Natural Methods of Family Planning

Posted on December 20th, 2007 by olga

Let’s talk today about natural methods of family planning.
From the very beginning let’s call our attention to a group of methods that are based on keeping away from sexual contact for the duration of time when a woman can conceive( the fertile time). A woman’s fertile time is recognized throughout observing, recording and interpreting natural signs and symptoms connected with the menstrual cycle. These methods consist of the standard day’s method, calendar (rhythm) method, cervical mucus (or ovulation) method, and basal body temperature method. These methods are called periodic abstinence.
Withdrawal (coitus interruptus): A method where sexual contact is interrupted and the penis is withdrawn from the vagina previous to ejaculation.
And now let’s make mention of how natural methods of family planning work.
They stop sperm from joining with an egg by keeping away from contact just about the time of ovulation or by removing the penis from the vagina earlier than ejaculation.
You should draw your attention that natural methods of family planning suitable for:
-Women with regular menstrual cycles
-Couples who believe the potential for accidental pregnancy
-Couples with no/little access to modern contraceptive methods
-Couples with religious/philosophical reasons not to use other methods
-Women incapable to make use of other contraceptive methods
-Men willing to practice withdrawal
And some words about advantages of natural methods of family planning:
-They have no medical side effects
-instant return to fertility
-Free and readily accessible
-Use increases knowledge of female reproductive physiology
-Use may get better communication between partners
From the other side they also have some disadvantages:
-High failure rate
-Need high motivation and ability to go after instructions
-Require partner’s support
-Couple enthusiastic periodic abstinence must abstain from intercourse for a considerable period of time every month
-No protection from STIs/HIV
-May be complicated to identify a woman’s fertile period (close to menarche, close to menopause, during breastfeeding, or in women with irregular cycles).
Nobody but you should choose your own way of family planning.