Natural Birth Control

Posted on February 22, 2008 in Health-Sex

When we talk of birth control women only seem to think of contraceptive pills. But there are natural ways too, through which you can avoid pregnancy,

The most effective natural birth control methods are –
Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM) – This a natural birth control method which is unapproved of by the religious framework of major world religions. It supports the use of contraception methods like spermicide, condoms, diaphragm, emergency contraception and abortion.

Natural Family Planning (NFP) – This birth control method fits into the frameworks of various world religions. It helps birth control through Billings Ovulation Methods and mucous observation methods.

Both these birth control methods are sympto-thermal methods that teach a woman how to observe, interpret and chart her Basal Body Temperature or Waking Temperature and her Cervical mucus. This helps her understand what days she is fertile and able to conceive and what days she is less likely to conceive.

Women with regular menstrual cycle experience the following during their monthly cycle –

3-7 days of menstruation
Few days when she doesn’t feel the mucus on her vulva or in her vagina
Few days when she feels a slipper or wet sensation in her vagina or at her vulva. This mucus becomes more slippery and sticky as her ovulation reaches closer.
Her waking temperature rises after ovulation and mucus disappears from her vulva or vagina leaving it drier.

Out of these the most fertile days begin with woman first senses mucus at the vulva and continue till the mucus disappears. However, for women whose menstrual cycle does not follow any pattern, using the natural birth control methods would be difficult.

The FAM/NFP methods demand greater responsibility from the woman because it all depending on her charting and interpreting her fertility on a day-to-day basis. It is important to note that natural birth control methods require greater amount of cooperation between partners.

The benefits of NFP/FAM are –

This method has no negative health side effects.
It is a safe alternative for women who don’t want to resort to hormonal methods.
This method alerts women about their reproductive health and promotes positive body awareness.
It falls within the framework of various religions.
It fosters s communication between partners.
It helps partners enjoy romantic sexual activities instead of vaginal intercourse during fertile periods.
It also encourages male involvement.

The possible disadvantages are –

It requires takes women three to six cycles to learn this method.
It provides no protection from infections that get sexually transmitted.
It requires discipline and commitment on the part of couples to abide by the rules of natural birth control.
It may as well be a challenge for some couples to abstain from intercourse.

Natural Birth Control

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