How to Prevent Pregnancy Using Calendar Method
The calendar method is a way to record your menstrual cycle and calculate the days when you are most fertile, also called ovulation. During ovulation, couples who want to avoid pregnancy should avoid sexual intercourse. The calendar method is an easy and natural way to prevent pregnancy. However, even if you use the calendar method accurately, there is no guarantee that it will prevent pregnancy if no other form of birth control is used.
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Instructions
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Record the first day of your menstrual cycle on a calendar and label it "Day 1." This is the first day of your cycle.
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Take the shortest menstrual cycle length and subtract 18 days. On average, a normal cycle lasts 28 days, but some women can have irregular cycle lengths. If your shortest cycle is 28 days, you will begin to become fertile 10 days after you labeled "Day 1" on your calendar.
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Count 13 and 14 days after "Day 1" and label those days with an "O" for ovulation. Women usually ovulate 13 to 14 days after their cycle begins, but you should avoid intercourse a few days before ovulation and three to four days after ovulation. Sperm can survive up to five days inside a woman's body.
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Record these dates on your calendar every month. Take notice if your cycle is shorter or longer than 28 days any given month, because the time you are fertile will change.
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Tips & Warnings
The calendar method is best used with other forms of family planning, such as ovulation tests, the cervical mucus method, and noticing changes in your body temperature.
