Calendar method of contraception: reliable ways to protect against pregnancy. Calculation of ovulation days - safe days for sex Prevention of pregnancy in a calendar way table
Among natural methods of protection against unwanted pregnancy, the calendar method of contraception is popular. At first glance, it seems that this is a simple solution that does not harm health. But due to different features, it is not suitable for all women.
Calendar contraception- This is a contraceptive method based on determining fertile days (when there is a chance to conceive a child) and then abstaining from sexual intercourse on such days. During the fertile period, you can also conduct sexual life, but only with contraceptives such as condoms.
When using the calendar method, a woman first of all needs to determine the dangerous days of her cycle, when there is a possibility of fertilization of the egg. This requires rigorous calculations and subsequent record keeping.
It should be remembered that even a mistake in one day can lead to the conception of a child. This is evidenced by statistics, according to which there are 10-15 pregnancies per 100 women per year, that is, the effectiveness of the calendar method is quite low - only 85-90%.
The reason is an unstable menstrual cycle. Failure is caused by diseases, overwork, stress, physical activity and climate change. It should also be borne in mind that there is a small chance of getting pregnant immediately after menstruation, and a woman does not always correctly calculate fertile days. To avoid such a mistake, I advise you to use the following table.
Table for calculating dangerous days of the cycle
Shortest cycle (days) | First fertile (dangerous) day | Longest cycle (days) | Last fertile (dangerous) day |
---|---|---|---|
21 | 3 | 21 | 10 |
22 | 4 | 22 | 11 |
23 | 5 | 23 | 12 |
24 | 6 | 24 | 13 |
25 | 7 | 25 | 14 |
26 | 8 | 26 | 15 |
27 | 9 | 27 | 16 |
28 | 10 | 28 | 17 |
29 | 11 | 29 | 18 |
30 | 12 | 30 | 19 |
31 | 13 | 31 | 20 |
32 | 14 | 32 | 21 |
33 | 15 | 33 | 22 |
34 | 16 | 34 | 23 |
35 | 17 | 35 | 24 |
21 | 3 | 21 | 10 |
The longest and shortest menstrual cycle is determined based on observations over the past 8-12 months. This means that it will not be possible to immediately use the calendar method, since the risks will be too great. In addition, the results need constant adjustment.
Calculation example: if a woman's menstrual cycle lasts from 27 to 33 days, then the first dangerous day will be the 9th, and the last - the 22nd after the onset of menstruation. It is during this period that you should refrain from unprotected sexual intercourse.
Advantages of the calendar method of contraception:
- naturalness - does not require taking pills and other hormonal drugs, so there is no risk to health;
- cheapness - no material costs.
Disadvantages of calendar contraception:
- not suitable for everyone - this method can only be used by healthy women with a regular and stable menstrual cycle;
- does not protect against STDs - you need to be confident in your partner;
- low contraceptive effect - the risk of becoming pregnant is 10-15% per year;
- requires constant calculations - a woman needs to constantly monitor her cycle and make adjustments to the previously obtained results.
Conclusion: supporters of contraception without pills can pay attention to the calendar method if an unplanned pregnancy does not become a tragedy. In other cases, it is better to trust more reliable contraceptives.
Although today there are many different methods for preventing pregnancy, not all of them are suitable for couples in terms of price, ease of use and mechanism of action, and therefore couples often resort to using completely natural methods based on knowledge of the physiology of the female body.
Although barrier methods of contraception are also popular today, as well as, but according to surveys of gynecologists, about half of all women use the calendar method in one form or another in order to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Doctors do not tire of warning that for modern life and realities, such a method, although natural, is extremely unreliable.
The second natural method, which is usually practiced along with the calendar on “dangerous” days, has a similar degree of reliability - this is PPA (or the method of interrupting sexual intercourse). Speaking strictly about the calendar method, if it is used correctly, it can be quite effective, but you should not rely on it entirely.
Calendar Method: Efficiency
According to doctors and patients' reviews, such a method of contraception cannot be called effective and reliable. It is practiced by those couples for whom possible development pregnancy is not catastrophic, since on average, efficiency figures range from 10 to 40% with different approaches to compliance and individual characteristics of the body. Often a problem in application also arises because a woman does not have reliable sources of information about the method, its use and physiological bases. Therefore, many couples use the technique simply incorrectly, hence the poor results.
note
Often, the technique is combined with barrier contraception on "dangerous" days, which dramatically increases the level of effectiveness if all the graphs and calculations are carried out correctly. Therefore, it is important to collect full-fledged data, talk about methods of calculation and use.
Calendar method: what is it?
This method of avoiding an unwanted pregnancy is a completely natural method based on the physiology of the body, it is absolutely free and does not require any serious adaptations and knowledge of the detailed nuances of female gynecology. Its essence is that sexual intercourse is permissible with ejaculation into the body of a woman only on certain, as the women themselves call them “non-flying” days. Although known about such protection since time immemorial, as a specific technique, the method was recorded in the literature only in the 20th century. At the same time, his detailed study had a completely opposite direction - doctors determined, according to the data of the cycle and hormone levels, just the dangerous days when conception is most likely. This is important for reproduction, when there are difficulties with conception. After calculating potentially dangerous days, it was concluded that in addition to them, there are also non-dangerous periods when conception is unlikely.
Cycle days: dangerous and safe
The menstrual cycle has evolved in a woman in order to be able to reproduce and procreate. In a woman, one egg matures in the ovary per month (less often, two at the same time), and in (this is approximately the middle of the cycle), it leaves the ovary to be fertilized by the sperm of the man after intimate contact.
note
The egg is viable for several days, and the spermatozoa of a man - according to some sources, up to 7 days can remain active in the partner's genital tract, in connection with this, the days around ovulation are the most likely time of conception.
And, based on these data, a few days before and after ovulation, in which intimacy occurred, are most likely in terms of conceiving a child.
During the period of menstruation, bleeding occurs and the risk of pregnancy is very small, but intimate contacts are also not very comfortable due to bleeding. Time immediately after discharge and before the onset of menstruation due to special, cyclical changes hormonal background, refers to days with an extremely low probability of conception. Sexual intercourse during this period will not lead to pregnancy, since there is simply nothing to fertilize spermatozoa.
In a menstrual cycle lasting 4 weeks, the safe period is two weeks, but almost half of this period is occupied by the next menstruation.
Attention
The calendar method can only be used by perfectly healthy women with a constant cycle, who are responsible for maintaining the monthly calendar with a high degree of responsibility. It is important to strictly keep calculations, especially in relation to, so that efficiency increases.
Undoubted advantages of the method
If we talk about the advantages of such a technique, they include the absence of any intervention in the woman's body and the processes of natural monthly changes. Based on normal menstruation, which is typical for almost any healthy woman in the reproductive period, you can calculate the time when sex is safe. Its advantages will be the absence of any systemic effect on the body (in comparison with the same hormonal spirals or pills). That's why side effects in relation to libido and sensations, as well as changes in the chest, skin, weight, and others typical of systemic administration, there are no manifestations. The technique has no contraindications and side effects, and along with the practice of coitus interruptus, it belongs to the most natural and free practice of birth control.
When compared with barrier methods of contraception, it also has advantages, since there is no connection with the beginning or end of sexual intercourse. Before the very beginning of sex or in the process, there is no need to carry out any additional actions that can be distracting and change the level of arousal. In addition to all this, when using the calendar method, there are no negative effects on sensations, which often change when using condoms or other methods.
It is also worth mentioning the material component of the method, or rather, the absence of any costs when applying the methodology. Not all couples have the opportunity to buy even condoms, not to mention hormonal pills or the installation of a spiral (which may have contraindications). Therefore, this method is economically advantageous.
The real cons of the method
All possible positive aspects of the technique are often completely leveled by the existing disadvantages, since this technique is one of the least effective in the practice of doctors.
The probability of getting pregnant when using this method, depending on individual characteristics and external factors, ranges from 9-10 to 40%, which is quite a bit lower than with PPA. That is, during the year of such protection, up to 40 women out of 100 become pregnant, this is a low degree of reliability.
This technique can only be suitable for mature women with a constant and regular cycle without failures. The duration of regular menstruation for the practice of such a technique must be at least 12 months in a row in order to calculate safe days according to the calendar.
If spermatozoa die quickly in the vaginal environment, then those that have penetrated the uterine cavity and tubes can survive there for up to 6 days, therefore for a short menstrual cycle, less than 28-26 days, this practice is not suitable.
note
This practice of protection is not suitable for a woman with multiple partners, it does not protect against genital infections. It is important to always remember the possible risks of various diseases transmitted during intimacy, and even more so for casual one-time sex.
How the technique is applied
To date, the technique does not lose its relevance, but it is usually combined with other types of protection - condoms, spermicides, and other methods.
It is important at the first stage to start with maintaining a menstrual cycle calendar for at least a year. This will help determine the exact duration of the menstrual cycle, on the basis of which in the future, according to a special formula or method, the number of safe days will be calculated. This approach will help in reducing the chance of an unwanted pregnancy. You need to keep a calendar constantly, for at least a year and before the start of protection by this method.
When there is a duration of the menstrual cycle throughout the year, in the shortest of the cycles, it is necessary to determine the initial stage of the fertile period.
Beginning of the fertile stage
It is calculated according to:
The total number of days in the shortest cycle is 18 days. This will be the beginning of a dangerous period.
End of fertile stage
The time interval obtained as a result of calculations, with the exception of the fertile period, is considered the most safe time, at this time, sexual intercourse with the least chance of leading to pregnancy. To make it more convenient, these days can be marked with a special color in the menstruation diary.
There are also border days, three at the beginning of the “flight” period and three at its end, when the chances are not as high as in ovulation, but it is worth using barrier methods of contraception.
Necklace technique
Based on the data that are given according to the calculations above, more recently, gynecologists have been asked to use when determining dangerous days a special necklace with different color beads. It helps to control the menstrual cycle and its phases. It replaces the calendar, the number of beads in it corresponds to the number of days in the cycle. The first day of menstruation is marked with a red bead, and the elastic on the necklace moves according to the days. There is different colors beads - “dangerous” and “safe”, which makes it easier for a woman to navigate what day of the cycle is now: requiring protection or safe.
Combination technique
Given the fact that the calendar method is extremely limited in time, couples today are increasingly using combined methods of protection against unwanted conception. On safe days, intimate life is possible without protection, and during the dangerous period, barrier methods are practiced in the form of a condom or the addition of PPA with spermicides and various candles, gels or other methods.
Alena Paretskaya, pediatrician, medical commentator
Modern medicine knows many ways to prevent unwanted pregnancy: intrauterine devices, permanent, hormonal, barrier, chemical, natural contraception. The methods of the latter include the calendar method of contraception. Next, we will talk about what its reliability is, about the pros and cons of the method, and about who it can suit.
This method of contraception refers to the methods of natural family planning, based on the principle of determining the fertile days of the menstrual cycle. The technique was introduced to the world 90 years ago by the Austrian gynecologist Hermann Knaus, who, in turn, relied on the works of the Japanese gynecologist Kyusaki Ogino.
Currently, the World Health Organization classifies the calendar method of contraception as a traditional method of preventing unwanted pregnancy.
Calendar method of protection - how to calculate fertile days
To carry out the calculation, data on the duration of menstrual cycles for the last six months or longer are required. For the convenience of using the calendar method of protection, there are calculators that allow you to calculate the fetal period online.
The beginning of the fertile period is calculated by the formula: the minimum length of the menstrual cycle minus 18 days. To determine the end of the fertile period, subtract 11 days from the maximum length of the menstrual cycle. In the resulting period of time, it is necessary to refrain from vaginal intercourse or additionally use other methods of contraception.
Calendar method of contraception - safe days, calculation example:
- With a cycle length of 28–30 days, to determine the beginning of the fetal period, it is necessary to subtract 18 from 28, to determine the end of the fetal period, subtract 11 from 30. It turns out that from the 10th to the 19th day of the cycle, vaginal intercourse will most likely lead to pregnancy. Days 1–9 and 20–30 of the cycle will be considered conditionally safe.
- With a cycle length of 33–35 days, the period from 15 to 24 days of the menstrual cycle will be “dangerous”. From days 1 to 15, 25 to 35 of the cycle, the probability of pregnancy is relatively low.
Calendar method of contraception - pluses
- No health risks associated with the use of the method.
- No effect on fertility.
- Easy to use. For greater convenience, you can use special applications or carry out the calculations necessary to use the calendar method of protection online.
- Availability.
- Preservation of natural sensations during intercourse.
- Positive perception by most world religions.
Calendar method of protection - cons
- Lack of protection against infections transmitted through intercourse. Only condom and femidom can prevent the transmission of venereal diseases.
- Not suitable for women with a short cycle.
- Information on the website of the World Health Organization states that the calendar method of contraception has the lowest efficiency among all methods that are used today. During the year, with the correct use of the method, 9 women out of 100 become pregnant, with normal use - 25 women out of 100. There are several reasons for the low degree of protection:
- viability of spermatozoa. Male gametes can live in a woman's body for up to 8 days, so vaginal intercourse, committed shortly before the onset of "dangerous" days, can lead to pregnancy;
- ovulation is not on schedule. The release of the egg from the follicle occurs mainly 12-16 days before the start of a new menstrual cycle. It is difficult to say more precisely: subjective sensations and the use of special test systems give an approximate result; to accurately determine the time of ovulation, it is necessary to resort to folliculometry. There are many factors due to which the release of the egg from the follicle can occur in a different period of time. In this regard, the calendar method is not suitable for women with an unstable menstrual cycle, adolescents in the first years after menarche, women in the premenopausal period. After childbirth or abortion, you can use the calendar method no earlier than after 3 menstrual cycles. Long-term use of a number of antibiotics, antidepressants affect the time of onset of ovulation. Even taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen and others can lead to failure. Nervous shocks, climate change, overheating or hypothermia, and others stressful situations may also affect the timing of ovulation.
- Multiple ovulations per cycle. Infrequently, but it happens that there are 2-3 ovulations per menstrual cycle. They can occur both simultaneously or up to 7 days apart, in the same or in different ovaries.
Calendar method of protection - reviews
The reputation of being the least reliable method of family planning is fueled by testimonials from women who have used it. "Punctures" do happen, and often. However, there are also couples who have been successfully using this method of contraception for years, or even decades.
Conclusion
The calendar method captivates with its safety, accessibility, ease of use, natural sensations during intercourse. But it does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, and the effectiveness of preventing unwanted pregnancy, unfortunately, is not very high. Therefore, this method can be recommended only to those couples who, in the event of a potential “misfire”, are ready for replenishment in the family. Otherwise, it is better to give preference to OK, IUDs or condoms.
Modern means of protection against unwanted pregnancy are divided into the following types of contraception: hormonal tablets and injectables, barrier contraceptives, e.g. a condom , intrauterine devices or "spiral" , natural contraceptive methods, including the calendar method of contraception, chemicals preventing pregnancy, and surgical contraceptive methods.
Contraception (from Latin "contraceptio" - protection, prevention of conception) - prevention of unwanted pregnancy with the help of various contraceptives.
As is often the case, the most reliable methods of contraception either have unwanted side effect are either difficult to use or cause irreversible consequences. Therefore, despite its lower reliability, a simple and understandable calendar method of contraception, when used correctly, gives good practical results. What is it?
This method is based on the fact that egg maturation or ovulation occurs in a woman's body at a strictly defined period of the menstrual cycle. With a 28-day cycle, the follicle in the ovary matures on the 14th day, counting from the first day of menstruation.
It is quite physiological if the moment of ovulation deviates from this period by 1-2 days. A mature egg retains the ability to fertilize for about one day, after which it dies. Spermatozoa can stay in the female genital tract for 3-4 days. Therefore, the most dangerous period for an unwanted pregnancy or a period favorable for conception is 9-16 days of the cycle.
Temperature method of contraception
To more accurately determine the day of ovulation, especially if the cycle is irregular, you can use the temperature method - keeping a graph of basal temperature. The temperature method is based on a sharp change in the hormonal ratio in a woman's body and a jump in basal temperature at the time of ovulation. The essence of the method is clear from the figure:
Measurement of the concentration of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones in morning urine most reliably determines the moment of ovulation. But it requires the use of either less accurate tests or more accurate laboratory tests.
What methods of contraception are used in an emergency?
Emergency contraception is used after unprotected intercourse, unsuccessful or incorrect use of contraceptives, or after sexual assault. There are two such methods:
- emergency contraceptive pills
- Copper-containing intrauterine devices
It should be remembered that they are effective only before pregnancy, during the day or even hours after sexual intercourse.
Contraception after childbirth or abortion
The relevance of contraception for women after childbirth, caesarean section, miscarriage or abortion is due to the fact that the ability to conceive can recover quickly, but at the same time the uterine mucosa is injured, and the woman's body is in a state of stress. Therefore, during this period, pregnancy is not only undesirable, but contraindicated!
Lactational amenorrhea method
This physiological method of contraception after pregnancy and childbirth is based on the absence of ovulation during breastfeeding. Its deep natural meaning lies on the surface: feed the baby first, and then think about the next pregnancy. The method is effective no more than 6 months after childbirth, subject to constant and exclusive breastfeeding without interruption.
The best and safest contraceptive
Every year there are new methods of contraception. And each has advantages and disadvantages, different degrees of reliability and availability. Some of them are preferred for girls just entering life, others are suitable after the age of 40.
And yet the most effective remedy contraception is common sense, mutual respect for partners and understanding of the physiology of sexual relations. Only in this case, both the calendar method of contraception and the latest methods of preventing pregnancy and family planning will lead to the desired result.
Calendar method without formulas and calculator
The safest time for pregnancy is the first 2-3 days after menstruation and 3-5 days before the onset of menstruation!
The most favorable time for conception is the middle of the cycle.
We are talking about various methods of protection against unwanted pregnancy. In this article, we decided to tell you more about symptothermal method and Ogino-Knaus calendar method to understand the positive and negative properties of these methods.
In the twenties of the twentieth century, gynecologists: the Austrian Knaus and the Japanese Ogino developed a method calendar contraception. The method is based on the calculation of the expected timing of ovulation and abstinence from sexual intercourse on days that are especially favorable for conception. calendar method, one of the most unreliable methods of protection. Pregnant from 9 to 40% of women using this method. Therefore, a more advanced method of calendar protection was developed, symptothermal method, in which, in addition to calculating the date of ovulation, the physiological state of the woman is taken into account.
Method of calendar protection according to Ogino-Knaus
This method is the most natural method of protection. It is based on observations and calculations. Since there is no interference with the natural activity of the female body, calendar contraception is the only method of contraception approved by the Roman Catholic Church.
The secret of the method is as follows. Sperm after intercourse remain alive inside the vagina for only a few hours, and once at the cervix, they remain active from 2 to 7 days. During ovulation (leaving the ovary), the egg can only be fertilized during the day. Knowing the time of ovulation, sex can be planned in such a way as to prevent unwanted pregnancy, even theoretically. For safe use calendar protection method according to Ogino-Knaus, a calendar of menstrual cycles should be kept throughout the year. But it should be noted that this method is only suitable for women who have a regular menstrual cycle. Only the most minor malfunctions in the hormonal system, illness, nervous stress can change the menstrual cycle and, as a result, there will be errors in the calculations, and, as a result, pregnancy.
- The beginning of the fertile (dangerous, in the sense of getting pregnant) period should be calculated according to the formula: 18 days should be subtracted from the duration of the shortest menstrual cycle;
- The end of the fertile period can be calculated by the formula: subtract 11 days from the duration of the longest menstrual cycle.
For example, following the last 12 cycles, it turns out that the duration of the shortest menstrual cycle was 25 days, and the longest one lasted 33 days. It follows that from day 7 (25-18) to day 22 (33-11) of the cycle (the 1st day of the cycle is the first day of menstruation), these are the most suitable days for conception. If there is a need for protection from pregnancy, then on such days one should refrain from sexual intercourse, or use other methods of protection at this time. And, on the contrary, from 1 to 7 days and from 22 days until the end of the menstrual cycle according to the Ogino-Knaus method, you can not protect yourself.
Calendar symptothermal method
With a 27-day menstrual cycle, ovulation occurs on the 13th day of the cycle. This is the average value. Most women have a different cycle, and ovulation occurs a little earlier or a little later. To correct the shortcomings of contraception using the Ogino-Knaus method, gynecologists proposed to supplement the calculation of the date of ovulation in the calendar with three more parameters. The first parameter is to monitor body temperature (temperature method of contraception). The second parameter is monitoring the state of cervical mucus released from the uterus (cervical method). The third parameter is monitoring changes in the position of the cervix, its openness and softness. The results of observations should be recorded in a special calendar, thanks to which you can determine the safest days for sex.
The effectiveness of the calendar symptothermal method is incredibly high. And it is second only to complete sterilization. Proper use of the method leads to the fact that only 3 women out of 1000 have an unplanned pregnancy (0.3%!). Comparable only to taking hormonal contraceptives and far exceeds the result of using other contraceptives for women. But this method is not effective against genital infections. For the correct application of the symptothermal method, it is necessary to monitor your condition daily. It only takes 10 minutes daily. This method seems to be very complicated and practical training is recommended at the beginning of application.