Your Girlfriend’s Cycle: How Likely Is She to Get Pregnant?

Avail NYC exists to be a safe haven for women and men facing an unexpected pregnancy or seeking support after an abortion. We are not a medical provider.

Gone are the days when contraception was solely the woman’s responsibility. If your girlfriend becomes unexpectedly pregnant, it affects both of you. So, it makes sense that men like you are asking more questions, looking for answers, and want to be informed about their girlfriend’s cycles and when they are most likely to get pregnant.

Let’s get started.

What is a “cycle?”

Each month a woman’s body prepares for a possible pregnancy, and that hormonal process is her menstrual cycle or just her “cycle.” 

The length of a woman’s cycle is measured from the first day of her period to the first day of her next period. Cycle length varies from woman to woman and can range from twenty-one to thirty-five days, with the average being twenty-eight days.

There are four phases to her cycle: menstruation, the follicular phase, ovulation, and the luteal phase. Let’s look at what that means in regards to getting pregnant.

Which phase in my girlfriend’s cycle is she more likely to get pregnant?

Your girlfriend is more likely to get pregnant in the ovulatory phase of her cycle, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen at other points in the cycle, and here’s why! 

The ovulation phase is when a woman’s ovary releases an egg. If you think you might be “safe” and have unprotected sex during the follicular phase of your cycle, remember this: your sperm can live up to five days right into her ovulation cycle. That creates an environment where her egg and your sperm are in the same place at the same time, and she could potentially get pregnant.

A woman’s egg lives about twelve to twenty-four hours, and a man’s sperm lives up to five days. That means there is about a six-day window each month, around ovulation, that your girlfriend is most likely to get pregnant if you have unprotected sex.

When in her cycle is my girlfriend ovulating?

Ovulation occurs about two weeks before her expected period.

How can I tell when it’s two weeks before my girlfriend’s period?

Excellent question. If your girlfriend is one of more than one hundred million women who use a period tracking app, ask her if she will share it with you. The popular period tracking apps have the capability for cycle sharing and push notifications.

If your girlfriend isn’t comfortable sharing her app with you, ask if it would be okay to download your own app and track her period yourself. This isn’t weird or abnormal. It’s taking responsibility and empowering yourself with knowledge!

Common Myths About Getting Pregnant

Avail NYC supports both women and men by offering a safe place to talk through your experiences, especially when facing an unexpected pregnancy. If you have further questions or think your girlfriend might be pregnant, make a free confidential appointment with a male client advocate today.

Avail NYC exists to be a safe haven for women and men facing an unexpected pregnancy or seeking support after an abortion. We are not a medical provider.