Although today for protection from pregnancy there are many different methods of contraception, not all of them suitable couples for the price, ease of use and mechanism of action, therefore couples often resort to using completely natural methods, based on knowledge of the physiology of the female body.
Although today it is popular barrier methods of contraception as well as hormonal drugs, but according to surveys of gynecologists, about half of all women use the calendar method in a particular form in order to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Doctors are not tired to warn that modern life and the realities of such a method, although natural, but extremely unreliable.
The same degree of reliability and has a second natural method, the practice usually along with the calendar in “dangerous” days is PPA (or method of withdrawal). If you talk strictly about the calendar method, if properly applied, it can be quite effective, but don’t count on it entirely.
Calendar method: the effectiveness of
According to doctors and reviews of patients this method of contraception can not be called efficient and reliable. He practiced those pairs for which the possible development of the pregnancy is not catastrophic, as the average figures of efficiency range from 10 to 40% of the different approaches to compliance and individual characteristics of the organism. Often the problem is the use of occurs because women do not have reliable sources of information about the method, its use, and physiological bases. Therefore, use the technique many couples are just wrong, hence the bad results.
The technique is often combined with barrier contraception, in “dangerous” days, which dramatically increases the level of efficiency, if all the graphs and calculations are correct. Therefore, it is important to collect comprehensive data, to talk about the methods of calculation and use.
Calendar method: what it is?
Such a method to avoid an unwanted pregnancy belongs to a completely natural, based on the physiology of the body techniques, he is absolutely free and does not require any major equipment and detailed knowledge of the nuances of female gynecology. Its essence is that sex is permissible with ejaculation in the woman’s body only in certain, as they call themselves women “naselenie” days.
Although unaware of this protection since time immemorial, as a specific method the method recorded in the literature only in the 20th century. However, his detailed study had the completely opposite direction – the doctors were determined according to the cycle and hormone levels just dangerous days when conception is most likely. It is important for reproduction, when planning a pregnancy when there are difficulties with conception. After calculating potentially dangerous days, it was concluded that apart from them there are also non-hazardous periods when conception is unlikely.
The days of the cycle: safe and dangerous
The menstrual cycle is evolutionary developed in order to reproduce and continue the race. A woman in a month Matures in the ovary one egg (rarely two at the same time) and at ovulation (approximately mid-cycle), it leaves the ovary to be fertilized by sperm male after making intimate contact.
The egg is viable for several days, and the sperm in men – according to some reports up to 7 days can remain active in the genital tract of the partner, in this regard, the days around ovulation the most likely time of conception.
And, based on these data a few days before ovulation and after it, which was intimacy, most likely in terms of conception.
In the period of menstruation is the bleeding and the risk of pregnancy is very small, but intimate contacts are also not very convenient because of the bleeding. The time immediately after discharge and before menstruation due to the special forming of the cyclic changes of a hormonal background, refers to days with very low probability of conception. Sexual intercourse during this period will not lead to pregnancy, so as to fertilize the sperm just nothing.
In the menstrual cycle lasts 4 weeks safe period is two weeks, but almost half of this period is a regular period.
To apply the calendar method can only perfectly healthy women with a regular cycle with a high degree of responsibility for the maintenance of the calendar month. It is important strictly to count, especially in relation to ovulation, so the efficiency increased.
The undoubted advantages of the method
If we talk about the advantages of this technique, it can be attributed to the absence of any intervention in a woman’s body and the processes of natural monthly changes. On the basis of regular menstruation, which is typical for almost any healthy women in the reproductive period, we can calculate the time when sex would be safe. Pros it is the absence of any systemic effect on the body (compared to the same hormonal spirals or tablets). So and side effects concerning libido and sensations, as well as changes of the breast, skin, weight, and other typical systemic steroid therapy, symptoms not available.
The method has no contraindications and side effects, along with the practice of interrupted intercourse refers to the most natural and free practice of birth control.
If we compare the method with barrier methods of contraception, it is also advantageous, since there is no connection with the beginning or ending of the sexual act. Before the start of sex or during the process does not need to perform any additional actions that may distract and change the level of excitation. Plus, if you use the calendar method no negative effects on feelings, which often change with the use of condoms or other methods.
It is also worth to mention the material component of the method, or rather the absence of any costs during the application of the methods. Not all couples have the possibility of buying even condoms, not to mention the hormonal pill or installation of a spiral (which can be contraindications). Therefore, this method is economically advantageous.
The real cons of the method
All the possible positive aspects of surveys are often fully offset the existing disadvantages as this technique is one of the least effective in the practice of doctors.
Likely to get pregnant when using this method, depending on the individual characteristics and external factors ranges from 9-10% to 40%, which is quite a bit lower than with the practice of the PAP. That is, over the years such protection to 40 women out of 100 become pregnant, it is a low degree of reliability.
This technique may be suitable only for Mature women with constant and regular cycles without failure. The duration of regular menstruation for the practice of such methods should be not less than 12 consecutive months to calculate according calendar safe days.
If the vaginal environment spermatozoa are dying quickly, those that have penetrated into the uterine cavity and tubes, can survive there for up to 6 days, so for your menstrual cycle, less 28-26 days, this practice is not suitable.
This practice of protection is not suitable for women with multiple partners, it does not protect against genital infections. It is important to always remember about the possible risks of various diseases transmitted during intimacy, and even more so for the casual one-off sex.
How to apply the technique
To date, the technique has not lost its relevance, but it is usually combined with other types of protection – condoms, spermicides, other ways.
It is important at the first stage to start with the reference of the calendar of the menstrual cycle, at least for a year. This will help to determine the exact duration of the menstrual cycle on the basis of which in the future, according to a special formula or methodology to be counted as the number of safe days. This approach will help to decrease the probability of unwanted pregnancy. Keeping a calendar of need to constantly, for at least a year and the beginning of the protection by this method.
When a duration of the menstrual cycle throughout the year, the shortest of the cycles, the need to define the initial stage of the fertile period.
The beginning of the fertile phase
It is calculated according:
The total number of days of shortest cycle – 18 days. This will be the beginning of the dangerous period.
The end of the reproductive phase
In the second formula to calculate the end of this period, it is necessary to select the longest of the cycles for the year and subtract from the length of 11 days.
Based on a calculation period of time with the exception of the fertile period is considered the safest time, during this time conducted sexual acts with the least chances to lead to pregnancy. To make it easier, these days can be marked in a special color in the diary of menstruation.
There are also border days, three at the beginning of “stray” period and three in the end, when the chances are not as high as in the ovaries, but it is necessary to use barrier methods of contraception.
The technique of “necklace”
Based on the data that are provided according to the calculations above, more recently, gynecologists were asked to use when determining threat days special necklace with different color beads. It helps to control the menstrual cycle and its phases. It is a substitute calendar, the number of beads corresponds to the number of days in the cycle. The red bead to celebrate the first day of menstruation, and the elastic on the necklace moves, respectively days. There are different colors of beads, “dangerous” and “safe” that helps women easier to navigate in, what day of cycle now requires protection or safe.
The technique of combining
Given the fact that the calendar method is extremely limited in time, couples are now increasingly used combined methods of protection from unwanted conception. In safe days sex life is possible without protection, and threat time period, practise barrier techniques in the form of a condom or Supplement the PAP with spermicides and various candles, gels, or other means.
