How to Count Safe Days With the Family Planning Method

There are many reasons why you would want to count safe days with the family planning method as a form of birth control. It may be health reasons, religious convictions or even as a second method in conjunction with other forms of birth control. You will learn how to calculate your fertility cycle so that you can either avoid an unplanned pregnancy or alternatively, when you have the best chance to become pregnant and want to know when would be the optimal time to conceive. This method is appropriate for women with a regular menstrual cycle between 26 to 32 days long.

Things You'll Need

• Calendar or chart
• Pen, pencil or highlighter

Show More

Instructions

Track your Menstral Cycle

• 1

  Count the number of days in your cycle. You will need to keep track of the number of days from the start of one menstrual cycle to the start of the next menstrual cycle for a minimum of three months. It is important to know how many days your cycle runs. If you find you do not fall within 26 to 32 days long, this is not the appropriate method, and you would want to consider an alternative natural family planning method.

• 2

  Mark on a calendar or chart the first day of your period. The first day of your period will always be considered Day 1.

• 3

  Circle on a calendar or chart one week later, or Day 8 within your cycle. This is when you are considered in a higher fertility period. This will be the first day when vaginal intercourse should be put on hold.

• 4

  Count to Day 19 and again circle this day on your calendar, or mark on your chart. This is considered your last unsafe day, or the end of your fertility period.

• 5

  Draw a line on your calendar or chart crossing off Day 8 to Day 19. If you do not wish to conceive, this is the time when you should not engage in vaginal intercourse. Most women are fertile during three days before or after the mid-point of their cycle, though there can be some fluctuation, so a few days are added on each end as a precaution.

• 6

  Resume vaginal intercourse on Day 20. You are back in a low fertility period so chances of conceiving at this point are minimal, though not impossible.

• 7

  Mark on your calendar or chart when your next period begins as Day 1, and repeat these steps.