Tundraco's Daily Living Guide to Pregnancy Natural Family Planning

Natural Family Planning, better known by as the Rhythm Method, has been around for centuries. There are two main reasons for using the rhythm method. One is to avoid pregnancy. The other is that it can be helpful when attempting to become pregnant, because it pinpoints when a woman is most fertile.

• To pinpoint the fertile periods, it is necessary to accurately chart your fertility cycle.

Although an egg, once released will only live about 24 hours, sperm can remain viable for up to five days. Therefore, for the natural family planning method to work, it is necessary to prevent the introduction of sperm for a least five days before ovulation, and a day or two afterwards. This means, that for most couples, the technical 'fertility' period is about a week, during which they must take precautions if they wish to avoid pregnancy. However, if their desire is to achieve pregnancy, this is when they should concentrate the bulk of their efforts.

In the past, women using natural family planning simply guessed when they were fertile, with a modicum of success. Guessing is no longer necessary. By keeping a careful record of your body's changes during your monthly cycle – bloating, breast tenderness, mood swings, cervical mucus, and other recurring changes, you can begin to learn about your own body and over time will be able to identify when you are, and are not, fertile.

The calendar method is an unforgiving, outdated method of birth control that worked on a ridged schedule. It assumed that all women followed a 28-day menstrual cycle and that this never changed. Those following this method would keep track of monthly cycles, would assume that ovulation would regularly occur fourteen days before their next cycle was set to begin and would abstain from sex for the next fourteen days. Except for women who have cycles that progress with military precision, this method should be avoided.

The ovation method requires that you monitor the state of your cervical mucus. When you are fertile, the mucus will take on a stretchy, rubbery texture, which is clear like an egg white. At other times during the month, the mucus will be cloudy.

• The mucus is checked at the vaginal opening.
• Of the three natural planning methods, this method is the best to use if you are breast-feeding or have irregular cycles.

At the time of ovulation, most women experience a slight rise in body temperature. The symptothermal method requires that you keep track of your body temperature with a basal thermometer, so that you will know when this temperature increase occurs. You must take your temperature every morning before you get out of bed. This is necessary in order to get an accurate reading.

• If you are using this method as a form of birth control, it should be done in conjunction with mucus monitoring. The reason being that while the symptothermal method may pinpoint the time of ovulation, it does not give you warning of the "five-day before window". Without knowing when to begin avoiding intercourse (if you are using this as birth control), sperm may be introduced into the system, which will lie in ambush waiting for the egg to be released.

• The symptothermal method is most suited for indicating the time of peak fertility for couples trying to conceive.

While it is possible to learn about the rhythm method from books, your best bet is to talk with a natural family planning specialist. In many areas courses are available that teach the various natural planning methods. Your local hospital or Catholic dioceses will be able to direct you to classes in your area. Also seek out support groups for those practicing natural planning, such as the Couple to Couple League.

According to Planned Parenthood, the various (Fertility Awareness Methods) are only 75-95% effective.

• However, according to Family of the Americas organization, the ovulation method, if used properly, is 98-99% effective – with no harmful side effects.

Pro - Natural family planning is inexpensive.

Con - You must be constantly vigilant in order to notice changes in your body.

• It offers no protection against sexually transmitted diseases.