Natural methods to avoid (or plan) a pregnancy
The natural methods are based on the awareness of fertility and include some techniques for monitoring ovulation , i.e. the release of the egg cell from the ovaries, in order to prevent (or seek depending on the case) pregnancy.
They are also called natural family planning methods.
The principle on which they are based is to avoid having complete unprotected sexual intercourse when the woman is more fertile (i.e. when it is more likely to become pregnant).
Prevent pregnancy with natural methods
In order not to get pregnant, a woman can choose to abstain from vaginal intercourse on fertile days. Or at that juncture she can use contraceptives such as condoms. Coitus interruptus is not recommended as it often leads to unwanted pregnancies.
Understand your own fertility
To understand when you are most likely to get pregnant, you need to familiarize yourself with your body and your menstrual cycle.
In order for pregnancy to occur, the egg cell that is released from the ovaries at the time of ovulation must unite with a sperm. This event is called fertilization.
A woman therefore has days in which fertilization can take place, other days in which it is not possible, others still in which it is unlikely but still possible
To conceive a child, a woman must have unprotected vaginal intercourse during the days when the sperm can join the egg. These days are called fertile days .
A woman’s fertile days depend on the life span of the egg and sperm. Sperm can live inside the woman’s body for up to 5 days (for some even 6). The oocyte, on the other hand, lives for a maximum of 24 hours after it has been emitted from the ovaries.
Therefore a woman has a fertile window of about 8 days within her menstrual cycle (menstrual cycle = period from the start of menstruation to the day before the start of the following ones)
This interval includes: the 5 days before ovulation, the day of ovulation itself, the day after ovulation and the day after that (even if unlikely).
Knowing your fertile days can help you avoid becoming pregnant or plan for one if you are looking for one.
The secret is knowing when you ovulate.
Every woman should learn (regardless of the use of natural methods) how her body works, which days are fertile and which are not. but learning takes patience, dedication, and a little attention span . As well as observance. Not all women have the same fertility pattern, and some vary from month to month.
Ovulation test
Ovulation home tests can be useful for planning a pregnancy but are not reliable for preventing pregnancy.
What are the most common natural methods?
There are several methods that help you understand when you are about to ovulate.
- Cervical Mucus Method (or Billings Method): You can check for changes in your cervical mucus every day until you are sure you have ovulated.
- Basal temperature method : the temperature is measured in the morning every day, as soon as you wake up, before getting out of bed and doing any activity.
- Calendar Method :
- Standard days method: For those who always have a cycle between 26 and 32 days (several months of observation are needed) they should never have unprotected vaginal intercourse between the 8th and 19th days of the cycle. Obviously we can never be sure of ovulating in that interval and therefore it is always good to associate observations of symptoms with this calculation.
How effective are natural methods?
When it comes to choosing a birth control method, effectiveness is one of the most important parameters that you go into evaluating.
Like all contraceptive methods, effectiveness depends on whether or not they are used correctly.
All birth control methods, natural or otherwise, are ineffective if not applied or used correctly.
For the effectiveness of the various methods see Effectiveness of contraceptive methods.
Success in using natural methods depends on both partners .
This is why it is important that both know and deepen the use of the method and the principles that regulate it and support each other in their use.
It is also important:
- have received proper instruction on how to apply the method. For this reason it is important to entrust at least for an initial period to a teacher who teaches natural methods (free service) and who you can find here: Natural methods teachers in Italy
- have only one sexual partner who collaborates in the application of the method
- have consistency and accuracy in monitoring their fertility symptoms and mark them daily on a chart or graph .
- abstain or not have unprotected intercourse on fertile days
What are the advantages of choosing a natural method?
- They cost very little.
- They are safe (in the sense that they have no side effects)
- They can be stopped or stopped to plan a pregnancy.
- Calendars, thermometers, and charts are readily available.
- They do not require any medication.
What are the disadvantages of natural methods?
Family planning methods are not right for you if:
- you have more than one sexual partner
- if your partner does not cooperate in applying this method
- do not monitor all symptoms closely on a daily basis
- you are unable to abstain or use another barrier contraceptive method during the approximately 10 unsafe days of each menstrual cycle
- take medications that may affect observation and monitoring of symptoms
- you have a vaginal infection or abnormal discharge
It could be very complicated to monitor the fertile days if
- you have a very irregular cycle
- breastfed
- you are teenagers
- you are premenopausal
In these cases, in fact, the hormonal imbalances present can make the symptoms unpredictable
Do not adopt a natural method immediately after stopping a hormonal contraceptive such as the pill for example.
The hormones taken can affect your cycle for a shorter or longer period and make it difficult to observe the symptoms.
If you try to avoid pregnancy until the hormonal balance is restored, use other intraceptive methods.
How can I learn to use a natural/family planning method?
In general, “do it yourself” is not recommended.
Couples should follow a course or, as I said before, rely on a teacher of natural methods closest to their area of residence and traceable from here: Teachers of natural methods in Italy
It is important that the couple is united in this choice and in the path to take.
This not only allows for greater effectiveness of the method but also strengthens the bond and intimacy of the couple when they share responsibility for birth control.
The teachers of natural methods carry out this work for free and many courses promoted by associations and institutions are also free.
Courses promoted by religious institutions generally do not allow the use of barrier methods on fertile days but promote abstention from intimate contact.
Creating ovulation charts or calendars costs nothing but the time to compile and learn them.
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.