Can you get pregnant if you have unprotected sex on the first day of your period?

Someone asked us: Can you get pregnant if you have unprotected sex on the first day of your period??

It’s possible to get pregnant any time you have unprotected sex, regardless of what day it is in your period. Sperm can live in your body for about six days after sex, so it’s always best to use condoms and/or other forms of birth control like the pill, IUD, or ring to prevent pregnancy.

The morning after pill (also known as emergency contraception) can be taken up to five days (120 hours) after sex to prevent pregnancy. It’s safe and won’t cause any long-term side effects. It also won’t affect your ability to get pregnant in the future. 

The brands Plan B One-Step and Next Choice are available from drugstores and health centers without a prescription. Though there are many different brands of morning-after pills, they all work the same way. You can also get a prescription for another type of emergency contraception called ella from your nearest Planned Parenthood health center or another family planning or health center.

Learn more about your birth control options.