Sex is the ultimate pleasure man and woman can enjoy together. But the apprehension of pregnancy, especially when you are not ready for it is a constant stressor. While there are many ways to avoid pregnancy these days, the oldest and traditional methods are still considered highly effective. Calculating the “safe day” as per your fertility cycle is one such method. But how do you keep track. The period cycle is complex and at times erratic for many women. This makes it trickier to calculate your period cycle.
To simplify the calculations, we have shared some tried and tested tips here. Read on and enjoy the safest sex to the fullest.
Understanding safe or unfertile period
To determine the best time to have unprotected sex without getting pregnant, you must understand the concept of unfertile period. Ideally the period cycle is of 28 days. In between this time, there are days when the chances of pregnancy are significantly reduced. This span of days is called the unfertile period.
Biologically, during this time the egg is not there to fertilize. As a result, if you have unprotected sex, there is nothing to initiate the fertilization process and hence you would not get pregnant. Usually, this period is before and other the ovulation days.
Understanding the phases of the period cycle
There are three phases of the period cycle. Understanding each phase is an important part to calculate your period cycle. The cycle starts from the first day of menstrual bleeding. Once you understand each stage, you can effectively determine the approximate “safe period” for intercourse:
Follicular phase- the first stage
This is the phase that comes before ovulation. The maturation of the follicles in the ovary takes place during this time. The estradiol hormone plays a role during this phase and helps in the secretion of FSH or follicle stimulating hormones. The phase ends at ovulation.
Ovulation or the second phase
The phase when a matured ovarian follicle ruptures to discharge and ovum is called the ovulation phase. This is the time of the period cycle when you get pregnant.
Luteal or the third phase
The corpus luteum is created in this phase which terminates in pregnancy or degradation of the corpus luteum in the form of bleeding during periods.
Tips to track the fertility window and avoid getting pregnant
Now that you are familiar with the different stages of the period cycle, let us explain how you calculate the best time for intercourse:
Calculate your fertile window
To get the best results, take regular notes on start and end date of the period cycle over 8-12 months. Figure out the longest and the shortest span based on this record. You need to subtract 18 from the shortest cycle to get the first day of fertile window. To get the last day of the fertile window subtract 9 from the longest cycle. This way you get the fertile window. Avoid having sex without protection during this time span.
Sex during periods
It can gross out a number of people, but sex during the periods cycle is actually safe and even highly pleasurable. The chances of pregnancy are also much lower though not entirely eliminated.
Combining withdrawal method
To be absolutely safe, you can use withdrawal method along with calculating the safe period. Withdrawal is an age-old method of withdrawing the penis right before ejaculating. This way, the sperm does not enter the vagina and the chance of fertilization is negligible.
In short, it is always best to rely on protection during sex. But if you are absolutely inclined towards absolute pleasure, knowing these calculations would be of great help.
