Rhythm/Natural Family Planning

How it works

• Various techniques are used:
• Learn to recognise the fertile periods in the menstrual cycle and avoid sex during that period
• Several techniques are used to identify this fertile period:
  1. The temperature method is when body temperature is used to determine the fertile period
  2. Cervical mucus-recognises changes in the appearance of cervical mucus
  3. Calendar method-records of the menstrual cycle are kept for one year and used to predict the fertile period
  4. Sympto-thermal method-is when the daily temperature plus symptoms of ovulation pain and premenstrual tension recorded

Effectiveness

• Between 60% and 90%

Advantages

• Accepted by most religious groups
• Helpful when one is ready to fall pregnant
• Both partners participate in the process

Disadvantages

• High failure rate
• A lot of motivation is needed to take and record signs daily
• Unreliable for women with irregular periods
• Requires training for one to learn the method
• Imposes restrictions on sexual activity

To access more topics go to the Combined Science Notes page