By Najeeb Sani
A medical expert, Dr Maryam Ahmed Almustapha, has urged women to take responsibility for tracking their menstrual cycles, describing it as essential to understanding fertility and reproductive health.
Dr. Maryam Ahmed Al-Mustapha who works with the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja said knowing one’s ovulation period helps women identify their “fertility window”, the days in a month when conception is most likely.
She noted that, that will help in planning pregnancy.
According to her, sperm can survive inside a woman’s body for up to five days, while a woman’s egg lives for only 24 hours after it is released.
She added that sperm can reach the egg in just 15 to 45 minutes after intercourse, making timing critical.
Dr. Al-Mustapha noted that every woman should know her cycle, with the first day of menstruation marking day one.
She explained that a normal menstrual cycle ranges from 21 to 35 days.
The expert said ovulation usually occurs 14 days before the next period, regardless of cycle length.
To determine it, she said, women should count 14 days backward from the expected first day of their next period.
She further explained that because of how long sperm and egg can survive, the fertile period covers the five days before ovulation, the day of ovulation and the day after, a total of seven days.
Dr. Al-Mustapha advised couples trying to conceive to focus on this window, while those who want to avoid pregnancy should take extra precautions during these days.
She encouraged women to keep a calendar for accurate monitoring.
The expert highlighted that increased awareness of menstrual health is key to effective family planning and to reducing cases of unplanned pregnancies.
