One of the most common methods of contraception is the calendar method. The essence is in the calculation of “safe” days when it is impossible to conceive a child. But many girls are worried about whether it is possible to get pregnant right after your period? Yes, but the probability is very low.
The Calendar Method of Contraception
The calendar method of contraception is based on the correct calculation of the menstrual cycle. But it does not exclude the possibility of pregnancy immediately after menstruation. This method is suitable only for those, whose menstruation days occur in a strictly regular cyclicity. Otherwise, it is impossible to predict its development.
The basis of the calendar method of contraception consists in the possibility to predict ovulation day, but it does not rule out the possibility to get pregnant right after your period. Factors that may influence ovulation:
- Woman’s health
- Hormonal balance
- Nutrition
In addition, this method is quite laborious and requires a strict daily mark on the occurrence of menstruation, the strict observation of the body, and a clear timetable for compliance with the measurement of basal body temperature.
Advantages of the Calendar Method of Contraception
Despite the errors, the calendar method of contraception has many advantages over other methods. After all, for most women, this method is the most appropriate. These are women contraindicated for other contraceptive methods – breast-feeding women or women with health problems.
Such contraceptives as:
- Spirals
- Condoms
- Vaginal caps and other mechanical means
do not make sex 100% safe and can irritate the genital organs. Oral means, in its turn, contain hormonal agents, often adversely affecting the female body.
Physiology of the Menstrual Cycle
The female menstrual cycle has three phases – periods. First, one follicle in the ovary is determined. It grows over several days, turning into an egg. When the last matures, it goes into the uterus, ready for fertilization. The maximum chance of getting pregnant falls during this period. It generally lasts from two to five days.
If fertilization has happened these days, the luteal phase begins when the formed embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus and begins to develop and grow. If the egg does not unite with a spermatozoid, it begins to break down. The surface layer of the endometrium is rejected and displayed along with the dead egg during menstruation. On this basis, we can claim that the probability of getting pregnant during this period or immediately after menstruation is reduced to zero.
Opportunities To Get Pregnant After Period
If a woman is not watching her menstrual cycle, does not know its features, she could face an unexpected pregnancy that occurs during menstruation or immediately after their completion. When it is possible?
- The menstrual cycle is too short, namely less than 21 days. In this case, ovulation can occur soon after the last day of period
- The duration of menstruation is too long, more than 7 days. There is the likelihood that in the last days of menstruation new egg matures and is ready to fertilize
- The absence of the strict regularity of the menstrual cycle. Here, ovulation occurs on different days, which is practically impossible to predict
- Parallel contact bleeding not related to menstruation, but that a woman can take for it and miss the ovulation date. It may occur during sexual intercourse due to the presence of various diseases of the cervix
- The phenomenon of spontaneous ovulation – simultaneous ovulation of multiple eggs
Do not unconditionally rely on the calendar method of contraception. It is possible to conceive during or after menstruation, even if you have calculated everything to the smallest detail. The question is not only about the features of the female body. The fact is that spermatozoids retain their mobility for a few days and fertilize the egg when it is ready. If you do not plan to have a child, it is better to use a more reliable means: oral contraceptives or condoms.
Born in Belarus, 1985, a pedagogue and family psychologist, mother. Taking part in procedures of social adaptation of the foster children in new families. Since 2015 is a chief editor of the motherhow.com project, selecting the best and up-to-date material for those, who are planning, expecting, and already having babies.