 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Fertility awareness, or natural family planning, is based on a woman's individual ovulation cycle. With a health care provider's help, a woman charts out her menstrual, fertile and infertile days, avoiding intercourse during fertile times. Different forms of natural family planning include the Sympto-Thermal Method, the Ovulation Method, the Calendar Method (a.k.a., the rhythm method), the Lactational-Amenorrhea Method (breastfeeding) and withdrawal.
The Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) is a method in which a woman or couple learns to observe and record her fertility signs, using the same approach as natural family planning (NFP). Once the couple can identify the fertile days of the woman's menstrual cycle, they use a barrier method like the condom or diaphragm only during these fertile days in order to prevent pregnancy.
How It Works:
Fertility awareness methods each have one thing in common: they rely on the physiology of a woman's body, rather than on drugs, hormones or barrier methods. However, each method is slightly different: the Sympto-Thermal Method involves charting a woman's body temperature to determine fertile and infertile days; the Ovulation Method requires a woman pay attention to her menstrual and ovulation cycle, using her body's moisture and dryness to determine infertile days; the Calendar Method, formerly known as "the rhythm method," relies on a woman counting backwards from the last day of her period to determine the most advantageous times to have intercourse; the Lactational-Amenorrhea Method, which involves prolonging breastfeeding as a means for preventing ovulation; and withdrawal, also known as coitus interruptus, the often-ineffective practice of withdrawing the penis prior to ejaculation.
During the days when a woman is not fertile a couple can have intercourse without using a barrier method because there is no egg for the sperm to meet. When she is fertile, the sperm are blocked by a barrier method or destroyed by the spermicide.
Natural family planning (NFP) is the only completely natural form of contraception other than abstinence. While many people prefer this natural, mutual method of preventing pregnancy, couples who use this method improperly are more likely to get pregnant than those who misuse artificial methods. Couples who use this method seem to like it. Most users of these methods tend to be very loyal, continuing to practice NFP longer than users of any other method. If you want to use fertility awareness as a method of contraception, you should first confer with a trained counselor, health care provider or midwife, or family planning specialist.
How To Use It:
A client who chooses this method needs to know how to observe and record her fertility signs and figure out which days she is fertile. It is best to attend a class to learn this information. The couple also needs to know how to use their chosen barrier method during her fertile days.
Side Effects, Complications and Warning Signs:
The side effects, complications and warning signs will depend on which barrier method is chosen.
Precautions:
The precautions for this method are the same as those for the chosen barrier method.
Effectiveness:
Failure rates: There is limited research on how well this method works to prevent pregnancy. It depends upon how well a woman observes and records her fertile signs and how well the couple uses their barrier method. The ability to do both of these things correctly will clearly impact how well FAM works.
Failure rates for each natural family planning method are as follows:
- Sympto-Thermal Method - 15%
- Ovulation Method - 20%
- Calendar Method - 18%
- Lactational-Amenorrhea Method - 6%
- Withdrawal - 20%
Advantages and Disadvantages:
Some people like this method because it:
- Helps women to learn more about their bodies.
- Means using a barrier method only during the fertile time.
- Has the same advantages as their chosen barrier method.
- Very inexpensive.
- No artificial devices or drugs required.
- No harmful side effects if used alone. Side effects would only be a concern with the chosen barrier method to be used during fertile days. If a barrier method isn't used then abstinence should be used during fertile times.
- One of the biggest advantages to fertility awareness is that it doesn't require that you purchase anything prior to beginning it. Computerized fertility programs are available to make temperature and ovulation charting easier, and you might want to pick up a Basal thermometer; otherwise, all you'll need to do is visit a family planning counselor for some good advice and training.
Some people don't like this method because it:
- Requires the participation and cooperation of both partners.
- Requires effort to observe and record when a woman is fertile.
- Takes time to learn how to use this method. Couples should see a trained counselor before using NFP methods.
- Most methods have a high failure rate when used incorrectly.
- Can cause some side effects related to the barrier method being used.
- Doesn't protect against sexually transmitted diseases or infections.
- Has the same disadvantages as their chosen barrier method
Basics of Learning your Cycle
by Sister Zeus
This is a brief summary, for more details see other pages in this site and follow links I have included here. I put this together to be a quick reference of things you need to know. I have gone into greater detail elsewhere in the site. I put this together to help clarify some things, and to answer some commonly asked questions.
Basic Charting
When charting your cycle, there are a few basics to know, and this will also help you understand what I'm talking about here in the site. Day 1 is the first day you bleed, the first day of your period. On the first day you begin to bleed mark your calendar Day 1 and count the days, I always mark the days right on my calendar. 1,2,3,4,5.....etc. I have a 28-30 day cycle most months, though sometimes it varies. last month it was 24 days long. So I usually number my calendar through day 28.
So the next time you bleed that cycle has come to a close. Lets say bleeding began on Day 27, that is 27 days from the first day of bleeding last period. Then the cycle starts over with Day 1 being the same day as Day 27. The cycle ends on the same day the new cycle begins. I hope that makes sense to all of you. I have written a page on charting your cycle, visit it for more in depth information.
Ovulation
Sperm can live inside you for up to 5 days, and depending on the individual, maybe up to 7 days.
An egg is capable of being fertilized for 24 hours, then begins to deteriorate.
Learning to tell when you will ovulate is the hardest part. Because sperm can live inside us for several days, the time between the end of the blood flow and ovulation is the most dangerous time to have unprotected sex.
It is pretty easy to tell when ovulation has occurred if you learn the signs. There are several methods you can use to determine when ovulation has occurred.
The basal thermometer tells you when ovulation has occurred, but does not tell you when it is approaching.
Learning how to read your mucus is a pretty reliable way to know when ovulation is coming, however, waiting until you see fertile mucus to use condoms is risky, and semen can affect the mucus. When the stretchy mucus has dried up, ovulation has probably occurred.
There are draw backs of using this method alone, see Fertile Mucus for more information on how to identify fertile mucus. Remember that the most successful form of natural birth control is a combination of two or more methods.
Some women feel ovulation when it occurs, it could feel like a sharp pain, or some women experience a dull ache, it usually is felt in the lower abdomen, either on the right or left side. And will alternate sides each month. Most women do not feel ovulation occurring. This is good to let you know when ovulation has occurred, but does not give you warning to protect yourself against the sperm who can survive within our fertile mucus for 5 days or so. And sometimes fertile mucus is happening but since it come from the cervix it doesn't always make it down to the vaginal opening where we might notice it on the toilet paper.
The best most reliable way I found to tell when ovulation was approaching was by using a plastic speculum, a flashlight and a mirror. By observing my cervix I was able to tell when ovulation was approaching, when it was most likely occurring and watched the opening of my cervix (called the os) close. When it was completely closed again I knew ovulation was over and it was safe to have unprotected sex. For more information about cervical changes and observation.
I hope this helps to clarify some things, there is lots more information here so please look around.
Follow Up: When you are ready, using fertility awareness methods is an excellent way to get pregnant.
Sister Zeus's Fertility & Contraception Website
Sister Zeus - Living With Our Fertility Directory
Printed with Permission from Sister Zeus
NATURAL METHODS LINKS
MoonDragon's Conception Information
The Conception Kit™ - Contents & Use
MoonDragon's Contraception Information: Natural Methods of Birth Control
MoonDragon's Contraception Information: Fertility Cycle Basics
MoonDragon's Contraception Information: Herbal Birth Control
MoonDragon's Contraception Information: Lactational Amenorrhea Method
MoonDragon's Contraception Information: Withdrawal Method
Menstrual Cycle Basics by Sister Zeus
Sister Zeus: What Men Need To Know About Fertility Awareness Methods
Sister Zeus's Fertility Awareness, Herbal Abortion, & Herbal Contraception
Natural Contraceptives by Elizabeth Burch, ND
Herbal Methods of Contraception & Abortion Links
Ovu-tec Fertility Detector for Visualizing Cervical Mucous
Sister Zeus: Determining Your Risk of Pregnancy
Sister Zeus: Basal Body Temp - In Determining Risk for Pregnancy
MoonDragon's Contraception Methods Compared
Mountain Rose Bulk Herbs
Mountain Rose Aromatherapy Oils
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils A-B
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils C-E
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils F-L
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils M-P
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils Q-Z
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils: Oil Blends & Resins
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils: Diffusers, Nebulizers, & Burners
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils: Oil Kits
Click Here To Visit Herbal Remedies Product Page
Press your "back" button to return to the last page.
