Natural Family Planning

Sexual & Reproductive Health

What is Natural Family Planning?
Natural family planning involves observing and recording bodily changes throughout the menstrual cycle to know when a woman is ovulating. Sex should be avoided on the days of ovulation to prevent pregnancy. For this method to be effective, accurate records must be kept, and it only works if a woman has regular periods. One must keep a daily record of fertility signals, such as your temperature and the fluids coming from your cervix. Sometimes, it takes 3 to 6 menstrual (monthly) cycles to learn this method. There are no physical side effects by using this method and one can use it to get pregnant.

Basically, there are 3 different signals that are needed from your body for natural family planning:

  • The length of your menstrual cycle.
  • Daily reading of your body temperature.
  • Changes to your cervical secretions (mucus).

 


What are the advantages of the natural family planning method?

  • Once learned, its use is under the control of the couple.
  • Inexpensive.
  • Can be used to promote pregnancy.
  • Increases the couple’s knowledge of changes in the body and fertility.
  • No physical side effects.
  • By using condoms as well as natural family planning, you will help to protect yourself against STIs.


What are the disadvantages of the natural family planning method?

  • Requires motivation.
  • Needs to be taught by a specialist in natural family planning.
  • Requires the observation and recording of changes in the body.
  • May take time to learn so may require a period of abstinence.
  • Fertility signals can be affected by sickness, stress, and travel.


Who can use natural family planning?
Women can use natural family planning to get pregnant. However, there are certain situations that can affect fertility signs and one might need to consider speaking to a gynaecologist for a review.

Are there any courses about natural family planning?
If you are interested in learning natural family planning, make sure you are taught by a qualified fertility awareness teacher.

Courses are offered by Cana Movement to couples seeking information and help to live their joint fertility as a couple. The courses consist of five 2-hour sessions with follow-ups after the end of each course. Courses are held three times a year. One-to-one sessions are also available. The team of NFP teachers delivering the courses undertake training accredited by the Institute of Family Life Education (IEEF).

You can find more information on Natural Family Planning on www.canamovement.org.

The methods for natural family planning:
Temperature Method
The temperature method works on the premise that there is a slight increase in body temperature after ovulation takes place. There are thermometers specifically designed to be used for natural family planning, although a digital thermometer will also suffice.

Instructions for the temperature method
Take your temperature every morning just as you wake up, before doing anything else, and at the same time each day. When you encounter three consecutive days when your body temperature is higher than all the previous six days, it is likely that you are no longer fertile at this time. The increase in temperature is quite slight, about 0.2 degrees Celsius.

It is important for a woman to record her menstrual cycle for a few months prior to using this method. With a 28-day cycle, a woman is likely to ovulate 14 days after the first day of her period. Therefore, she can get pregnant between day 8 and day 20 of her cycle (due to the lifespan of sperm and oocytes). Not all women have this cycle, and they should therefore first monitor their cycle closely to establish their pattern and understand their bodies better before using this method.

Mucus Method
During the different stages of the menstrual cycle there is a variation in the consistency and amount of the mucus secreted from the cervix.

This can be checked by gently placing the middle finger into your vagina and pushing it up around 2cm. The vagina is dry in the first few days after the period. When the body starts to prepare for ovulation, hormone levels rise, and the cervix is now producing mucus that is moist and sticky and is white and creamy in colour. This is the start of the fertile period. Just before ovulation the mucus will get wetter, and more fluid-like. It is at this time that one is most fertile. When the mucus becomes thicker and sticky about three days later, you should no longer be fertile.

It is important for a woman to record her menstrual cycle for a few months prior to using this method. With a 28-day cycle, a woman is likely to ovulate 14 days after the first day of her period. Therefore, she can get pregnant between day 8 and day 20 of her cycle (due to the lifespan of sperm and oocytes). Not all women have this cycle, and they should therefore first monitor their cycle closely to establish their pattern and understand their bodies better before using this method.

Cervical Position
Women are also encouraged to observe changes in their cervix, such as consistency, position, and whether their cervical opening is open or closed. During the beginning of the cycle when the hormonal levels (oestrogen and progesterone) are reduced, the cervix is positioned low in the vagina and can be easily felt. The cervical opening is closed, and the cervix feels firm to the touch. As oestrogen levels increase, the cervix changes and at peak mucus day feels soft. The opening is now open, and the cervix has risen higher into the vagina, making it harder to locate. Following ovulation, the cervix returns to its former state, positioned lower, and feels firmer when closed. Checking the position and consistency of the cervix, along with the cervical mucus method, can easily be performed by either partner.

Symptom-Thermal Method
The symptom-thermal method or double-check method combines the temperature and cervical mucus and position methods, which is why it is more effective as a contraceptive.

Advantages:

  • Under the control of the woman.
  • Gives the woman an opportunity to explore and feel more comfortable with her own body.
  • Increases awareness of body changes.
  • Predicts fertile mucus, thus enabling pregnancy.
  • Can be used to prevent pregnancy.


Disadvantages:

  • Requires commitment.
  • Needs to be taught by a specialist in natural family planning.
  • Can take 2-3 cycles to learn the method.
  • Vaginal infections can make it difficult to identify fertile mucus.
  • Some drugs used for treatment of colds etc. can inhibit cervical mucus production.
  • Involves touching the body which some women may dislike.
  • Requires abstinence.

It is ideal to use all three methods, but you should use at least two to give you a clearer indication of when you are likely to be most fertile.

Fertility charts are available that allow you to note down the information from all three methods along the various stages of the menstrual cycle.

Nowadays, there are also various mobile phone apps and computer software available that allow you to record this information.