Natural Family Planning
Natural family planning – also called fertility-based awareness – is an effective way to lower the chance of pregnancy when in a monogamous, committed relationship. Studies have shown that with perfect use, fertility-based awareness methods are just as effective as hormonal (like the pill or patch) or barrier methods (condoms or diaphragm). As long as both partners are committed to having sex only with each other, it can reduce the risk of transmitting or catching a sexually transmitted infection.
There are many types of fertility-based awareness birth control. This article outlines 2 of the simpler methods: natural family planning and cervical mucus method. Each method does require a bit of time to establish the cycles and make it an effective way to reduce risk of pregnancy without hormones. Please note that these methods do not reduce the risk of transmitting or getting an STI and is not a safe choice unless both people in the relationship are committed to having sex only with each other.
Natural family planning
- What is it: Natural family planning is a method of birth control where you track your fertility cycle and then avoid sex during the days when you are considered fertile.
- How is it done: Natural family planning requires that you determine how many days your cycle is. This is done by tracking from the first day of bleeding in your period to the next first day of bleeding in your period. (The typical cycle lasts 26-32 days) You then need to recognize when you are fertile (the time you can get pregnant). The fertile window usually occurs between days 8-19. There are many other symptoms you can track that will point to fertility such as cervical mucus discharge and body temperature. If you are trying to reduce the risk of pregnancy, avoid sex or use a barrier method (such as condoms) during days 8-19. If you are trying to get pregnant, you should try to have sex every day or every other day during days 8-19.
- Efficacy: Natural family planning requires consistent tracking and awareness to learn the number of days in your cycle and know which day you are on. If you have an irregular menstrual cycle where your periods are not consistently the same number of days, it will take more work to make this method effective in lowering the chance of pregnancy. Using barriers, such as condoms, can help reduce the risk of pregnancy while learning your cycle, and using the cervical mucus method can also help identify your fertile window.
Cervical mucus method
- What is it: Cervical mucus method is a method of birth control where you track your cervical mucus and watch for changes that indicate your fertile time, avoiding sex during that time.
- How is it done: The cervical mucus method requires you to track cervical mucus changes. Just before ovulation, there is an increase in mucus production and it is more thin and slippery, kind of like egg whites. Just after ovulation, the mucus decreases and becomes thicker and less noticeable. To reduce risk of pregnancy, do not have sex or use a barrier method during times when you have more mucus. To promote the possibility of pregnancy, have sex once a day or every other day during times when you have an increase in mucus discharge. You can also monitor changes by asking yourself two questions, two times a day: “Did I notice any secretions today?” and “Did I notice any secretions yesterday?” If you answer yes, then you are most likely fertile and should avoid sex or use a barrier method. If the answer is no for two days in a row, then pregnancy is less likely.
- Efficacy: Like most birth control methods, the cervical mucus method requires using it correctly for it to work. Keeping track of mucus changes and either avoiding sex or using a barrier method is the only way to use it effectively to reduce the risk of pregnancy. There are certain things that change the appearance of mucus membranes such as medications, breastfeeding, sex, and feminine hygiene products, so you will need to be aware of these things when tracking mucus changes for reducing risk of pregnancy.
The fertility based awareness method of birth control costs only your time and attention and is a hormone free way to reduce risk of pregnancy. Although it does take some time to learn your cycle, it is an effective way to reduce risk of pregnancy when used correctly.
There are many free Apps that make it even easier to use a fertility awareness based method of birth control such as Clue, Flo, Ovia, and Natural Cycles.
For more information you can reach out to Heart to Heart or review the information at the sites listed below.
Sources
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/fertility-awareness-based-methods-of-family-planning
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2012/1115/od1.html