Family planning can include everything from the use of pills and internal devices for birth control, and hormones to in vitro fertilization for pregnancy. While these methods work, they are not the solution for everyone. Whether trying to achieve or avoid pregnancy, or just maintain health, Natural Family Planning is a proven method that can help you successfully accomplish your family planning goals.
Fertility Awareness
Fertility awareness or Fertility Awareness Method is another term for Natural Family Planning. Both terms refer to a method of family planning that rely on natural measures rather than medications or other types of unnatural medical devices. Natural family planning is NOT the rhythm method. The rhythm method relies on previous menstrual cycles to forecast future data. It does not use the signs of a woman's current menstrual cycle or allow for normal changes in the menstrual cycle, according to FamilyDoctor.org.
Effectiveness
When properly employed, Natural Family Planning can have 90 percent effective rates, according to the American Pregnancy Association. The reliability of these natural methods lies in your hands. Among average users, the failure rate is 25 percent, according to the American Pregnancy Association. You can achieve greater success with diligence and commitment to properly applying Natural Family Planning methods. In fact, success rates of 90 to 98 percent have been recorded when couples correctly apply the methods, according to FamilyDoctor.org.
Ovulation
Though there are a few different methods, all Natural Family Planning methods rely on natural changing signs in a woman's body during her menstrual cycle to show or predict when ovulation occurs. Ovulation is the time during which the woman's egg releases and is considered the most fertile time of her cycle. Signs such as basal body temperature or waking temperature, cervical mucus, cervix position, cervix feel and calendar days are used to predict and show when ovulation has occurred. Ovulation predictor kits can also be purchased to help pinpoint the actual day of ovulation.
Pregnancy Avoidance
If you want to avoid pregnancy using the Natural Family Planning method, you should refrain from intercourse during your fertility window, or at least use protection if you do have intercourse during this period. In addition, breastfeeding is thought of as a way to avoid pregnancy, but is not a reliable method. Though it is likely that a woman will not start her cycle again while exclusively breastfeeding, she can again start ovulating at any time when still breastfeeding, so it is not a reliable source of pregnancy avoidance, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
Pregnancy Achievement
Natural Family Planning has proved to have high rates of success in achieving pregnancy in couples when they strictly adhering to the plan's methods. Couples who account for such successes are those who do not have other fertility problems. If you find that you do have fertility issues, you should take them into account when using Natural Family Planning methods. The methods can still be used with possible success by couples who have fertility complications, along with other treatments employed through medical assistance.
Considerations
To have the greatest success with Natural Family Planning, as with any method, become knowledgeable on the processes and elements of the method. Conduct a trial period before actively relying upon Natural Family Planning as every woman's body and cycle differ. A woman must know the individual signs unique to her body to best utilize the Natural Family Planning method. Before you implement Natural Family Planning, you should research and fully understand all elements involved in this method to achieve the greatest success.
