Most women would love to become mothers. They would love to have a little baby that they can love and raise. They envision the day that they can teach a little version of themselves and watch them grow. Even though the majority of women want to be mothers, most all women want to become a mother on their OWN timeframe.
One way that women are avoiding pregnancy is to not have sex during ovulation. But, is this really an effective way to avoid pregnancy? Can you get pregnant if you are not ovulating?
What is Ovulation?
Ovulation occurs when the body releases an egg from the ovary. The egg will travel through the fallopian tube and end up in the uterus. If the egg is not fertilized by a sperm then it will be released. An unfertilized egg will result in a menstruation cycle.
In healthy women ovulation will occur in the middle of the cycle. Ovulation usually occurs 14 days after the first day of your last menstrual cycle and 14 days before the first day of your next menstrual cycle.
If a woman is not ovulating then it is impossible for her to become pregnant naturally. Ovulation is the essence of getting pregnant.
How do Women Use Their Ovulation Calendar to Avoid Pregnancy?
Ovulation should occur each month around the same time. Women who are trying to avoid pregnancy often try to use the “calendar method” where they will abstain from sex when they expect they’re ovulating. Women who use this method will have sex during their period, or after they have ovulated.
The calendar method suggests they should avoid sex from around day 7 of their cycle to about day 14 of their cycle. Once they believe they cannot become pregnant then they will be able to have sex once again.
Why do Women Use the Calendar Method?
Many women do not like most forms of birth control. Hormonal Birth control (the pill) will mess with women’s bodies. Women have complained about mood swings, weight gain and even nausea when they are using hormonal birth control to avoid pregnancy.
Men complain about using condoms, because condoms aren’t as natural and they don’t have as much “pleasure” with the condoms. So, then men will push the responsibility of birth control back to the woman.
Can you Get Pregnant if you are Not Ovulating?
So, the question remains, can you get pregnant if you are not ovulating? The answer is YES!
The calendar method of birth control is not reliable and should not be used to avoid pregnancy. There are two HUGE reasons as to why you can get pregnant by using the calendar method.
Sperm: When sperm enters into the body it can survive up to six days! Therefore, if you were to have sex six days before you ovulated your egg can still be fertilized by lingering sperm.
Ovulation: Yes, it is normal for healthy women to ovulate in the middle of their cycle. However, it is very common to ovulate at a different time each month. I have known women to ovulate a couple of days before their menstrual cycle.
You could easily fall pregnant if you miscalculate the day of your ovulation. Ovulation can even change after a chemical pregnancy!
What is a More Reliable Way to Avoid Pregnancy?
Avoiding ovulation is not the most reliable form of birth control. If you don’t want to become pregnant there are more effective ways that can help you. The most common forms of birth control are the hormonal birth control pill as well as condoms. I know that a lot of people don’t like those.
Many men complain about condoms, but if you are not on any birth control and you don’t want to have an unplanned pregnancy then you need to inform him that you will not be having sex without protection. Recommend him trying a different condom that is ultra thin.
One of the best forms of birth control, and with the least amount of side effects, is the IUD.
The IUD is an intrauterine T shaped device that is implanted into a woman's cervix. The IUD will last up to 3-6 years and is 99% effective! Women are now turning to the IUD, because they don’t have to worry about taking a pill for up to 6 years!
If you are still set in using the calendar method to avoid pregnancy by timing your ovulation then it would be the best to use LH test trips to help determine the exact time of your ovulation. When both the test and control lines are both dark then it is positive. Unlike pregnancy tests where even a faint line means positive.
