The 10 most common cycle myths

Dive into the fascinating world of female cycle Forget everything you thought you knew about the menstrual cycle, because we’re debunking common myths and offering you amazing insights.

Is a 28-day cycle really always healthy? And what’s the deal with the supposed “14th day of the cycle” ovulation? But that’s not all. Find out why short cycles aren’t necessarily unhealthy, and how severe period cramps can actually be an important signal. Learn how OvulaRing can help you understand your unique cycle health. After all, there’s still so much to learn and understand about the menstrual cycle.

We debunk 10 common myths about the menstrual cycle

1. A 28-day cycle is always healthy.

Unfortunately, that’s not true! The key to a healthy menstrual cycle isn’t the length of your cycle, but rather whether ovulation occurs and whether the second phase of your cycle lasts 12–16 days. This phase, known as the luteal phase, begins immediately after ovulation and ends when your period starts. If this phase is consistently shorter than 10 days, it could be a Luteal insufficiency that might be the reason.

Here’s an example: If you have a 28-day cycle and ovulate on the 18th day of your cycle, your second phase will last only 10 days. This cycle is not healthy, because it could prevent pregnancy! In addition to luteal phase deficiency, other factors can also too much stress or exercise can lead to shorter second-phase cycles. By the way, a healthy cycle isn’t just important for getting pregnant—thanks to the release of estrogen during ovulation, it’s also essential for your breast, bone, and heart health! With OvulaRing, you can find out whether your Healthy and Fertile Cycles are.

2. Ovulation always occurs on the 14th day of the cycle.

The myth that ovulation always occurs on the 14th day of the cycle is long outdated. We’ve found that this is true for just under 7% of users! An anonymous analysis of our OvulaRing pregnancy charts also showed that 50% of all pregnancies resulted from ovulation occurring after the 19th day of the cycle. Furthermore, 25% of users became pregnant after ovulating on the 24th day of their cycle. Your cycle is as unique as your fingerprint. This also means that not only the length of the cycle but also the day of ovulation can vary from woman to woman.

Learn how to understand your unique cycle today. A great place to start is by tracking your cycle with OvulaRing, based on the latest scientific research.

3. Short cycles can’t be healthy.

That’s wrong, too! We often hear that short cycles automatically do not ovulate if the cycle is shorter than 25 days. But that’s not true! Early ovulation starting on the 8th day of the cycle is actually quite common. With a healthy second phase of 12–16 days, this results in a cycle length of 20–26 days! With OvulaRing, you can find out if you’re also experiencing early ovulation and whether your cycles are still healthy.

4. A regular period is a sign of a healthy cycle.

It’s actually not that simple, because a regular period is not always a sign of a healthy cycle. Regular bleeding can also occur in cycles without ovulation or in cycles with a shortened second phase.

Cyclical hormonal changes in the body are fundamental to the relationship between ovulation and menstrual bleeding. However, it is possible that while these hormonal changes do not trigger ovulation, they are sufficient to cause changes in the uterine lining. This can result in menstrual bleeding without prior ovulation. To ensure that you are ovulating regularly, you can use the OvulaRing. It reliably indicates ovulation and your fertile window regardless of your period.

5. You can’t get pregnant from having sex during your period.

That’s wrong, too! If you ovulate early, your fertile days begin as soon as your period ends. For example, if you ovulate on the 9th day of your cycle, your fertile window begins on the 5th day. So if your period lasts 6 days, you can getting pregnant from unprotected sex during your period. This is where the menstrual cycle and the fertile window overlap.

6. Severe menstrual cramps are normal.

We can’t say it often enough—severe period pain isn’t normal! It can be a sign of adenomyosis, for example, or Endometriosis . However, those affected are often told that their pain is perfectly normal and that they need to “pull themselves together.” No! If you experience severe period pain, the cause must be investigated immediately. It’s best to consult your doctor right away and, if necessary, contact the Endometriosis Association or to a certified endometriosis center!

7. You are most fertile on the day of ovulation.

That’s actually wrong! The Chances of getting pregnant Your chances of conception are highest during unprotected sex 2 days before ovulation. This is because sperm can survive in the uterus for up to 5 days. However, the egg is only capable of being fertilized for 12–24 hours after ovulation. So if you’re trying to conceive, timing is everything! OvulaRing accurately and reliably indicates your most fertile window so you never miss it again.

Calculate your cycle and ovulation now with the OvulaRing Ovulation Calculator.

8. Long cycles are unhealthy.

Wrong! Unfortunately, women with a Cycle length of >35 days often assume that their cycles are automatically unhealthy. That’s not true. The key to a healthy cycle isn’t its total length, but rather the length of the second phase of the menstrual cycle. As long as the cycle lasts approximately 12–16 days, natural conception is possible and the cycle is healthy. Furthermore, long cycles with late ovulation are actually not uncommon. Incidentally, in 25% of the pregnancy cycles recorded so far with OvulaRing, ovulation occurred after the 25th day of the cycle.

9. Ovulation always occurs in the middle of the cycle.

That’s wrong, too! This misconception is based on the assumption that the Standard Cycle is always 28 days long, with ovulation occurring on the 14th day of the cycle. However, we have found that 70% of all women do not fit this standard. Their cycles are shorter or longer, yet perfectly healthy. The first phase of the cycle, known as the follicular phase, runs from the first day of the cycle until ovulation and varies greatly in length. The second phase of the cycle begins after ovulation and usually lasts 12–16 days. In a healthy second phase, ovulation therefore occurs about 12–16 days before the start of the next period. This is especially true for long cycles >Since ovulation occurs 35 days into the cycle, it is by no means in the middle of the cycle. With OvulaRing, you can determine the nature of your cycle and whether and when you are ovulating, regardless of the length of your cycle.

10. You cannot get pregnant while breastfeeding.

Wrong! For most women, their menstrual cycle needs time to gradually return to normal after giving birth. However, hormone levels during breastfeeding vary from woman to woman. The key factor here is prolactin, which is responsible for milk production. Prolactin levels rise during pregnancy and are maintained by breastfeeding. Nevertheless, they gradually decrease in the months following childbirth. Once they fall below a certain level, estrogen and progesterone regain dominance, and your cycle returns to normal.

While it can take quite a while for some women’s cycles to return to normal, others ovulate for the first time just a few weeks after giving birth. This first ovulation often occurs even before the first menstrual period. However, the timing varies greatly from person to person. So be careful: You may have a “normal” cycle again just a few weeks after giving birth and become pregnant even while breastfeeding. Breastfeeding alone is therefore not sufficient for reliable contraception.

Summary:

A healthy menstrual cycle does not depend solely on its length, but above all on a regular ovulation and a sufficiently long second phase of the menstrual cycle. Myths such as ovulation on the “14th day of the cycle,” short cycles without ovulation, or the assumption that severe menstrual cramps are normal have been debunked. Your menstrual health is unique, and OvulaRing can help you closely track and monitor your cycle. It’s interesting to note that sexual intercourse during your period can also lead to pregnancy, and that your most fertile day isn’t necessarily the day you ovulate! Your cycle is as unique as you are! OvulaRing helps you understand your cycle, maintain your health, and make the most of your fertility.

Do you work in a medical practice and want to better understand your patients’ menstrual cycles? Or would you like your gynecologist to advise you on OvulaRing? Here you’ll find all the information you need about Using OvulaRing in Practice.

Sources:

eltern.de – Why am I not ovulating?

aerzteblatt.de – Ovulation usually doesn’t occur on day 14

trainyabrain-blog.com – Getting pregnant with early ovulation

Endometriosis Association – How is endometriosis treated?

gesundheitsinformation.de – What should you do if you have endometriosis?

OvulaRing Study: Continuous monitoring of body temperature to improve the diagnosis of female fertility and infertility (English)