This month, we will continue discussing pregnancy and focus on the ovulation calculator and birth control. We understand that this may be general for some people, but it still a subject that many people do not understand. We will start with the ovulation cycle and calculator. In normal cases, the calculation is based on the menstrual cycle of 28 days for each cycle. Ovulation will usually be on the 14th or the 12th – 16th day. The approximate surviving period of the oocyte is around 12-24 hours before the atresia folliculi event occurs which will happen when there is no fertilization.
For sperm, the approximate surviving period is around 2-3 days. It is suggested that those who want to have a child should have sexual relations during ovulation. To make it easier to understand, we would like to give this example. Assuming that the first day of menstruation is on 4th April, the ovulation period will be around 16th – 20th April.
If the oocyte is fertilized on 20th April, the result would be detected about 6-8 days after the fertilization if tested by blood which would be around 28th April or about 14-21 days after the fertilization if tested by urine which would be around 4th – 11th May. However, we have to understand that these dates are just estimations and we cannot define the specific date in the calculation.
Birth Control
One of the well-known methods for the gentlemen is to use a condom which in addition to preventing pregnancy also gives the benefit of preventing sexual diseases. For the ladies, there are intrauterine devices and the oral contraceptive (the use of a birth-control pill). Today we will be focusing on the use of birth-control pill. Typical birth-control pills are either the 21 pills type or the 28 pills type. Both these types focus on the adjustment of hormones.
The small difference is that the 28 pills type has the additional 7 starchy pills to complement the 28 days period, which is suitable for people who tend to forget taking their pills. There also other benefits in taking birth-control pills. In addition to preventing pregnancy, it will help with skin problems such as acne, make the skin looks healthier or even help with the body figure a better look.
The reason for this is that these pills will not only adjust hormones when a person has to little or too much. The balance resulting solves problems caused by hormonal imbalance. This is the reason why some women take birth-control pills although there is no concern in preventing pregnancy. Another kind of birth-control pill is called Emergency Contraception (EC). Its use is only for emergencies for example when we forget to take the general birth-control pill for 2 consecutive days or the use in for an adverse event such as sexual assault. The EC package contains 2 pills per one package. The idea is that it must be taken within 72 hours after the sexual relationship.
The first pill should be taken as soon as possible and the second pill should be taken 12 hours after you took the first pill. EC gives an approximate prevention percentage of 75% and if you can take the pills within 24 hours after the incident the prevention percentage will increase to 85%. But it is only for use in an emergency. It is stated on the drug’s label that these pills should not be taken more than 2 times per month as the side effects of taking this pills include the stimulation of cancer cells such as breast cancer, increase chance of extra-uterine pregnancy, and also problems with infertility.
Usually, I would tell my patient that they should not take EC for more than 2 times within their lifetime because of the severe side effects from taking the pills in the long term, particularly with teenagers. Should you have any query or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact “Healthlab Medical Laboratory”; the blue building located next to PTT gas station.
