Intercourse may take place during the brief period of safe dry days that may follow menstruation in a long cycle. The fertile phase begins at the first sign of wetness after menstruation, but it may also begin a day or two before wetness begins. Otherwise, you must refrain from sex for at least three days after ovulation or until the wet days end, whichever is the longer number of days. It is considered safe to have sex after ovulation when mucus sharply decreases in volume and becomes cloudy and sticky again. It is considered even safer to have intercourse during the dry days that may follow before your period begins.
Fewer pregnancies occur when intercourse takes place only on the dry days following ovulation.
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