Posted: 5/7/2005 10:20:48 AM EDT
| k |
It is not a cut & dry situation. The general understanding is that a few days after is "safe time" but people that rely on this are generally referred to, sooner or later, as "Parents". - BG |
| All the science that has gone into understanding women's reproductive cycles only gives probability of pregnancy. There is no yes or no answer. The other monkey wrench in the works is that, somewhat like rabbits, humans are to some degree spontaneous ovulators, meaning that having sex can cause ovulation outside of the normal timing. |
Words of wisdom from Outkast, unless you want to take the risk of knockin her up that is.....
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Chances are if you are asking this question, it is already too late........congratulations!!!Welcome to fatherhood!!!..........  
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If I'm remembering correctly, if you count forward from the first day of a woman's period, day 13 is the typical time for ovulation. Sperm can live about three days in the woman's reproductive tract, and the egg lives several days after ovulation. I believe three days before to three days after (or day 10 through day 16) is the zone of highest pregnancy risk. However, like other posters have mentioned, this is only estimate and not exact prediction. For the best information on this, you can probably consult any of the "natural family planning" guides put out by churches that discourage contraceptive use. (Of course, not having sex when a woman is most likely to get pregnant is a form of contraceptive too...) Jim |
What do you call a woman that uses the "rhythm method"?.....................a mother, heh kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/contraception/contraception_rhythm.html Keep in mind what you are risking, you might "accidentally" create a life you are responsible for (your "little swimmers" don't just give up after 20min., IIRC three days of "swimming" is possible) I believe this is the answer to your specific question: The overall risk of pregnancy after a single act of unprotected sex on any day in the menstrual cycle is 2-4%. The pregnancy risk from a single act of intercourse is highest (between 20-30%) in the days before and just after ovulation. Counting the first day of menstrual bleeding as Day 1, the pregnancy risk is low before Day 7 and after Day 17 inclusive in a 28-day cycle. Adjusting for shorter and longer cycles displaces these estimated fertile days earlier and later, respectively, within the cycle. (please note that they said "low risk"........not "no risk") www.medicdirect.co.uk/clinics/default.ihtml?step=4&pid=2278 Don't forget, NOT all pregnancies occur in the womb as a result of normal ovulation "Ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants in tissue outside of the uterus" Good luck |
Hence the 'S, L, U, T' portion of your boardname? WTF is up with that?  Women's bodies are baby-making machines. God or millions of years of evolution (whichever you want to believe in) have ensured this. You're not going to beat God or evolution with a calendar and crossed fingers. My wife, who has no desire for a ragamuffin at this point in her life, decided she wanted to think about quitting her birth control pills. Her alternative? The 'rhythym method'. I looked at her like she was frickin' crazy.  ETA: Read a book called 'Sperm Wars'. It'll make you look like this ---> 
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In this case, Swimming downstream is absolutely safe. (Assuming she's careful with the teeth.) Upstream can ruin your life ANY day of the month. eta: post 1969. Appropriate. The same year my 'we thought it was safe at that time of the month baby brother was born'. 
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The rythym method of birth control was used quite effectively by many before the advent of easy to obtain birth control measures. However, it takes a good year of tracking the womans cycle and a woman who has a reliable cycle to be effective. Condoms, pills, the sponge, 69, man do whatever it takes, but don't take a chance. |