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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Birth Control & Safer Sex > Natural birth control/counting days
Posted on: 09/04/2007
Question
Respected Madam, i am getting married next month. we have decided to have safer sex by using a natural way of birth control such as following the menstrual cycle. i am a medico, but since it's my first time, i am scared that i may conceive. i read that from the 1st day of menstruation for 10 days we can have sex during a safe period. then the next 10 days is danger period when we should abstain from sex to avoid pregnancy. after that till menses starts next we can have sex. suppose that i have sex during the safe period, are you sure that i wont conceive since it's my first time? we didn't wanna use contraceptives. Please answer me and oblige, thank you.
Answer
I am sorry, but it is not that easy. Counting days is not accurate because every woman's cycle is different. The method is called the Billings Method but it requires you watch your cervical mucus and take your temperature every day before getting out of bed for three months, and chart your temperature to decide what days are "safer," and they say "safer" because sperm can live inside you for about 3 days, so there is always a chance you will get pregnant. Be smart - use a condom instead.