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October 14, 2008
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Natural Methods of Birth Control

Medical Author: Barbara K. Hecht, Ph.D.
Revising Medical Author: Carolyn Janet Crandall, MD, FACP
Revising Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Introduction

If a woman is sexually active and she is fertile -- physically able to become pregnant -- she needs to ask herself, "Do I want to become pregnant now?" If her answer is "No," she must use some method of birth control (contraception).

There are a number of different ways to describe birth control. Terms include contraception, pregnancy prevention, fertility control, and family planning. But no matter what the process itself is called, sexually active people can choose from a plethora of methods to reduce the possibility of their becoming pregnant. Nevertheless, no method of birth control available today offers perfect protection against sexually transmitted infections (sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs), except abstinence.

In simple terms, all methods of birth control are based on either preventing a man's sperm from reaching and entering a woman's egg (fertilization) or preventing the fertilized egg from implanting in the woman's uterus (her womb) and starting to grow.

The direct responsibility for most of the methods of birth control that are currently available rests with the woman. However, responsibility for contraception should ideally involve the man as well as the woman. The chosen method (or methods) of birth control should thus optimally be a decision and an activity shared by both partners. The input of their health care professionals may sometimes be essential. New methods of birth control are being developed and tested all the time. And what is appropriate for a couple at one point may change with time and circumstances.

Unfortunately, no birth control method, except abstinence, is considered to be 100% effective.

"Natural" methods of contraception

These methods of contraception are considered "natural" because they are non-mechanical and non-hormonal. They are not barrier methods in the sense that they kill the sperm or prevent the sperm from reaching the egg. Additionally, they do not involve the use of hormones. Instead, these methods require that a man and woman not have sexual intercourse during the time when an egg is available to be fertilized by a sperm.

The fertility awareness methods (FAMs) are based upon knowing when a woman ovulates each month. In order to use a FAM, it is necessary to watch for the signs and symptoms that indicate ovulation has occurred or is about to occur.

On the average, the egg is released about 14 plus or minus 2 days before a woman's next menstrual period. But because the egg survives 3 to 4 days (6 to 24 hours after ovulation) and the sperm can live 48 to 72 hours (up to even 5 days in fertile mucus), the actual time during which a woman may become pregnant is measured not in hours, not in days, but in weeks.

FAMS can be up to 98% effective, but they require a continuous and conscious commitment with considerable self-control. Although these methods were developed to prevent pregnancy, they can equally well be used by a couple to increase fertility and promote conception.



Next: Calendar rhythm method »

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