How “Safe” is the safe period?

It is not reliable as a form of contraception when used on its own, but it can be helpful both for couples wishing to avoid pregnancy and for those actively trying to have a baby.

If a woman's cycle is irregular then natural family planning will be less reliable.

You should also bear in mind that none of the methods   that come under the heading of natural family planning  including safe period will protect you from sexually transmitted disease and HIV.
How does safe period work?

Safe period is based upon certain facts about a woman's eggs and a man's sperm:

• a woman usually ovulates 14 days before her next period.
• for example, if a woman has a regular 28 day menstrual cycle, counting the first day of her period as day one, then she will usually ovulate on day 14. If her cycle lasts 32 days, then she usually ovulates on day 18.
• once ovulation has occurred, the sperm has only 24 hours within which to fertilize the egg in the woman's Fallopian tubes.
• sperm can survive for up to seven days following intercourse.

With this knowledge it now becomes possible to identify three phases of fertility during each menstrual cycle. However, if a woman's cycle is irregular then clearly it is more difficult to predict when ovulation is likely.

The first phase is the first infertile phase, or the first safe period, when the woman is unlikely to fall pregnant. This starts on the first day of the woman's period and ends on the earliest date from which sperm could survive long enough to fertilize the egg. This first safe period is short because sperm can survive for up to seven days after intercourse and a woman may ovulate early. Therefore, unprotected intercourse during this first phase may result in pregnancy.

The fertile phase is the time when a woman is most likely to fall pregnant. Couples not wishing to become pregnant, should avoid intercourse during this time or use other methods of contraception such as condoms. If pregnancy is desired then this is the time when a woman is most likely to conceive. The fertile phase lasts from the end of the first phase until 24 hours after ovulation.

The second infertile phase or safe period when a woman is less likely to fall pregnant is more predictable than the first phase. This phase lasts from the end of the fertile phase until the beginning of the woman's next period.

Accurately identifying the time of ovulation is the cornerstone of natural family planning. The three principal methods of calculating when ovulation is likely to occur are:

• the calendar method
• the temperature method
• the mucus test.

Best Regards

Dr Tango

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08188958718