Patient's question:
When I was in school, my classmates and girls had sex without using condoms or any other form of contraception, but they didn't get pregnant.They said it was because there's a period during menstruation when you can't get pregnant.
I want to ask what exactly that period is and if it's really safe to have sex without getting pregnant?
First follow-up question: I want to know when ovulation occurs and what its relationship is with the menstrual period. Thank you~!
Doctor's answer:
The safe period is commonly referred to as the "seven days before and eight days after" the menstrual period, meaning the days seven days before and eight days after the period are considered safe. The calculation method for the safe period is as follows: First, determine the date of the next menstrual period, then calculate the ovulation date, and finally establish the safe period. For women with a very regular menstrual cycle, it is easy to calculate the date of their next menstrual period. The ovulation date is typically 14 days before the next menstrual period, but ovulation within two days before or after this date (14 ± 2) is also considered normal. The five days before and four days after the ovulation date are the fertile period. Days outside the fertile period and the menstrual period are considered the safe period. The advantage of the safe period method is that it does not require the use of any contraceptive medications, devices, or surgical procedures. It simply involves choosing to have sexual intercourse during the safe period, avoiding the side effects of contraceptive medications and the concerns associated with surgery, and aligning with the natural state of the human body.