How do I know when I’m going to have my period?

The menstrual cycle starts on the first day you menstruate and ends on the day before the start of your next period.

Is your cycle regular or irregular?

A “regular” menstrual cycle usually lasts 28 days, plus or minus 4 days. If the difference is more than 4 days, we call it an “irregular” cycle. Many women, especially teens, have an irregular cycle.

Can it change?

Your cycle can become irregular if you’re going through a difficult or demanding time: a death or separation in your family, a broken heart, fear of being pregnant, stress, fatigue, etc. If you play sports at a high level or have an eating disorder, that can also affect your cycle.

When do I ovulate?

If you track your menstrual cycle, you can find out when you’re ovulating, which is the time when you’re most fertile and most likely to get pregnant. You ovulate approximately two weeks after the first day of your period. While you’re ovulating, you are more at risk of getting pregnant if you have unprotected sex.

Warning: since ovulation isn’t always regular, you can get pregnant at any time, even while you’re menstruating! What’s more, a spermatozoon can survive up to 5 days in your uterus. So it’s better to use protection!