Safety Peroid in Menstruation Cycle

Most women talk about safe and unsafe period but only few may understand the principle behind it. Safe and unsafe peroid is a calendar method of family planning anchored on having a proper understanding of the history of a woman's mestrual cycle. Before we talk about safety periods we have to first understand what mentrual cycle and ovulation time is all about.

Menstrualcycle: This is the most fundamental event, every woman, girl, lady must understand. Menstrual cycle can be classified in various parts, which are

Menstruation: This simply means uterine (womb) bleeding. It is a monthly event that occurs in every biologicaly normal woman with in her reproductive years. (15 - 45). Menstrual flow which is commonly called "menses" is a monthly expectation of every health woman within this age bracket except pregnancy occurs.

Menstrual period: Every woman bleeds every month (under normal circumstance) through her virgina i.e menstruation or menstrual flow. The duration of the menstrual flow varies from individual. In general , women menstruates between 2 to 7 days. Your menstrual period is therefore the duration of your menstrual flow or bleeding. i.e the time the leeding started and stopped. It is important to mention again that menstrual period varies widely in women normally 2 to 7 days. This implied that if Mrs. A menstruation bleeding lasts for 2days and stops and Mrs. B, 4 days and Mrs. C 7 days. they could all be considered normal. there is however exception to this; menstrual blood has a character; it does not clot (form blocks). If therefore you notice your mense comes out in block of blood, it is most likely you are bleeding more than necessary. in such case, you need to see your doctor to find out the cause and treat if need be.

Menstrual Cycle: Menstrual cycle could be defined as the time gap between two consecutive menstrual flows. It is different from menstrual period which is actual the duration of the actual bleeding. Take for instance if Mrs. A saw her menses on 1st april and it flowed for about 4 days and stopped , her menstrual period is 4 days. If she saw her menses again on 30th April, it could be said that Mrs. A menstrual cycle is 30 days. i.e the time between two consecutive menstrual periods.

Menstrual Period: In most women, the menstrual varies between 21 and 35 days. On the average, most adult women see their period every 28 days. It is however important to state that the number of days that make a woman's mentrual cycle does not matter so much. What actually matter is the regularity of the cycle. take for instance , If Mrs. A sees her menses every 28 days, Mrs B 30 days and Mrs. C every 26 days. they could all be said to have biologically normal menstrual cycle; provided easy person cycle maintain's regular pattern.

There are two major period that occur each mnoth on the menstrual cycle. These include

1. OVULATION
2. MENSTRUAL FLOW

Ovulation period: This term is commonly used but poorly understood in medical terminology. Ovulation period represents the period in a woman's menstrual cycle when her ovary releases a mature egg into the fallopain tube. The importance of this period is that , it is the period that produce pregnancy. outside this period, a woman could be said to be said to be biologically barren.
This implies that ovulation period is the most important subject of our topic of interest; safety periods. Most women as this question;

1. When is the ovulation time?


2. How could a woman know if she is ovulating or not?

When is the ovulation time? The question usually come as away of seeking directive on when best a woman can have sexual intercourse in order to achieve pregnancy. As it is important for those that wish to have children, so it is important for those that want to prevent prenancy, more accurately rather, control their family size.
The timing of the ovulation period during the menstrual cycle varies widely in woman. This is principally because of wide variation in the days of the menstrual cycle. which implies that the ovulation period of Mrs. A with menstrual cycle of 28 days would be slightly different from Mrs. B with menstrual cycle of 26 days.
Nevertheless, irrespective of the number of days that make up your menstrual cycle, as far as it is regular, your ovulation day could be determined. In a 28 days regular menstrual cycle, the ovulation occur almost always on the 14th day. This day may not be true for a woman with longer or shorter menstrual cycle.
A constant factor has made it possiple for every woman with a regular cycle to determine her own ovulation day irrespective of the lenght of her cycle.
Here is the point; the number of days from ovulation to next menstrual flow remain approximately the i.e about 14days. This may require an element of calculation as it relates to each womna with her cycle dayss. going by that formula therefore; if Mrs. A menstrul cycle is 28 days her ovulation day come on; 28days minus 14. This implies that Mrs. A's ovulation occurs on the 14th day of her menstrual cycle.. Also if Mrs.B menstrual cycle is 30 days. her ovulation days come the 30 days minus 14 i.e 16th day of her cycle.

HOW COUNT A WOMAN KWON IF SHE IS OVULATING?
Attempts to monitor accurately the day of ovulation have been quite historic and challenging. This is basically because of the wide variation in woman's menstrual cycle as well as the reqularity of the smae there are some physical and biochemical changes that occur in women which could give a tentative idea of ovulation . Some of these include:
MID - CYCLE CRAMP OR PAIN: It was observed that during the release of egg from the ovary; a pain inducing hermon-like substance called Prostaglandure, which aids the rupture of the ovarain surface is secreted. The release of this substance which precede the release of the egg from the ovary induces mild to moderate abdominal pain. some sensitive woman could notice such pain about their mid- cycle or as the case maybe.
SLIGHT INCREASE IN BODY TEMPERATURE: A hormone called Progesterone which is released immediately after ovulation has a thermogenic effect i.e it slightly increase the body temperature by 0.5 Degree Celsius to 1.0 Degree Celsius.

CHANGES IN CERVICAL OR SECRETION: Befroe and after ovulation period the cervical or vaginal secretion or discharge is usually thick and gumnig (stick). However during ovulaiton, this stick secretion becomes slippery and slimy in nature. a woman who examines her vaginal discharge daily would notice this unique change which signifies that ovulation has occurred.


CALENDAR CALCULATION: As earlier discussed proper calculation of the menstrual cycle i.e (total number of days minus 14) could give a woman a tentativeday of her ovlation.Other methods such as serial ovarian ultrasound, Hormone Assay, Enzyne Immuno - Assay, Salivary Electrolytes etc. Require the participation of a technician or a doctor for confirmation.




NOW BACK TO OUR MAIN FOCUS. ( SAFE AND UNSAFE PERIOD)
For you as a woman to know your "Safe" and "Unsafe" period you must first off all know your ovulation time base on the length of your menstrual cycle. By simple mathematic, Minus 14 from the total number of days of your menstrual cycle.

UNSAFE PERIOD: It was observed through research that beside the very day your ovulation take place, ther are certain number of days about that time of the ovulation that can still produce prenancy if sexual intercourse take place. The day before ovulation day appear most likely to be unsafe than the days after ovulation.


YOUR UNSAFE DAYS:
Women could be pregnant from intercourse beginning from two days before her ovulation day in addition to the actual day of ovulation. As a preemptive protective measure two days ovulation are also considered "Unsafe"
Although some recent unclear reports give more number of days. In summary, a woman has a chance of becoming prenant approximately with 5 days of her monthly cycle. The days include 2 days before ovulation, 2days after ovulation and ovulation days. Now you know your safe and unsafe period, but there is still one major challenge, which is discipline and commitiment of keeping your eye on the calender.


The discipline aspect has to do with the willingness of the woman to abstain from Sex for one week each month according to the woman's menstrual calendar. In order to avoid confusion, it is advisable for her to circle or mark on a calender the days she is not to have sex without protecting herself.