You do this by observing and recording
the following different natural signs or indicators
each day of your menstrual cycle:
• your
body temperature when you wake up
•
cervical
secretions (cervical mucus)
•
how long
your menstrual cycle lasts.
Changes in these fertility indicators help to
identify your fertile time.
Please use the list below if you
would like to jump directly to a particular topic.
How
long does the fertile time last?
How effective is natural
family planning?
What are the advantages
of NFP?
What are the disadvantages
of NFP?
Can anyone use NFP?
How do I record the fertility
indicators?
First indicator - temperature
Second indicator - cervical
secretions
Combining the two indicators
How long your cycle lasts
Changes to the cervix
Other changes during the menstrual
cycle
Breastfeeding as a NFP
method
Where can I get help with NFP?
Fertility devices - Persona
How long does the fertile time last?
The fertile time lasts for around eight to nine
days of each menstrual cycle. This is because
although the egg only lives for up to 24 hours,
sperm can live inside a woman's body for up to
seven days. This means that sex as much as seven
days before the egg is released may result in
pregnancy. An egg is released about 12 to 16 days
before the next period.
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How effective is
natural family planning?
How effective any family planning method is depends
on how old you are, how often you have sex and
whether you follow the instructions.
If 100 sexually active women don't
use any family planning method, 80 to 90 will
become pregnant in a year.
For NFP to be effective in avoiding
pregnancy, it is best if you are taught by a specialist
NFP teacher. Both you and your partner must follow
the guidelines very carefully, avoiding intercourse
during the fertile time. NFP is most effective
when women record more than one fertility indicator.
If used according to teaching
and instructions, NFP methods are up to 98% effective.
This means that 2 women in 100 will get pregnant
in a year.
If NFP methods are not used according
to instructions, more women will get pregnant.
Some couples choose to combine
their fertility awareness with a barrier method
such as a condom. The effectiveness of combining
methods depends on how well the barrier method
is used.
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What are the advantages of NFP?
•
You can
use fertility awareness to plan a pregnancy as
well as to avoid a pregnancy.
•
You do not
use any chemical agents or physical devices.
•
There are
no physical side-effects.
•
It is effective
if you are taught well and you follow the instructions.
•
You become
more aware of your fertility.
•
It can help
you to communicate about your fertility and sexuality.
•
It is acceptable
to all faiths and cultures.
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What are the disadvantages of NFP?
•
It takes
three to six cycles to learn effectively.
•
You have
to keep daily records.
•
Events such
as illness, stress and travel may make fertility
indicators harder to interpret.
•
You need
to avoid intercourse (or use a barrier method)
during the fertile time.
•
To be successful,
both you and your partner need to be very committed
to the method.
•
Natural
methods don't protect you against sexually transmitted
infections.
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Can anyone use NFP?
Most people can use natural methods as long as
they receive good instructions and support. They
can be used at all stages of reproductive life.
It may take longer to recognise
your fertility indicators at certain times, for
example after stopping hormonal contraception
such as the pill, during breastfeeding or approaching
the menopause.
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How do I record the fertility indicators?
Some natural methods rely on using only one of
the indicators of fertility. Other methods use
two or more indicators (this is more effective).
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First indicator - temperature
Your body temperature rises slightly after you
have ovulated. You can chart this by taking your
temperature every day as soon as you wake up.
A fertility thermometer or digital thermometer
will show the small changes in temperature more
easily.
You need to take your temperature
before you get out of bed or have anything to
eat or drink. This is known as your basal body
temperature (BBT) or waking temperature.
The fertile time ends when you
have recorded temperatures for three days in a
row, which are higher than all the previous six
days. The difference in temperature will be about
0.2 degrees Centigrade (0.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
However, your temperature can
change for other reasons besides ovulation. For
example:
•
if you take
your temperature earlier or later than normal
•
if you have
an illness, such as cold or flu, your temperature
can go up
•
if you are
taking painkilling drugs (even aspirin) your temperature
can go down
•
the temperature
indicator on its own doesn't help you to find
the start of your fertile time.
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Second indicator - cervical secretions
The second indicator helps to define the start
and the end of the fertile time.
After your period, you may notice
a few days when you feel dry. No cervical secretions
will be seen or felt. Then the secretions produced
by your cervix change in texture and increase
in amount. At first, they feel moist, sticky and
white or cloudy. This is the start of the fertile
time. The secretions then become clearer, wetter,
stretchy and slippery, like raw egg white. This
is a sign that you are at your most fertile.
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Combining the two indicators
Combining the two indicators (temperature and
cervical secretions) acts as a double check and
increases the effectiveness of NFP to avoid pregnancy.
The fertile time starts at the
first sign of any secretions and ends after the
third high temperature is recorded, as long as
all high temperatures happen after the peak day
(the last day of having wetness or clear, slippery
secretions).
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How long your cycle lasts
The length of cycles can help to define the start
of your fertile time. From a record of the length
of your last six cycles, find your shortest cycle
and subtract 20 days to find the first fertile
day. Cycle length calculation cannot reliably
define the end of the fertile time.
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Changes to the cervix
During your menstrual cycle your cervix changes
in position and feels different. You can learn
to recognise these subtle changes to confirm your
fertile time.
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Other changes during the menstrual cycle
Some women may be aware of pain around ovulation
or changes in the breasts, skin, mood or sexual
desire. These are the least reliable indicators
of the fertile time.
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Breastfeeding as a NFP method
Breastfeeding can be very effective in avoiding
pregnancy when:
•
your baby
is less than six months old
•
you are
fully breastfeeding which means that you are giving
your baby no other food or drink
•
you have
no periods
All of the above points must apply for breastfeeding
to be an effective family planning method.
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Where can I get help with NFP?
If you decide to use NFP you need to find someone
to teach you how to use it. GPs and family planning
clinics often don't teach NFP. Some teachers charge
a fee.
If you would like further information
or help to find your local teacher, contact:
fpa's helpline on: 0845 310 1334
or
Fertility UK at www.fertilityUK.org.
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Fertility devices - Persona
Fertility devices work by monitoring changes in
temperature, urine or saliva. In the United Kingdom,
the main device available is Persona. This consists
of a small handheld computerised monitor and a
series of urine test sticks which measure hormonal
changes. Persona interprets these changes and
can predict the fertile and infertile times of
the menstrual cycle.
If you use Persona according to
the instructions, it is 94% effective. This means
that 6 women in 100 will get pregnant in a year.
A number of new and different
devices will become available during the next
few years as research improves.
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