Birth control involves adopting a method to prevent pregnancy. One of the ways to do this involves an understanding of your body’s menstrual cycle, in order to avoid pregnancy. This mode of family planning is also known as natural contraception or fertility awareness. It involves tracking your cycle so you know when your ovary releases eggs (also referred to as ovulation), which is when sperm can fertilize it to create an embryo that forms a baby. Natural contraceptive methods can be used alone or in combination with other contraceptive methods.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Natural Contraceptive Methods
Natural contraception offers a couple of advantages. You do not have to take any medication, introduce any substances into your body or do any procedure. It is also largely accepted by most faiths and religions, and requires active involvement by your partner, which can foster intimacy and closeness in the relationship. On the other hand, there are disadvantages. It can be involving and time consuming to chart the changes in your body that you need to monitor. If not used accurately, they are largely ineffective. During your fertile period, which covers about 7-10 days, you need to abstain from vaginal sex or use a barrier method such as a condom. Natural contraception methods do not protect you from the possibility of sexually transmitted infections.
Types of Natural Contraception
Basal Body Temperature Method (BBT)
A few days before ovulation, a woman’s body temperature typically rises about 0.2-0.5⁰C. With a sensitive digital thermometer or specialized basal body temperature thermometer, you can check your temperature either through your mouth or vagina. Because the difference in the temperature is very small and can easily be missed, it should be taken early in the morning, while the body is still at rest. Do this every morning and chart your readings daily. With daily charting, you can establish your basal body temperature. Once the temperature rises above the baseline, it is an indication that ovulation is about 1-3 days away. You should avoid sex during this period or use a barrier method. Note though that very high changes in temperature (more than 1⁰C) associated with fever, may not be an indication of ovulation but of an infection.
Calendar Method
Another way of natural contraception is by the calendar method. In the calendar method, you chart your menstrual cycle on a calendar. This should be done over a couple of months to determine your cycle length. Knowing your cycle length can now help calculate when your fertile window likely occurs. In some cases, cycle beads can be used as a visual aid. This method is not very effective when used alone, especially if a regular cycle cannot be established.
Cervical Mucus Method
Cervical mucus is fluid secreted by the cervix. It is a natural physiological process. At different times of the menstrual cycle, the texture and quantity of the mucus changes. This is in response to hormonal changes in a woman’s body.
- Days 1-3 after period (not fertile): dry or very little cervical mucus
- Days 4-6 after period (not fertle): white or sticky cervical mucus
- Days 7-9 after period (semi-fertile): creamy cervical mucus
- Days 10-14 after period (fertile): clear cervical mucus, like raw egg white
You should avoid sexual intercourse when your cervical mucus starts to turn creamy or use a barrier method.
Smyptothermal Method
In the symptothermal method, the BBT, cervical mucus method, calendar method and other signs and symptoms are chartered to better predict ovulation. Examples of such signs and symptoms include breast tenderness, pelvic pain or tenderness, mood changes, or gastrointestinal changes like nausea, constipation or diarrhea, amongst others. Most menstrual cycle apps use this method in addition to others to help a woman better predict ovulation.
Ovulation Testing Method
This involves the use of an ovulation test kit. The test measures the amount of luteinizing hormone present in urine. 20-48 hours before ovulation, luteinizing hormone levels in the bloodstream start to spike. When luteinizing hormone levels peak, it triggers ovulation.
Lactation Infertility
During breastfeeding, the release of the hormone prolactin sustains the production of breast milk. This causes negative feedback to the brain to stall ovulation. It is believed that this is most effective only when the mother is practicing exclusive breastfeeding.
Withdrawal Method
The withdrawal method is another means of natural birth control. It is also known as coitus interruptus. In this method, the man withdraws his penis from the vagina quickly, before ejaculating. This is not always effective because seminal fluid which leaks pre-ejaculation can sometimes contain sperm as well. This method may not necessarily require fertility awareness but is a method of natural contraception regardless.
If you do not understand anything about contraception or need any further clarification, ask our pharmacist.