If you can't or don't want to use hormonal birth control methods such as the birth control pill, you can still reduce your risk of becoming pregnant before you're ready by using the calendar method for preventing pregnancy. If you and your partner are willing to be organized and alert in your sex life, the calendar method can be an effective birth control method.
Identification
The calendar method tracks a woman's menstrual cycle to find the days where she is most likely to conceive, based on her estimated dates of ovulation. By avoiding sex during ovulation, when you're the most fertile, you significantly reduce your risk of becoming pregnant. You can have sex during the "safe" parts of your cycle.
Time Frame
You'll need to track your cycle for at least a few months and possibly up to a year before you can effectively use the calendar method to prevent pregnancy. Each month, you'll need to make a note of the day your period begins and ends. After a few months, average the number of days between your periods to get your average cycle. You'll then subtract 18 from the number of days in your shortest cycle and 11 from the number of days in your longest cycle; the range of numbers you get are the days you should abstain from sex to avoid getting pregnant. For instance, if your shortest cycle was 20 days and your longest cycle was 25 days, you would abstain from sex from day two through day 14 of your cycle.
Benefits
The calendar method is a good choice for people whose personal or religious beliefs prevent them from using hormonal methods of birth control like the pill or barrier methods like condoms. The calendar method can also be used in conjunction with other forms of birth control, such as condoms or diaphragms. According to the University of California at Santa Barbara, the calendar method is 91 percent effective at preventing pregnancy when it is used correctly.
Considerations
The calendar method doesn't protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and is the least effective form of birth control, according to UC Santa Barbara. It also requires couple to be vigilant about tracking cycles and knowing "safe days" in order for it to work.
Expert Insight
Ideally, you should keep track of your cycle for at least a year before employing the calendar method for birth control, according to UC Santa Barbara, because your cycle can vary significantly from month to month. This method is best for people who don't mind being organized about their sex life and are willing to abstain from sex for a week or longer during the month.
