Patient's question:
I had a medication abortion on October 18th. How come it's already November 27th now...It's been over a month. I had sexual intercourse during this time, but I always used contraception. Yet, my period still hasn't come.
What could be the reason? I'm so anxious.
Doctor's answer:
The ovulation date for most women is generally about 14 days before the next menstrual period. After the egg is released from the ovary, it can survive in the fallopian tube for 1-2 days, waiting for fertilization; male sperm can maintain fertilizing ability in the female reproductive tract for 2-3 days, so sexual intercourse during the days before and after ovulation increases the likelihood of conception. For safety, we refer to the 5 days before ovulation, the 4 days after ovulation, and ovulation day itself as a total of 10 days, known as the ovulation period. Because sexual intercourse during the ovulation period increases the likelihood of conception, this period is also called the fertile window or the risky period.