In order to fully understand what safe period is, and how it can be calculated, we would first of all highlight menstruation and the menstrual cycle.
What is Menstruation?
Menstruation is the monthly / cyclic shedding of the inner lining (endometrium) of the womb (uterus). This is also known as period.
The Menstrual Cycle
These are the series of events that happens, as a woman’s body prepares for pregnancy. It describes the hormonal changes that take place which results to ovulation and pregnancy, or menstruation, if pregnancy did not occur.
The average duration of normal Menstrual cycle is 28 days, with a range of 21 – 35 days.
A new menstrual cycle begins at the commencement of a woman’s menstrual flow. That means, the day your menses starts, marks the first day of a new cycle.
A new menstrual cycle begins at the commencement of a woman’s menstrual flow. That means, the day your menses starts, marks the first day of a new cycle.
How Does Pregnancy Occur?
For conception to take place, there must be fertilization.
Fertilization is the joining (union) of the male sex cell (sperm) and the female sex cell (egg or ovum).
The egg is released at ovulation, which is the 14th day following the onset of a new cycle, in a 28 day cycle. This would differ is different people depending on their cycle length.
The egg released at ovulation lives for 12 – 24hours before it is resorbed into the
body. This means, for pregnancy to occur, sperm must be available within the period egg is released.
The sperm can survive for 5days in a woman’s body. This means that, if a woman have unprotected intercourse within her unsafe period, the chances of her getting pregnant, is increased.
The Unsafe Period
These are the days in your menstrual cycle, when you are most likely to get pregnant following an unprotected penetrative vaginal intercourse.
The unsafe period is calculated by subtracting 18 from your shortest cycle, and 11 from your longest cycle. This would give you the range of days you are most likely to conceive.
To calculate this, you must keep a 6 to 9 months record of your cycle length, so as to determine the duration of the shortest and the longest cycle.
In a typical 28 day cycle, the unsafe period is day 10 – 16. This means that, any unprotected intercourse done during this period, have high chances of leading to conception.
Safe Period
These are the days in a woman’s menstrual cycle, in which she is unlikely to get pregnant following an unprotected intercourse. The safe period are the days outside the unsafe period as described above.
