FERTILITY AWARENESS METHODS

A woman uses these methods to recognize changes in her body that indicate the fertile phase of her menstrual cycle. If she does not want to get pregnant, she must not have sex during those days. Women who become very familiar with their body’s changes can be successful in preventing pregnancy.

For these methods to work for you, your partner has to be willing to avoid sex during the days in each month that it is possible to get pregnant. If you are not sure about your safe days or if you and your partner take chances, these methods have a high failure rate.

Classes that teach fertility awareness are available, usually through the Catholic Church.

Fertility awareness methods do not protect against STDs, including AIDS.

ARE YOU A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR CYCLE - BASED BIRTH CONTROL?

• Fertility awareness methods of contraception work best for couples who are monogamous, because these methods require sharing the responsibility with a reliable sexual partner. A monogamous relationship is additionally important because these methods often involve unprotected intercourse and do not prevent sexually transmitted diseases
• Good candidates are couples who are strongly motivated not to have children and genuinely do not mind the organization and discipline needed to succeed. Couples who do not mind abstaining from intercourse and are comfortable reaching orgasm by other means also may find these methods suitable
• Men and women who dislike the interruption of certain contraceptives or worry about the side effects of hormonal methods may prefer to combine the fertility awareness approach with a barrier method for fertile days
• Women and men who for religious reasons choose not to use other methods of birth control are also good candidates for cycle-based family planning

FERTILITY AWARENESS DEVICES:
Ovulation predictor kits that are available in drugstores, such mini-microscope ARBOR, can be helpful and assure more reliability of using this method

WITHDRAWAL (Coitus Interruptus)

This is a method used by a man in which he withdraws his penis from the woman when he feels he is going to come (ejaculate). He then ejaculates outside her body. There are a couple of techniques that make this method easier, but withdrawal requires great control and much practice. It also decreases sexual pleasure for both partners.

Withdrawal costs nothing and is always available, but it has a high failure rate. It is used mostly by married couples who want to space their children.

Withdrawal does not protect against disease.