Fertility Awareness & Natural Family Planning
What it is . . .
Also known as 'fertility awareness', Natural Family Planning is a method of birth control that uses the menstrual cycle to predict your most fertile time of the month - that is, when you are most likely to get pregnant.
How it works . . .
Fertility awareness birth control methods are based on the fact that:
- sperm may live in a female reproductive tract for up to 5 days
- the female egg lives for only a day
- fertilization may occur even days after intercourse
- 'safe days' (when you are less likely to concieve) occur 2 days after ovulation and continue until your next period (when you enter the less fertile phase).
Who shouldn't use it . . .
- if you have a partner who is not willing to cooperate;
- if you do not have regular, steady monthly cycle;
- you are not willing to invest the time/effort required to learn about fertility awareness methods;
- if you have recently had a baby;
- if an accidental pregnancy would not be acceptable.
What are the side effects . . .
There are no side effects.
Effectiveness rates. . .
The Natural Family Planning method may be trickier than some methods of birth control.
Typical use: 85%
Perfect use: 95%
Where to get it . . .
There are several methods of determining which are the most fertile days of your cycle. Talking to your doctor
about what method that is best suited for you, including:
Calendar Rhythm Method: Requires that you keep track
of your cycle for a few months to determine your own individual pattern
of ovulation. The pattern will help you keep track of when is most
'dangerous' to have sexual intercourse.
Basal Body Temperature Method: Involves keeping track of your body temperature so that you can tell when you are ovulating. Body temperature rises two days after ovulation.
To avoid pregnancy, unprotected intercourse hsould be delayed until after three consecutive days of temperature elevation.
Ovulation Method: Requires you to check your cervical mucus for changes in volume and quality to determine the time of ovulation.
Symptothermal Method: A combination of the first two methods.
Considered to be the most effective of all the natural family planning methods.
Ovulation Predictor Kits: Available at the drugstore, these kits are used to test your urine to identify hormones that indicate ovulation is about to occur.
Cost . . .
Generally there is no extra cost to this method except for ovulation kits which are approximately $50 per month.