Top 10 Myths About Safe Sex and Sexual Health
4 of 12
MYTH: You can't get pregnant during your period
It is unlikely, but still possible—especially if you're not using a condom or birth control. Some women have long periods that overlap with the beginning of ovulation, which means they can be fertile even though they're menstruating.
Say you have a short cycle (21 days, for example) and your period lasts a week. If you have sex close to the end of your period, you could become pregnant since sperm can live for up to 72 hours in your reproductive tract.
There's also the infamous late-in-life pregnancy that can occur during perimenopause, when periods are erratic. Experts say it's not safe to ditch birth control until you haven't had a period for a year.
Health's Top Stories
Get a weekly look at the most popular stories on Health.com.
Related Features
Hot Topics on Health.com
11 Foods for Healthy Bones
Maintaining great bone-health is essential to your mobility and quality of life. A diet high in calcium and vitamin D will help ward off thinning causes by Osteoporosis, and these foods are loaded with them! Read MoreMore Popular Stories on Health.com
- Quiz: Do You Know How to Beat Heartburn?
- 8 Classic Snacks Under 80 Calories
- Foods That Fight GERD
- 10 Ways to Have Great Posture as You Age
- How Friends Make You Healthier
- 7 Heart-Healthy Foods
- 13 Conditions That Mimic Fibromyalgia
- Body and Soul: Bone-Building Action
- 23 Easy, Low-Fat Dinners
- Get a Beautiful Butt in 4 Weeks
