Patient's question:
When is it relatively safe to have sexual intercourse?Doctor's answer:
The method of calculating ovulation based on the menstrual cycle is also known as the calendar method. Both menstruation and ovulation are influenced by endocrine hormones from the pituitary gland and ovaries, exhibiting cyclical changes. The lengths of both cycles are consistent, with each lasting one month, and ovulation occurs between two menstrual periods. A woman's menstrual cycle can vary in length, but the interval between the day of ovulation and the start of the next menstrual period is relatively fixed, generally around 14 days. Based on this relationship between ovulation and menstruation, it is possible to calculate the ovulation period based on the menstrual cycle. The calculation method starts from the first day of the next menstrual period, counts backward 14 days or subtracts 14 days to determine the ovulation day. The ovulation day, along with the 5 days before it and the 4 days after it, together constitute the ovulation period. This is the theoretical basis for the safe period method of contraception. For example, if a woman has a 28-day menstrual cycle and her first day of the current menstrual period is December 1st, her next menstrual period will occur on December 29th (December 1st plus 28 days). Subtracting 14 days from December 29th gives December 15th as the ovulation day. The ovulation period, which includes the ovulation day and the 5 days before and 4 days after it, is from December 10th to December 19th. Except for the menstrual period and ovulation period, all other times are considered the safe period.