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You Should Read This if You’re Looking to Conceive and if you’re not looking to conceive, too
You’re most likely to fall pregnant six days before you ovulate, on the day that you ovulate, and for around two days afterwards. If you want to fall pregnant, now’s the chance to engage in baby-making. Don’t want to conceive? Be extra careful with contraception around this time in your cycle.
Sperm can survive for up to five days inside your body. While sperm can survive this long, it has a small window period of around 48 hours to fertilise the ovum before the ovum is absorbed back into the body.
Which is why you could become pregnant during the six days leading up to ovulation and the two days after if you have had unprotected sex. Under normal circumstances (where both partners are fertile and there are no underlying health conditions) you’re most likely to conceive on the above-mentioned days if sperm is present in the fallopian tubes when you ovulate.
Emphasis on not impossible. While it isn’t likely that you’ll conceive while menstruating (it’s actually the least likely time you’ll fall pregnant), it can happen if you have a very short menstrual cycle (you ovulate soon after your period) and if sperm survives inside your body after having sex.
Yes you can. In rare instances, you can still get pregnant. You should also bear in mind that you can still catch a sexually transmitted disease when on your period
You might notice a slight odour when you're on your period. Tampons can help with this because they're worn inside your body. If you prefer to use pads, make sure to change them regularly if you notice a strong odour.
Some brands of contraceptive pills can reduce your flow or shorten the length of your period. Your doctor or nurse will discuss this with you during your consultation.
You’ve got a few options available. Lil-lets Super Plus tampons have the highest absorbency in our range and are great for heavy periods. If you prefer to use an applicator tampon, our super tampons are a really good choice for medium to heavy flow. If you use pads, we suggest using our Night Maxi Pad, which is the highest absorbency pad within our range
Although you may not feel like doing it at the time, stretching or gentle exercise will ease this discomfort. Healthy eating is also known to help relieve any period pain. Alternatively, treat yourself to a relaxing bath or cuddle up on the sofa with a hot water bottle. If none of these help, your local pharmacy can give you guidance on suitable pain relief.
This can vary from 2 to 5 days and could be up to 10.
Yes, it's important to keep yourself clean during your period and hot water can help soothe cramps too!
Menstrual cramps vary from menstruator to menstruator. For some, period cramps are little to no pain, whereas for others, it can be a truly excruciating experience. Thus dealing with period cramps can vary. We recommend exploring to opt for home treatments instead of relying heavily on over-the-counter medicine. These two options can assist with cramps:
• Getting regular exercise can help with blood flow and may reduce cramping.
• Put a heating pad or a hot water bottle on your belly, or taking a warm bath. The heat improves blood flow and may ease the pain.
However, if pain does persist, it is recommended to chat to your doctor or gynae
You totally can! We've often been fed a lot of misinformation. That's not the case - you can take care of yourself (including washing your hair, why not throw in a face mask?), exercise if you're up to it, be around your loved ones and work as normal. Besides the pain and discomfort which accompanies some people's periods, you can continue on as normal.
Swimming during your period isn't a problem. However, you will want to use a tampon when swimming so you don't bleed on your swimsuit. Pads won't work and will just fill with water. The tampon won't fall out if it is inserted correctly. Go and make a splash!
Got a question you’ve been too embarrassed to ask? Wondering if what you are experiencing every month is normal?
Join our Lil-Lets Talk community for empowering conversations for people with periods.
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