How to count safe days after your period?
Moms, do you know that you can use natural birth control to avoid pregnancy? The key is to know how to count your safe days after your menstrual period. Here’s what you need to know about the calendar method.
There are always couples who are sexually active but they are not ready to have a baby yet. In this case, family planning plays an important role to avoid getting an unwanted pregnancy.
Well, there are still a lot of contraceptive methods to choose from. You can choose depending on different factors such as needs, preferences, financial status, etc.
For couples who don’t want an artificial birth control method, you can go the natural route. One of the popular among these is the calendar method. If you are planning to choose this, here are the things you should know on how to count safe days after your period.
What is the calendar method? What are the things you should know?
The calendar method is one of the most popular natural birth control methods for women. | Image from Pexels
According to the Department of Health (DOH),
“The rhythm/calendar method is considered a traditional method of family planning. It is not a modern method and is therefore not being recommended for couples to use. The rhythm method involves counting the days before and after menstruation to predict a woman’s fertile period.”
The calendar method, also known as the rhythm method is a natural family planning strategy that is used by a lot of women to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. In this method, you will be monitoring your natural cycle of fertility as well as your menstrual cycle. This is important so you can avoid having sexual intercourse during the days when you are ovulating.
It requires careful record-keeping and persistence if you are going to choose the calendar method. If you are planning to have a baby, you should avoid having sex during your fertile days each month.
Basically, the calendar method is about identifying two of the major things for women: one is your most fertile days, and two the safe days after your period. Tracking these two consistently will give you the best result for this method.
Benefits and risks of the calendar method
It has been known that the calendar method is the least reliable form of contraception. Despite this, there are still a lot of women who are still keen on following the calendar method. Here are the following reasons why:
- Unlike other birth control methods, this one has little to no cost because it is natural.
- It will not require women to drink any medication.
- Other contraceptives have side effects but the calendar method has none.
- If ever you have decided to finally conceive a baby, you can stop this easily and immediately.
- The calendar method gives couples more satisfaction when it comes to sex because there are no barriers.
These reasons may sound good, but this method is proven by experts that have a low guarantee rate when it comes to avoiding pregnancy. Here are some of the disadvantages of choosing this form of contraception:
- Some birth control methods can help you avoid getting sexually transmitted infections, calendar method will not protect you from this.
- Consistency is always the key because you need to track your menstrual cycles for at least six months before the method can be considered reliable.
- During your fertile days, you should avoid having sexual intercourse or use backup contraception to guarantee that you will not get pregnant.
- You should inform your partner if ever you will be choosing this form of contraception.
- As we said, it has a higher failure rate compared to other forms of birth control, such as condoms, diaphragms, and birth control pills, patches, or injections.
To ensure the effectiveness of the calendar method, it all boils down to how accurate you are in monitoring your ovulation and fertile windows and knowing how to count your safe days after your period.
How to count safe days after a menstrual period
If you are already wondering how it is done, we will teach you step by step.
First, you should chart the length of your menstrual cycle. Start with the first day of your menstrual period as Day 1 and do so continually until your next period starts again, after which you start counting for a new menstrual cycle.
In order for this method to be reliable, you need at least four to six menstrual cycles to be able to predict when you are most fertile in your ovulation calendar. Know the duration of your cycles, and take note of the shortest and longest cycles.
How do you know when is the start of your fertile window, and when does it end? Let us do a little math here:
Note your shortest cycle (ex. 27 days), and subtract 18 from the total number of days (27 – 18 = 9).
Example
If the first day of your current menstrual period is May 4, add 9 days (including the first day), and this will give you the approximate first fertile day in your ovulation calendar (May 4 + 9 = May 12 is the first fertile day).
To know the last fertile day in your ovulation calendar, take your longest cycle (ex. 30 days) and subtract 11 from the total number of days (30 – 11 = 19). From May 4, add 19 days (including the first day) to give you the approximate last fertile day (May 4 + 19 = May 22 is the last fertile day).
Whether conceiving or avoiding pregnancy, look out between these fertile dates to either have intercourse or avoid doing so.
Calendar method has a low guarantee rate when it comes to avoiding pregnancy. | Photo grabbed from Pexels
Do doctors recommend the calendar method for birth control?
According to Dr. Arlene Bravo, an OB-Gynecologist from Makati this form of contraception has a high failure rate. Since it’s a form of natural planning, the calendar method is highly susceptible to human error.
The effectiveness of this contraception also depends on the following factors:
- Fertility tracking method: Which tracking method do you use? Is it an actual calendar or an application on your mobile phone?
- Does your menstrual cycle regular?
- How accurate or consistent you are tracking your menstrual cycles? Are you persistent in counting your safe days?
- Are you ready to abstain from sex around your fertile or ovulation date? Do you want to use condoms during these days?
The calendar method can be effective for couples that always use it consistently and correctly. According to Planned Parenthood, among women who use this method inconsistently or incorrectly, up to 24 out of 100 become pregnant each year.
So if you are 100% decided not to want a baby, you might want to reconsider using this type of method in preventing unwanted pregnancy.
Is it the birth control method for you?
Unfortunately, the calendar method is not for everyone. According to Dr. Bravo, it is only intended for women who can follow what is needed for this method religiously, and those with more predictable ovulation patterns. If you have irregular periods, this method is not for you,
“Calendar method works with those patients that can comply, And also works for those patients that are regularly menstruating, meaning they can compure when they will have their period, and it’s predictable,” she said.
If you insist on giving this form of contraception a try, the first thing you need to do is to prepare. Track your period for at least six months before relying on the calendar method as your main form of contraception. It would help to consult your OB-GYN first if:
- If you just recently had your first menstrual period
- You just gave birth to a baby
- You have recently stopped taking birth control pills or other hormone contraceptives
- Breastfeeding is the one you choose to feed your baby
- Your age is nearing the menopausal stage
- You have irregular menstrual cycles that can not track consistently
If you have irregular menstrual cycles, the calendar method may be a poor choice for you. Talk to your doctor to learn more about birth control options that are best for you to use.
How to track your menstrual cycle?
“Once you get to be sexually active, consult with a gynecologist so that we can guide you on the right things to do,” | Photo grabbed from Pexels
To increase the effectiveness of the calendar method, you can use it alongside other forms of natural contraception such as the following:
Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
Another method of knowing your ovulation calendar is by tracking the rise in your body temperature when at rest. To be able to chart your ovulation calendar, you should take your body temperature with a basal thermometer, which measures temperature at 1/10 of a degree, ideally first thing when you wake up before doing any activity as this is when your body is still at rest.
A woman’s basal body temperature (BBT) is said to rise when a woman is ovulating. This may not give a consistent accurate reading of your ovulation calendar but may be reliable when you can time sexual intercourse with your partner, as this is based on how your body reacts to the hormones released during ovulation.
Billings Method
Billings method is a natural birth control method done by checking your cervical fluid or vaginal discharge. Your vaginal discharge constantly changes in reaction to the hormones produced throughout your ovulation calendar.
Right after menstruation, cervical fluid may start out as yellowish, white, or cloudy. The nearer you are to ovulation, the clearer and more stretchy it becomes, somewhat resembling raw egg whites.
Here’s a tip: when you feel most wet is when you are likely to be most fertile.
To help you track your monthly cycle, you can use ovulation tracker apps on your phone where you can also record the days where you had sexual intercourse. This will help you check your cycles accurately and consistently.
While the calendar method can help in counting your safe days and avoiding your fertile windows, it is deemed unreliable in avoiding pregnancy. It is still best to consult your OB-GYN and discuss other contraceptive methods with higher success rates.
Dr. Bravo also reminds couples that whether the goal is to conceive or to avoid pregnancy temporarily, it is important to seek the help of an expert.
“Once you get to be sexually active, consult with a gynecologist so that we can guide you on the right things to do,” she said.
There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing the right contraceptives for you. Professionals and health experts are big help for you to not get pregnant.
Additional information from Ange Villanueva
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