A safe period is a time when your chances of getting significant after having sex are the lowest equally compared to other times. Knowing the safe period of the month is necessary if you are not trying for a babe. Even so, information technology should be noted that in that location is not a 100 pct guarantee that having sexual practice during this catamenia will prevent pregnancy for sure. This is a kind of natural contraceptive method that can exist fully effective just when you know and empathise your menstrual bike accurately. Yet, a alter in the cycle might affect your calculation which may cause discrepancies, in turn, leading to an accidental pregnancy. Read on to know more nearly the safe menses of the calendar month and ways to calculate information technology.

What Is The Safe Catamenia For Having Sex?

A menstrual cycle is calculated from the offset day of your flow to the beginning twenty-four hour period of the next period. Therefore, in a typical 28-day cycle, ovulation usually occurs around day 14, when the chances of getting meaning are loftier. Sperm tin alive for three to five days inside a woman'due south trunk, and a woman's egg volition live for 12 to 24 hours. Therefore, you are likely to get pregnant if you have sexual practice anytime on the five days before ovulation and ovulation day (i).

But this does not mean that the remaining days are prophylactic for having unprotected sex. Regardless of when you have sex, it is recommended that you use birth command methods to minimizes the chances of pregnancy.

Read on if you wish to learn how to calculate the safe period when the chances of unwanted pregnancies are less.

Methods That Might Assist Yous Calculate The Safe Period

The methods that may help in computing the safe menstruation are:

  1. Tracking the fertile window
  1. Fertility awareness-based methods

1. Tracking your fertile window

Tracking of the fertile window helps yous determine your fertility period and avoid unsafe sex. It may take several period cycles to understand the fertile window correctly. And, this works if your periods are regular and the length of the wheel is compatible. Also, information technology requires y'all to track your menstruum with precision for months.

Hither is how to track the fertile period.

  • At least for six to 12 consecutive months, notation down the twenty-four hour period yous begin your period and count the days of the cycle until you start your next period. (Get-go mean solar day is when you begin haemorrhage).
  • Then determine the shortest and longest number of menstrual cycle days. From this, yous may now calculate the fertile window based on your average menstrual cycle.
  • Subtract 18 from the length of the shortest cycle. This will give you lot the first fertile day of your average menstrual cycle. For example, if it was a 24-day cycle, 24-hour interval 6 is the first fertile twenty-four hours.
  • Subtract xi from the length of the longest cycle. It gives the last fertile twenty-four hours. For example, if information technology is a 32-mean solar day bike, mean solar day 21 is the last fertile day.
  • Therefore, the fertile period is between twenty-four hours six and day 21 when you need to avert unprotected sex activity (2).

This method is also called the calendar method and is used past many.

2. Fertility awareness-based methods (FAMs)

Fertility awareness, also known every bit natural family unit planning, is a way of predicting safe and dangerous days of your menstrual cycle. The methods under this category are usually based on certain signs your body gives in response to the hormones that cause ovulation (3).

How Do FAMs Work?

The FAMs work by alerting yous on your ovulation days. Once you know your days of ovulation, you tin avoid sexual activity or apply a contraceptive to avoid getting pregnant.

These methods could assistance yous know the dangerous days that come before and after ovulation. You may as well track the fertility pattern, mark the days when you lot are fertile, and days you are not, which tin be useful when you want to conceive. However, yous accept to be conscientious as the design may change with cycles.

What are the dissimilar fertility awareness-based methods?

Here are a few FAMs you lot can endeavour to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.

1. Basal torso temperature method

The basal body temperature volition exist low in the initial stage of your menstrual cycle. It increases slightly later on you start ovulating (most 0.5 to i°F) and remains high for the remaining part of the bike. It falls once more before you first your adjacent period. Tracking your temperature twenty-four hours by 24-hour interval will help you empathise when yous start to ovulate.
Once you lot know the dates, avoid unprotected sex activity for 3 days after ovulation to avoid pregnancy. Although this method is not a100% reliable, it is widely practiced by many women to this day (4).

two. Cervical mucus or ovulation method

The hormones that control the menstrual wheel also stimulate the cervix to produce mucus, which normally gets collected in your neck and vagina. The quantity and consistency of the mucus modify only before and during ovulation.

The time when the mucus becomes clearer and more slippery than information technology is at other times is when you are nearly fertile. Once the ovulation is complete, you may experience dry days where at that place is no or little belch (5). You can learn to recognize these changes to predict the fertile and infertile days. However, this is also not a highly reliable method, as the levels of discharge vary based on hormonal changes.

3. Ovulation predictors

You lot may consider ownership test kits that tin help predict ovulation. They may be helpful in planning pregnancies, but you cannot completely depend on them to avoid pregnancies (six).

Advantages of using FAMs to avoid pregnancy

  • Inexpensive, convenient, and safety to use (as no hormones supplements or invasive devices are used).
  • Develops communication, responsibility, and cooperation amid partners.
  • Helpful in establishing an optimum fertility phase to plan a pregnancy.
  • Acceptable for couples with religious concerns about artificial contraceptive methods.
  • No medications involved.
  • You can get calendars, charts, and thermometers hands (seven).

Disadvantages of using FAMs to avoid pregnancy

  • The failure rate is loftier equally an authentic prediction of fertility is difficult.
  • There is no protection against sexually transmitted infections.
  • Tin be ho-hum, as you have to continue rails of your infertile days.
  • Less number of safe days for indulging in sex.
  • Training is vital.
  • Not constructive if the periods are irregular.
  • Takes several months to monitor the wheel patterns (seven).

Contraception Methods During Rubber Menstruation

Ideally, information technology is good to use contraceptives even during the safe catamenia to avoid pregnancy. Yous could use condoms, spermicides, natural family unit planning, oral contraceptives, implants, contraceptive rings, patches, IUDs, or surgical interventions including hysterectomy, tubal ligation, tubal sterilization, and vasectomy (viii). However, talk to your partner and your healthcare provider before determining which method is the best.

Adjacent, nosotros respond some of the common queries about the condom period to have sex and avert pregnancy.

Oftentimes Asked Questions

ane. Can I take sex during my catamenia?

Yeah, yous may have sex activity while on your catamenia, unless y'all are uncomfortable. Some women may experience that the mess due to the bleeding is highly inconvenient, while others don't listen it equally their libido is higher at this fourth dimension, and they enjoy intercourse more. Some women experience less period pain with sexual intercourse during periods. In whatsoever example, you may employ a safe to avoid the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

2. How many days after a period volition I start to ovulate?

Ovulation occurs 14 days earlier your side by side period if your cycle is regular. If you have an average 28-twenty-four hours menstrual cycle, you volition ovulate around the 14th day. If the cycle ranges from 26 to 32 days, y'all may ovulate anytime between the eighth and 19th day (9).

3. Are at that place whatever chances of getting pregnant if I have sex right after my period?

The probability is low. Your chances of getting meaning increment every bit you move into your fertility window. Having intercourse without contraception can create the possibility of pregnancy even outside your fertile period.

four. When can a woman non become pregnant?

In that location is no stage when a woman cannot get pregnant as ovulation and menstrual cycles are unpredictable at times. Still, y'all might use certain fertility sensation-based methods to runway your safe sex days when the chances of conception are less.

To calculate the condom period, it is essential to have a clear idea of your menstrual cycle and ovulation. Tracking your fertile window and using FAMs might only reduce your probability of getting pregnant just won't guarantee it. Discuss with your health care provider to choose the ideal option. Accept y'all tried any reliable methods that your doc suggested for tracking safe period? Practice share your experiences in the comments department adjacent.

References:

MomJunction'due south articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. Y'all tin acquire more about the authenticity of the data we present in our editorial policy.

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Dr Sachchidananda Maiti is a practising Consultant Gynaecologist & Obstetrician in Manchester, UK both in the National Health Service (NHS) and in private intendance at Mantle Mall Medical. He has had decades of clinical feel in the Britain and abroad. He specializes in managing high risk early on pregnancy complications and a diverseness of gynaecological weather condition using ultrasound scan, colposcopy, laparoscope... more

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She has been into health and health writing since 2010. She received her graduate degree in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola University, Osmania University and obtained a certification in 'Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy' from Ludwig... more