How To Calculate Safe Period Days To Avoid Pregnancy

Unplanned pregnancies can be a cause of great concern. You need to be careful and take necessary precautions to protect yourself from an unwanted pregnancy.

If you want to make love without the fear of getting pregnant but at the same time avoid any artificial birth control methods, then you should know how to calculate your safe period to have sex.

How To Calculate Safe Period Days:

A menstrual cycle is calculated from the first day of your period to the first day of the next period (1). Safe period is from day 1 to 7 and day 21 to the rest of the cycle, when you can have sex without worrying about getting pregnant. This period will not be the same for all women as it depends on the length of the menstrual cycle.

The average menstrual cycle is 28 days or a little less, but if your cycle is longer than 28 days, the safe period is not reliable.

It is important to have an understanding of the three stages of the menstrual cycle to avoid pregnancy.

Stages Of Menstrual Cycle:
The length of the three stages of menstrual cycle differ from one woman to the other and also from cycle to cycle, but the average duration would be 28 days (2).

1. The Pre-Ovulatory or The Follicular Phase:
It occurs in between the days 2 and 14 when your body releases hormones that stimulate the eggs in the ovaries to grow. The hormones will also thicken the uterus lining to receive the fertilized egg. This phase is controlled by Estradiol hormone (3).

2. The Ovulation Phase:
It occurs in the middle of your menstrual cycle where a mature ovarian follicle opens up to release an egg for fertilization. It is the most sensitive phase where a woman has a great chance to become pregnant.

3. The Post Ovulatory Or Luteal Phase:
It is the last phase, which begins after ovulation and ends either in pregnancy or in the next menstrual cycle. In this phase, the uterus lining turns thicker prepare for pregnancy. The luteal phase lasts from 10 to 16 days with the average being 14 days. But if it is less than 12 days, it is hard to become pregnant. The length of the phase varies from woman to woman, but usually remain consistent from cycle to cycle.

The infertility period depends on the lifespans of both egg and sperm. In an average 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation occurs on the 14th day. For woman whose cycle is between 26 and 32 days, it could occur anytime between 12th and 19th day.

A sperm can remain alive for 3 to 5 days in the reproductive tract. Therefore, here is a high possibility to conceive if you have unsafe sex five days before ovulation time. The egg remains alive for only 24 hours, and if the fertilization does not occur within that time, it will die away.

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