Fed up with pills, devices and gadgets? The Family Planning Association on natural methods to prevent (or plan) a pregnancy

It used to be known as the ‘safe period’ – a somewhat unreliable and haphazard approach to contraception – but natural family planning (NFP) methods have been refined and improved and, if you follow instructions, they’re up to 98% effective. Nature has, in fact, provided women with a highly effective ‘built in’ system of fertility regulation to avoid or, alternatively, plan a pregnancy. So, as well as being a good form of contraception, natural family planning can help couples find their fertile time during the month, if they want to conceive.

Knowing your menstrual cycle is important in understanding how NFP works

In each normal menstrual cycle an egg develops and is released (ovulation), and the lining of the womb is prepared for a possible pregnancy. The lining of the womb is then shed if you don’t get pregnant.This is your period.

Women’s menstrual cycles vary in length, but are usually in the range of 23 to 35 days. Essentially, fertility awareness means becoming aware of the feelings, emotions and bodily changes that characterise the fertile and infertile times in the menstrual cycle. It’s easy to learn and use, and it’s highly effective.

What does it involve?

Being taught by a specialist NFP teacher (see contacts below) to learn to observe and record the different natural signs or indicators, each day of your menstrual cycle. These include:

• Changes in your body temperature
• Changes in your vaginal/cervical secretions
• The length of your menstrual cycles.

• You can use fertility awareness to plan a pregnancy or avoid a pregnancy
• You don’t use any chemical agents or physical devices
• There are no physical side effects
• It’s effective
• You become more aware of your fertility.

Are there any disadvantages?

• It takes three to six cycles to learn effectively
• You have to keep daily records
• Things like illness, stress and travel may make fertility indicators harder to interpret
• You need to avoid intercourse (or use a barrier method) during the fertile time
• To be successful, both you and your partner need to be very committed to the method
• Natural methods don’t protect you against sexually transmitted infections.

Most people can use natural methods as long as they receive good instructions and support. It may take longer to recognise your fertility indicators at certain times; for example, after stopping hormonal contraception (such as the pill), during breastfeeding or when approaching the menopause.

Using the different fertility methods:

Temperature indicator
Your body temperature rises slightly after you have ovulated. You can chart this by taking your temperature every day, as soon as you wake up, before you get out of bed or before you have anything to eat or drink. A fertility thermometer or digital thermometer will show the small changes in temperature more easily. This is known as basal body temperature (BBT) or waking temperature. The fertile time ends when, for three days in a row, you have recorded temperatures which are higher than all the previous six days. The difference in temperature will be about 0.2 degrees Centigrade (0.4 degrees Fahrenheit).

Cervical Secretions Indicator and changes in your cervix
During the menstrual cycle the position and softness of the cervix (entrance to the womb) changes. At the same time cervical secretions change in appearance, texture and increase in amount. After your period, you may notice a few days when you feel dry. As you approach your fertile time in the menstrual cycle, cervical secretions become moist and sticky and look white or cloudy. Around ovulation, these secretions then become clearer, wetter and stretchy – like raw egg white. This is a sign that you are at your most fertile.

Cycle Length Indicator
The length of cycles can help to define the start of your fertile time. From a record of the length of your last six cycles, find your shortest cycle and subtract 20 days to find the first fertile day.

Combining all fertility indicators
NFP is most effective when all the fertility indicators are used together. This acts as a ‘double check’. In addition, many women are aware of other ovulation signs, such as changes in the breasts, skin, mood or sexual desire.

Are there any other ways?
Fertility devices work by monitoring changes in temperature, urine and saliva. In the UK the main device available to buy is Persona. This consists of a small handheld computerised monitor and a series of urine test sticks, which measure hormonal changes. Persona interprets these changes and predicts when a woman is fertile and infertile. If you use Persona according to the instructions, it is 94% effective. A number of new and different devices will become available during the next few years as research improves, so we’ll keep you up-to-date with these, as and when they come on to the market.

Contacts:

For more information visit: The Family Planning Association website or ring their helpline on 0207 837 4044
To find a local NFP teacher contact:
Fertility UK – 0845 3101334