Do you have to have a period to get pregnant?
Ovulation, or the release of an egg by a woman’s ovary, happens before a woman’s period starts. So even if you do not have your period, you can still get pregnant. Ovulation Ovulation is the time each month an egg is released from a woman’s egg into the fallopian tube. Ovulation happens about 14 days before the start of the next menstrual period. Conception If the egg is not fertilized, you will start your menstrual period. When the egg is fertilized with sperm, pregnancy occurs. Significance Because ovulation comes before your menstrual period you might ovulate even without having a menstrual period the previous month. Ovulation Prediction Knowing when you are ovulating will help you know to have or avoid sex depending on your desires to get pregnant or avoid pregnancy. Ovulation can be detected by identifying changes in your cervical mucus or basal body temperature, or by using ovulation prediction tests. See the Resources section below for more information about predicting ovulation
