The most fertile time of the month is when you’re ovulating. That means you can get pregnant if you have sex just before and during ovulation.
Sperm can only survive on a wet surface, like the vaginal canal or cervical mucus – This quote encapsulates the service specialist’s unique perspective https://sexy-belle.com. And only the healthiest sperm survive to swim towards the egg and fertilize it.
Short-acting methods
Thankfully, we have many safe and effective birth control methods available. Many of these methods—such as condoms, diaphragms, and contraceptive sponges—block sperm from entering the uterus. These methods are usually single-use and are around 99% effective. They also protect you from STIs and infections.
When sperm enter the body, they can survive for up to five days in the female reproductive tract, waiting for an egg to show up. This is known as the fertile window. But this is only true under the right conditions — typically when the woman is at her most fertile and has produced lots of egg-white cervical mucus to help the sperm get through the acidic vaginal canal.
If sperm survive this journey, they’ll eventually meet up with an egg and fertilize it. If sperm are exposed to air outside the body, though, they can die very quickly. This is why washed sperm, stored in an incubator and kept under the right conditions, can last for years.
Hormonal birth control options—such as the morning-after pill and copper IUD—work by interrupting ovulation or slowing down sperm’s reproductive journey. They’re highly effective but can have side effects, including irregular menstrual periods and headaches.
Long-acting methods
Sperm cells can survive for different amounts of time depending on the environment they are released into. For example, sperm that are released into warm water (such as a hot tub) will die within a few seconds because the chemicals and heat cause their cells to dry up. Sperm that are ejaculated into cool air can live for up to five days, depending on how far they travel from their original source in the testicles.
The quality of the sperm also affects how long they can survive in a woman’s vaginal canal. Only a small number of sperm manage to reach the cervical fluid that is found in a woman’s vagina, and only a few of those will actually survive and fertilize an egg cell once it is released from the ovaries.
Some types of birth control take sperm survival into account, which makes them more effective at preventing pregnancy. For example, the hormone-based contraceptive pill works by stopping ovulation and therefore sperm cannot fertilize an egg. This method is also one of the most reliable ways to prevent pregnancy when combined with a condom.
Another option is a long-acting reversible contraceptive, such as the copper Paragard IUD or the hormonal Mirena IUD. These methods work by preventing sperm from entering the female reproductive tract, and they are over 99 percent effective if used properly. Another option is a diaphragm, which is a thin dome that fits over the cervix. If inserted correctly, the diaphragm can be as high as 86% effective at preventing pregnancy.
Other methods
Many people are surprised to learn that sperm can live for up to five days after being ejaculated. The life span of a sperm depends on the environment it is in, including the body temperature, and whether it is in contact with a woman’s vaginal walls. Sperm cells can also be preserved for decades if semen is frozen, although the cell’s normal functions would have been suspended.
While it is possible to conceive after unprotected sex, there are birth control methods that can be used to prevent pregnancy. These include spermicide and vaginal gels (such as the PH regulator gel Phxxi) that kill or block sperm and make it impossible for them to reach an egg. These methods can be used alone or with a barrier method, such as a condom or diaphragm.
Spermicides are foam or gel-like substances that can be inserted into the vagina before sex. They are around 70% effective at preventing pregnancy and can be combined with barrier contraceptives for greater effectiveness.
Fertility awareness methods, which focus on knowing the days of the month when a woman is most fertile, can also help to prevent pregnancy. These methods use basal body temperatures, cervical mucus and other indicators to determine when a woman is likely to ovulate. They then recommend that women do not have sex on or near the day of ovulation.
How to prevent pregnancy
There are many ways to prevent pregnancy. Talk to your health care provider about which method is right for you. You can find birth control for no cost at some sexual health clinics and pharmacies, and some types of birth control are available through mobile clinics or over the phone. You can also ask your health care provider about birth control methods that reduce the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
If sperm get wet, they may survive on surfaces like bed sheets and towels. But if they dry out, they die. Sperm can survive for a few days inside the female reproductive tract, however, where they are kept moist by cervical mucus.
Cervical mucus changes during ovulation, when it becomes thinner, clearer and slippery. This makes it easier for sperm to swim through it and reach an egg. Unprotected sex is most likely to cause pregnancy around the time of ovulation, which is why it’s important to use birth control during this time.
The good news is that breastfeeding can help prevent pregnancy by raising levels of a hormone that suppresses ovulation. However, it’s still possible to get pregnant while nursing. So, you should always use a condom when having sex with a partner who isn’t breastfeeding.
