Birth Control Facts and STIs

The Basics

What happens in my body when I am not using hormonal birth control?
About once a month, an egg is released from the ovaries and travels down the fallopian tubes towards the uterus.

At the same time, the lining of the uterus becomes thicker with extra blood and tissue in readiness for a fertilized egg. Then one of two things can happen:

The egg is fertilized with sperm and you become pregnant. The fertilized egg will attach itself to the thickened lining of your uterus where it will slowly develop into a baby
The egg is not fertilized and the lining of the uterus begins to break down so it can be shed during your period or menstruation (along with the egg that was not fertilized)

Your period – or the time of bleeding – occurs when your body gets rid of the extra blood and tissue that’s no longer needed. Then, the cycle starts again.

Menstrual Cycle
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With the exception of pregnancies, you will experience a monthly menstrual cycle until perimenopause — the time when a woman's body begins the natural transition to menopause.

Why are some women’s menstrual cycles longer than others?

The length of a menstrual cycle is from the first day of bleeding in one month to the first day of bleeding in the next month
Some women may never have a regular pattern, although most women eventually have a regular cycle
Each woman is different, most have a period every 21 to 35 days

What parts of my body are involved in the reproductive cycle?
A woman’s sexual organs
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Adapted from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada 2009.
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Two important hormones are involved in the menstrual cycle: estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen peaks just before ovulation. Progesterone increases just after ovulation, preventing the release of other eggs.

Am I more likely to get pregnant when I am ovulating?
Yes, you are more fertile when you are ovulating; however, you can also get pregnant at other times, including while you are menstruating.

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