Calendar method. Yes or no?

The calendar method is a technique used by women to determine the fertile and infertile periods of the menstrual cycle. This method, which is not without risks, is based on estimating the time of ovulation. Find out with Barza about the pros and cons of the calendar method when you have an active sex life!

How the calendar method works

This method is based on identifying when ovulation occurs and calculating a safe time interval for sex. It’s about that time when you can’t get pregnant.

Specifically, the calendar method works on the basis that ovulation occurs around the middle of the menstrual cycle. That is, it occurs on the 14th day if your cycle is a regular 28-day cycle. This means abstaining from sex, starting a week before and including 1-2 days after ovulation.

Remember that from the moment of ovulation, a sperm has a maximum of 24 hours to fertilise the egg. Bear in mind that sperm have a lifespan and a fertilisation capacity of up to 7 days.

Risks of the method

The calendar method can be a headache for women who don’t have a regular cycle. For example, in some women, cycles can vary between 25 and 35 days (only one in three women have a regular cycle). The others cannot be sure about the monthly period of fertility. Therefore, they can always be surprised by an unexpected pregnancy.

In addition, studies have shown that some women can be fertile from the very first day of their menstrual cycle. According to US research, even women with regular cycles can get pregnant on the first day of their period.

It is also known that the secretion of hormones involved in menstruation can vary depending on our health or be influenced by the level of stress we are under. As a result, the menstrual cycle and ovulation can be affected relatively easily, and calculations made to track ‘clear days’ in the calendar can sometimes prove to be useless or wrong.

This is why some doctors do not consider the calendar method a real method of contraception, but a lottery with results that depend on fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone. In other words, you can never be 100% sure when it comes to your fertile period, especially if you are a teenager or a premenopausal woman. Research has shown that the method can have a failure rate of between 15% and 40%.

Advantages of the calendar method

By using the calendar method you will avoid any hormonal imbalances that may be caused by the contraceptive pills. You’ll also be able to avoid a vaginal pH imbalance that could be caused by condoms.

Unlike some contraceptives, the calendar method does not cause delays or problems with fertility return. This method will prove extremely useful at conception. You and your partner will know when you need to work a little harder to get a task done.

To increase your chances, in addition to calendar notes, you can use an ovulation test from Barza. It’s a quick test designed to determine the best time to get pregnant.

The Stork Tip

Don’t (just) rely on the calendar method if being a mum doesn’t suit you yet. In addition, the method cannot be used immediately, as it requires at least six months for calculations and checks. At the same time, you should bear in mind that the calendar method does not protect you against intimate infections.

In conclusion, if you have a fickle cycle, forget the calendar method! It’s also not for you if you’re a spontaneous nature and don’t want to schedule your sexual contacts according to the fertile time of the month.