Yes - and this myth direction is riskier: ovulation approaches after a period, and sperm survive up to 5 days, so sex 2 or 3 days after bleeding stops can already sit inside the fertile window - earlier still in short cycles.
Per OWH, the fertile window is the five days before ovulation plus the day itself - often opening within days of the period's end. Avoiding: contraception every time, no calendar exceptions. Trying: the days right after the period deserve attention, not dismissal.
What to do
Common questions
Can you get pregnant right after your period?
Yes - and this direction of the myth is riskier than the "during" version. The days right after a period feel safe because the period just ended, but ovulation is approaching, not receding: in a typical 28-day cycle, ovulation lands around day 14 - a week after a week-long period ends - and sperm survive up to 5 days, so sex 2 or 3 days after bleeding stops is already inside the fertile window. In shorter cycles (21 to 24 days), ovulation can arrive just days after the period ends, and "right after" is nearly prime time. Irregular cycles make calendar-guessing unreliable entirely. The numbers to hold, per the Office on Women's Health: the fertile window spans the five days before ovulation plus the day itself - for many cycles, that window opens within days of the period ending. If avoiding pregnancy: contraception every time, no calendar exceptions. If trying: the days right after the period are worth attention, not dismissal - track ovulation signs or use predictor kits. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you map your own cycle.