How many red days can you expect?

Thanks to the rise of contraception apps and ovulation tests, most folk now understand women have red (fertile) days and green (infertile) days.
 
This is very different from the old days when we were told we could get pregnant on any day of our cycle - which was pretty alarming if you took a chance and didn't get pregnant.
 
The downside is many folk expect to accurately pinpoint fertile days in advance, and only use

condoms or other precautions on two or three days a month. That would be a wonderful thing but it's not how fertility awareness works.

Even with loads of data about your cycles, and very regular periods, you need buffer days to allow for things changing from month to month.
 
So how many red days can you expect during your cycle?
 
Nine to eleven red days is probably as good as it gets. It will be more than this while you are learning and if your periods are very irregular.
 
You need to use condoms or other precautions on all your red days.

If that's not right for you and your partner, then nor is fertility awareness as contraception.
 
The good news is those days do not have to be a terrible trial - many couples appreciate the variety.

Just be honest with yourselves.

Many of us need to use contraception for decades. It's important to be comfortable with our choice.

To find out more about your red day options check out condoms and other precautions