Natural family planning is a low-tech birth control method that couples who are either unable or unwilling to use chemical, barrier or surgical birth control methods choose. You can use natural family planning methods whether you want to try to have a baby or avoid pregnancy. Take some time to understand how this method of family planning works before deciding if it is right for your lifestyle.
Identification
Natural family planning is a method identified by its lack of external birth control methods. Couples who practice natural family planning do not use condoms, sponges, pills, IUDs or sterilization to prevent pregnancy. Instead, a couple using natural family planning relies on the correct interpretation of the woman's fertility signs to time intercourse. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that another name for natural family planning is fertility awareness.
Methods
According to FamilyDoctor.org, the two most common methods of natural family planning are the mucus and the sympothermal method. With the mucus or ovulation method, check your cervical mucus every day to determine if you have fertile or infertile mucus. Fertile mucus is clear, stretchy and feels like raw egg whites. The sympothermal method involves you taking your temperature every morning using a basal body thermometer before you get up. When your temperature rises higher than the previous six days' temperatures and stays elevated for three days, you have ovulated. Use a chart to record your fertility signs.
Benefits
Understanding how your cycle works and at what point in your cycle pregnancy is possible, allows you the freedom to choose whether to have intercourse at a time conducive to pregnancy or avoid those fertile days completely. Unlike artificial birth control methods, natural family planning has no adverse side effects, according to the American Pregnancy Association. You and your partner can communicate openly about your cycle as you work together to achieve your goals. When you use family planning, continue the method indefinitely or switch to another at any time. Couples who choose surgical or hormonal methods may need time for hormones to diminish or undergo reversal surgeries before attempting pregnancy.
Success Rates
Success rates for natural family planning as a means of birth control are about 75 to 80 percent, according to the University of Michigan. This method is much less effective than hormonal forms of birth control, which have rates higher than 92 percent. Condoms and other barrier methods are "moderately successful" and sterilization effectiveness rates are near 100 percent. As with other methods of birth control, the success rate of natural family planning is highly dependent on how diligent you are at avoiding intimacy during your fertile times.
Considerations
When using natural family planning, you and your partner must commit to work together to either avoid or achieve pregnancy. Taking your temperature every morning requires a daily commitment. Charting your temperature and cervical fluid results requires a minimal amount of time each day, but if you fail to record your observations for several days in a row, you may mistake your fertile period. Once you are in the habit of recording the information, fertility charting may become part of your daily routine. Ask your midwife or doctor for assistance or recommendations for a natural family planning counselor in your area.
References
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Natural Family Planning
- FamilyDoctor.org: Natural Family Planning
- American Pregnancy Association: Fertility Awareness: Natural Family Planning--NFP
- University of Michigan Health System: Which Birth Control Method Should I Use?
- K4Health: Natural Family Planning
