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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