Safety first: is it possible to get pregnant on critical days?

The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, but it is individual for each woman: it can be 21 or 35. It consists of several phases. Menstrual – the menstruation itself, which lasts an average of 5-6 days. Then begins the follicular phase, during which the body prepares to release the egg. In the ovulation phase, the egg is ready for fertilization. Finally, the luteal phase begins.

If conception has taken place, the critical days will disappear (sometimes not, but it’s rare), but if nothing happens, the cycle repeats itself. The average time between ovulation and menstruation is 14 days.

It is important to remember that after any sexual contact, pregnancy can occur whether you have any discharge or not. Sure, the likelihood of pregnancy during menstruation is low, but it’s still there, and here’s why. Sperm can live for up to 96 hours (four days), and if you ovulate early, they’ll have time to “catch up” with a fresh egg.

It depends on the length of the cycle. For example, with a short cycle of 23 days, it can happen on the 9th, and with a 33-day cycle – on the 19th. Ovulation itself lasts from 12 to 48 hours, which, with the lifespan of the sperm, creates a fairly wide window for pregnancy.

The answer is obvious: protect yourself. Best of all – a condom, pills, a spiral, injections, a bandage. Relying on the calendar method, interrupted intercourse or hot showers is not worth it. Sperm reach the cervix in minutes, and you’re unlikely to have time to wash it all off. In the case of PPA, remember that during intercourse sperm is also released and a single dashing sperm is enough to override all precautions.