How To Use Safe Period Calculator To Avoid Pregnancy

While it is important to practice safe sex, it is equally important to use a safe period calculator method to avoid pregnancy. Usually the contraceptive burden or the burden of calculating safe period for sex falls on the woman.

Every sexually active person may or may not want a baby, so it’s always advisable to use proven contraceptives or a safe period calculation method to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.

Ladies, never ever, ever, underestimate the power of sperm… a small drop of semen on the end of a man’s penis carries enough sperm to fertilize all the women in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai combined! That’s around 18 million babies!

Many female contraceptives are available in the market along with male and female condoms but sometimes you may not have one on hand.

Also Read: 7 Early Signs That You Are Pregnant

So if you have any of the following questions read on:

1. Will I become pregnant if I have sex during periods?
2. Is having sex safe just after periods is over?
3. Can I have sex just before getting my period?
4. What is the safe period for not getting pregnant?
5. How many safe days are there of a woman after periods?
6. What is a menstrual cycle safe and unsafe days? Are 5 days after period safe or 7?
7. What are some safe days for not getting pregnant?

What is a Safe Period Calculator and how to use it?

If you have a very regular menstrual cycle of 28 to 30 days, then it is very easy to calculate your safe period. For you 7 days before your period and 7 days right after your period ends is mostly considered infertile period or “safe” period.

If you have irregular or fluctuating periods again the first 5 to 7 days after period gets over is “safe”. Even then the last 5 to 7 days before menstruating begins is considered “safe”. These “safe” days can fluctuate depending on a woman’s hormones and change in diet. With irregular periods it’s difficult to calculate these days. Therefore, the first 5 days after you’ve had a period are perfectly safe to have sex.

Safe Sex Calculator to avoid pregnancy:

A menstrual cycle is calculated from the first day of your period to the first day of the next period. 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.

No good thing in life comes without reading! Remember your parents saying this? Well, it’s true in this case as well! Just stick with me till the end and you will understand how to have unprotected sex in the safe period.

Understanding a Woman’s Menstrual Cycle

Understanding the three stages of a woman’s menstrual cycle could help prevent an unwanted pregnancy. The menstrual cycle on an average should be 28 days. The first day that you bleed is considered the first day of your menstrual cycle. It can be divided into 3 phases.

• pre-ovulatory,
• ovulation,
• post-ovulatory or the luteal phase,

The Pre-Ovulatory Phase:

Days 2 till Day 14 is the pre-ovulatory phase. Your body is releasing hormones that stimulate the eggs to grow. These hormones also begin to prepare your womb or uterus just in case you get pregnant. The disgusting thick blood clots that you bleed during your periods come from this only.

The Ovulation Phase:

As the name suggests, you begin to ovulate or release an egg! Don’t you feel like a hen? J This is the fertile period where a woman can become pregnant. It doesn’t last more than 2 days.

The Post Ovulatory:

This last phase can be anywhere between 10 to 16 days, average being 14 days. Two things can happen. If you were having sex, you could be pregnant. Or lucky you – the next menstrual cycle begins! What a relief to see those blood spots, especially if you were being naughty! For an average woman cycle should be 28 days. Here, ovulation will occur on the 14th day. For a woman whose cycle is anywhere between 26 to 32 days, ovulation can occur between the 12th and 19th day.

How sperms impact a woman’s fertility

Infertility period depends on the life of both a woman’s egg and a man’s sperm.

Your egg can remain alive for only 24 hours, and if the fertilization does not happen, it dies. A sperm can remain alive for 3 to 5 days inside a woman’s body. So, even if you had sex five days before ovulation, you could still get pregnant.

Will this safe period calculator method work for me?

• If your menstrual cycle is less than 26 days or longer than 32 days, this safe period calculator method will not work for you.
• If you have just given birth, this method can work only after you have had six regular menstrual cycles.
• Young Teenagers and women nearing menopause have hormonal fluctuations. This method will not work properly for them.
• Women suffering from PCOS or Polycystic ovary syndrome. It is a hormonal disorder which causes fluctuation in the dates of the menstrual cycle.

The expected failure rate of this method is about 3 to 4% per annum.

Fertility Awareness-Based Methods to calculate safe period

Fertility awareness methods or FAMs are based on how aware you are of your body. Based on the hormones being secreted, your body sends you certain signs. If you become “aware” of them, you will be able to predict safe and unsafe days to have sex.

#1. Base Body Temperature:

Track you body temperature every day. The day you ovulate, usually there will be a rise in temperature.

#2. Sexual Cravings:

A woman’s instinct is a real thing and nature is very much responsible for it. When you ovulate, nature tries to nudge you to have sex. So, if you listen to your body carefully, if it tells you that you need a good roll in the sack- you are ovulating! Not applicable for nymphomaniacs! 🙂

#3. Mucus discharge:

I know yucky! Why are even talking about it?Well, that’s because your vaginal discharge will change the day you ovulate. so, check your panties carefully!

#4. Sympto-Thermal Method:

Now, I am going all sciency on you! This method is well, a combination of all the above! Track your basal body temp, vaginal mucus, abdominal heaviness and breast tenderness and voila! You will know your safe and unsafe days for getting pregnant.

#5. Standard Days Method:

If you have a normal or standard menstrual cycle that is between 26 and 32 days, this method works to record your monthly periods and determine your safe and unsafe days. By this method your unsafe are from days 8 to 19.

Are FAMs an effective way of calculating safe period? 

Statistics show that every 100 families who use FAMs for one year, 24 women could get pregnant – which means the probability of pregnancy is 24%. This should be adjusted for deviations, because many do not know how to use the methods correctly. Families that practice FAMs correctly, have only a one to nine chance probability of getting pregnant. One in nine – nine months! 😛

Fertility Awareness methods will work effectively for you:

• If you follow the instructions completely.
• If you have only a single sex partner – who is also committed to using FAMs.
• If you check and chart your fertility signs religiously.
• If you are alright with using a combination of pull-out, diaphragm or a cap, and other contraceptives on fertile days.

The fertility awareness based methods cannot be used in isolation. To be effective, both partners need to co operate.

Advantages of Using FAMs For Calculating Safe Period:

• FAMs is a fairly cheap and inexpensive way to use. It is safe to use, unlike contraceptive pills which impact hormones.
• Partners develop responsibility and sensitivities for each other’s bodies.
• FAMs establish an optimum fertility phase for planned pregnancy.
• You can track and improve premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) symptoms very well.
• Religious concerns that don’t allow artificial contraceptive methods are catered for.
• Absolutely no medications involved!

Disadvantages Of Using FAMs to calculate safe period:

• Failure rate compared to condoms and other traditional methods is slightly high as accurate prediction of safe period, becomes difficult if periods are irregular.
• FAMs don’t provide protection against sexually transmitted diseases like condoms do.
• A very close tracking of safe and unsafe days is required.
• Medication can affect the signs of these methods, and a pregnancy can happen.
  Sex abstention or use of a contraceptive is required for the fertile and unsafe days in each menstrual cycle.

Can I use FAMs methods to avoid pregnancy?

You cannot use FAMs as a method to avoid pregnancy if:

• You have irregular periods
• You have an uncooperative partner.
• Your partner or you have any sexually transmitted diseases or if the female has abnormal vaginal discharge.
• You’re unable to keep a track of your menstrual cycles.
• You have just delivered or are breastfeeding. Even teenage girls or any woman nearing menopause stage can’t use these methods as hormones are in a flux.
• You take contraceptive intermittently.

Many couples these days are now resorting to the “pull out” or “withdrawal” method of contraception. You could use a combination of “safe period” and “pull out method” and most of the time it works well for couples.

How To Have Safe And Enjoyable Sex?

If you’ve used the above mentioned methods to calculate safe period and are sure about having unprotected sex with your partner, here are some ways to have safe and enjoyable sex.

#1. Get an HIV Test For Both Partners:

Will you be able to have awesome sex if you’re worried about getting a disease? No, right! One can only relax and enjoy if they know they are having safe sex and that they’re not going to contract some STD. You and your partner can both visit a gynaecologist annually for STD testing and even get a vaginal pap smear and pelvic examination done.

#2. Condoms:

Condoms are a popular contraceptive method as they are considered 98% safe. While condoms do prevent unwanted pregnancies and reduce STIs, it is not preferred by some as they reduce pleasure.

#3. Vaginal Lubricants:

Vaginal lubrications help to increase sexual pleasure for couples, especially after childbirth. You will not be able to enjoy sex if the vagina is dry as it can lead to irritation and pain. While there are many oil, water, and silicone-based lubricants in the market, coconut oil is best. You need not look further than your dressing table or kitchen to find some coconut oil!

#4. Tease Your Partner:

Plan dates and tease each other so that both of you look forward to the moment you’re together. Revealing lingerie, leaving suggestive messages will enhance your mood and sexual pleasure.

#5. Try Something Different:

Try a different position or a different place to have more fun. Some couples enjoy staycations at hotels where they get to use a Jacuzzi or bathtub. There is no dearth of new experiences which you can plan, after searching on the internet.

#6. Sex Toys and Sex Play

Adult or sex toys can really spice up your sex life and bring pleasure. Dildos, vibrators, feathers, massage oils, edible handcuffs, flavoured condoms can really spice up the fun in the bedroom. Pretend play, role playing, strip poker or truth or dare can spice up mundane experiences.

Safe ways to have sex and avoid pregnancy:

#1. Condoms

Always treat a penis like a loaded gun! It is dangerous! Protect yourself with a condom! The complaint of a majority of couples is that condoms reduce sexual pleasure. While this is true, you just help it. Condoms are one of the most effective contraceptives, preventing pregnancy about 98 percent of the time.

#2. Cap

A cap is a female contraceptive. It is made of is a silicone cup shaped which can be insert it into your vagina.  A a contraceptive, cap is 92-96%effective in preventing  unplanned pregnancy. Four to eight women out of every 100 could still become pregnant.

#3. Diaphragm

A diaphragm is like a female condom, inserted into the vagina before sex. It covers the cervix so that sperm can’t get into the womb. When used with spermicides they are 86 to 94 percent effective in preventing unplanned pregnancy. The diaphragm should be left in its place for at least six hours after intercourse.

#4. Oral contraceptive aka The Pill

The pill can protect you 99.99% of the times against unplanned pregnancy, but it can’t protect you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). You need to take them daily, preferably at the same time.

Pills have been known to make you put on weight, and mess with hormones which is why many women don’t like this method. This is also cited as a major reason for causing infertility in young women and is not something I advocate.

#5. Emergency Contraception or the Day After Pill

This Day After Pill or emergency contraceptive pill should not be confused with Abortion pill. These are two very different things.

This contraceptive method has gained a lot of popularity among urban Indian women. This pill is most effective if taken within 24 to 72 hours of having unprotected sex. The earlier it is taken, the better it works. The problem with this method is that it is grossly misused.

Young girls and women have been known to take it upto 4-5 times a month. This messes with their menstrual cycle and also leads to a lot of medical issues. So please, please keep it as a last resort or Plan B –and not as your first choice of contraception. You can also try using an app for safe period calculation.

What kind of contraception do you use to avoid getting pregnant? Have you ever used the safe period calculator? Share below!

Reference:

Why Contraceptive Pills Are Not Good? 

Carcinogenic Effects of Contraceptive Pills  – Who Study

Oral Conception Effects and Use

Standard Period Contraception Method

Contraceptive Technology By Robert Anthony Hatcher, Anita L. Nelson, M.D.