Natural Methods of Birth Control (cont.)
Ovulation indicator testing kits
A woman can use an ovulation prediction kit to determine when she is most
likely to ovulate. This is a special kit that measures the amount of
luteinizing
hormone (LH). Because luteinizing hormone promotes the maturation of an egg in the ovary, the
amount of LH usually increases 20 to 48 hours before ovulation. This increase is
called the luteinizing hormone surge, which can then be detected in a woman's urine 8 to 12
hours later. The ovulation prediction kit is designed to measure the amount of
luteinizing hormone in the urine.
There are a number of ovulation prediction kits available on the market which
range from simple to complex. In the simplest, the woman urinates onto a test
stick and the amount of luteinizing hormone is indicated by a color change. The intensity of the
color is proportional to the amount of luteinizing hormone in her urine. A woman begins testing
her urine 2 to 3 days before she expects to ovulate based upon the dates of her
previous monthly cycles.
The optimum days for fertilization are the two days before ovulation, the day
of ovulation, and the day after ovulation. The greatest chance of becoming
pregnant is if intercourse occurs within 24 hours after the luteinizing hormone surge. Ovulation
prediction kits are used primarily to increase the chance of a woman becoming
pregnant, but they can also indicate to the woman that she is about to ovulate
and should take appropriate contraceptive precautions.
Withdrawal method
Using the withdrawal method, the man withdraws his penis from a woman's vagina before he ejaculates so that the sperm released from his penis does not enter her vagina. Withdrawal is also called coitus interruptus.
There are problems with using withdrawal as a contraceptive method. First, a
man may release sperm before he has an orgasm. Secondly, a man needs
self-control and a precise sense of timing to be able to withdraw his penis from
the woman's vagina before he ejaculates. Because this can be difficult for the
man to do successfully, the withdrawal method is only about 75-80% effective in
preventing pregnancy.
Lactational infertility
Lactational infertility is based upon the idea that a woman cannot become
pregnant as long as she is breastfeeding her baby. It is true that a woman may
not ovulate quite as soon after giving birth as she would if she were not
breastfeeding. Women who are breastfeeding usually start ovulating again between
10-12 weeks after delivery.
A nursing mother may start ovulating again and not realize she is fertile, as
ovulation can occur prior to the return of her menstrual period. If this happens
and the mother has unprotected sexual intercourse, she can become pregnant at
the same time she is still breastfeeding her baby. If a nursing mother
does not wish to become pregnant again, she must again start to use an
appropriate method of contraception.
Douching and urination
Vaginal douching is the use of a liquid solution to wash out mucus and other types of bodily debris from a woman's vagina. Many women choose to make regular douching a part of their routine for maintaining vaginal hygiene, although most doctors and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) do not recommend the practice.
Regardless of whether a woman does it for hygienic reasons, vaginal douching does not work as a contraception method. During intercourse, active sperm can reach a woman's cervix and even the upper part of her uterus within
five minutes of ejaculation. Douching after intercourse cannot be done soon enough to have any contraceptive benefits, and the douching could even force sperm higher up into the uterus. In addition, if a woman douches within a 6-8 hour period after using a spermicide, she may actually reduce the effectiveness of this contraceptive method.
Some women used to think that standing up and urinating immediately after
sexual intercourse might reduce the chances of them becoming pregnant. They
hoped that gravity might make it more difficult for sperm to swim "uphill"
to the uterus and that the stream of urine running over their vaginal area would
wash away sperm, similar to the process of douching. However, just like
douching, urination after intercourse does not have any contraceptive value.
Abstinence
Abstinence from sexual activity means not having any sexual intercourse at
all. No sexual intercourse with a member of the opposite sex means that there is
no chance that a man's sperm can fertilize a woman's egg.
A man or a woman can practice abstinence from sexual activity for a specific
period of time, or continuously throughout one's lifetime. Abstinence is
essentially 100% effective in preventing pregnancy. Another significant benefit
of abstinence is that it markedly reduces the likelihood of contracting a
sexually transmitted infection
(STD).
In this context, abstinence means refraining
from all vaginal, anal, and oral sexual activity because sexually transmitted
infections can be passed from one person to another in any and all of these
ways. It should be noted that sexual activity such as mutual masturbation and
touching of the other partner's genitals can, in some instances, transfer
sperm during heavy mutual foreplay possibly leading to pregnancy.
Previous contributing authors:
Barbara K. Hecht,
Ph.D. and Carolyn Janet Crandall, MD, FACP
Last Editorial Review: 2/2/2009
- Douching (Vaginal Douche) - Learn why doctors do not recommend vaginal douching. Douching increases the risk for vaginal infections, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, and other conditions.
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Women (STDs) - Learn and become aware of common STDs in women, including descriptions, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments of each type of infection.
- Hormonal Methods of Birth Control - Read about hormonal birth control methods, such as oral contraceptives, the patch, birth control injection, and vaginal ring. The hormones used in hormonal birth control are estrogen and/or progesterone.
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