the last day of my period, both times. The last day meaning that I needed a very thin pad in order to keep undies clean.

It is impossible to get pregnant ‘on your period’. But, it is possible for the sperm to reach the new egg shortly after the period. It is quite a journey for them… and it wont turn into a sewer monster if flushed on a tampon, as my first response suggested

It doesn’t happen often but there are circumstances that can make it possible, bicornate uterus or hormone confusion due to medications taken. If a woman is bleeding and fertilization takes place in a tube, the bleeding will not end immediately.

Thank you so much! I feel much more reassured!