Natural Family Planning

What is natural family planning?

Natural family planning means preventing pregnancy without using pills or devices. It is based on being able to predict your fertile time. This is the time you are likely to conceive. Pregnancy is avoided if you don't have sex during this fertile time (or use other methods of contraception such as condoms).

When is the fertile time?

The fertile time lasts for 8-9 days each cycle. It is from 7 days before ovulation until 1-2 days after ovulation. Ovulation is when a woman releases an egg from an ovary - usually once a month. An egg survives about 24 hours. However, sperm can survive up to 7 days after sex. This is why the fertile time starts from 7 days before ovulation.

So, if you know exactly when you will ovulate, then you can predict when your fertile days are.

How do I know when I will ovulate?

Knowing when you ovulate is the key to success. Once you are confident that you can predict this then this method of family planning can be very effective. It takes good instruction and 3-6 menstrual cycles to learn how to do natural family planning.

Very briefly, you need to make a record each day of one or more 'indicators'. These include the following.

• Body temperature typically rises slightly when you ovulate and remains higher till your next period. There are many factors that can upset this such as illness, taking medicines, etc. However, if you take your temperature before getting out of bed each morning a pattern usually emerges to show when ovulation occurs.
   
• Secretions from the cervix change throughout the menstrual cycle. Just after a period there is not much secretions and the vagina is dry for a few days. After this, about 8 days before ovulation, the secretions become more moist, sticky, and cloudy. For about 4 days before ovulation the secretions become wet, clear, slippery and stretchy (like egg white). A day or so after ovulation the secretions dry up again until after the next period. So, if you get to know the changes in your secretions then you can predict the 7-8 days before ovulation.
   
• Cycle length. Ovulation usually occurs 12-16 days before a period. If your cycle is very regular then this may help to predict ovulation.

It takes time to learn these indicators and to become confident in how to interpret them.

Persona is a device that you can buy from a pharmacy. This measures levels of hormone in the urine by using test sticks. It is also a way of predicting the time of ovulation. It is only suitable for women who have regular menstrual cycles between 23 and 35 days long.

Is breastfeeding a natural family planning method?

Yes. Suckling by the baby stimulates hormones that suppress ovulation. Ovulation is unlikely for 6 months after childbirth if you:

• fully breast feed (this means the baby has no other food or drink apart from breast milk) and
• you have had no periods since childbirth.

How do I learn to do natural family planning?

If you want to consider natural family planning then contact the following organisations for further details about where to find your local teacher.

• The fpa (formerly the family planning association)
  fpa's Helpline: 0845 310 1334   Web: www.fpa.org.uk
• Fertility UK - specialists in natural family planning
  Web-site www.fertilityUK.org

© EMIS and PIP 2004   Updated: August 2002   CHIQ Accredited