Family planning: what do you need to know?

The decision to give birth to a child is an important and responsible step in the life of each married couple. If you are not yet ready to take responsibility for raising a baby or do not plan children at all, the issue of contraception is acute. There are too many methods that protect women from unwanted pregnancies. Among them there are hormonal, non-hormonal, more effective and affordable.

Each woman chooses for herself the method of contraception, which is optimal for her body. Someone badly tolerates hormones, someone prefers not to stuff themselves with chemistry, someone is a supporter of natural or more traditional methods. Many couples do not like to use condoms during intercourse, referring to the fact that the moment of intimacy is lost. That's what you need to know before you choose this method for yourself.

What is natural family planning?

In fact, natural planning is not just for birth control. On the contrary, many couples use this method to get pregnant. The basic principles are simple: during the female cycle, there is a certain amount of time during which unprotected intercourse has more chances to lead to fertilization of the egg. If you want to avoid conception, exclude unprotected sex during this period. How to calculate pregnancy-favorable days? The period of greatest fertility begins one week before ovulation, and ends in the day after. It is believed that the sperm survives in the uterus or fallopian tubes from 5 to 7 days. But the released egg lives no more than 24 hours.

You will know your body well

Keep a calendar in which you will celebrate not only the day when menstruation has come, but also the ovulation period. So you will learn all about biological markers of fertility. You will be able to track changes in your body for a month using specific ways. Natural control of fertility is very fond of feminists, because at the head of the angle of this method is a reference to the predictable signals of the female body. Some of them believe that pharmaceuticals are sold, to indicate to us again the inconveniences associated with menstruation. Natural planning teaches women to build confidence in their bodies. When you learn to compare factors, you will understand why the next menstruation is delayed. This may not be related to the onset of pregnancy, but to occur because women experience various stresses or are intentionally starving.

You will assume responsibility

It is believed that a full-fledged family can not exist without a child. Natural planning opens the eyes of women to many things that they had not even thought about before. For example, ladies learn about how the structure of cervical mucus changes over the course of a month, and much more.

Allocations in the cervix

Cervical mucus is a glycoprotein cork that forms in the cervix and depends on the level of hormones. Specific liquid throughout the cycle changes its structure. As ovulation approaches, the content of the hormone estrogen increases in the uterus, which leads to clear and elastic secretions. At this time, the texture and pH-balance of the cervical mucus protects the sperm all the way up to the fertilization of the egg. If you are trying to avoid pregnancy, excretions similar to egg white tell you that you need to refrain from sex. Conversely, if you want to conceive a child, it's time to get into sexual contact. But the thick white and sticky mucus, which is noted at the beginning and at the end of the cycle, lights up the green light for carnal comforts in the event that pregnancy is not desired.

Basal body temperature

Observation of changes in the structure of cervical mucus for a month is just one way of tracking ovulation. There is another sure way to find out where you are in your cycle. It is about measuring basal temperature, or body temperature in the rectum. It is important to remember that measurements are not made using an old thermometer right in the middle of the day. Stock up with a separate device that you will use only for this case, and make measurements in the morning immediately after sleep, without getting out of bed. Another important tip: before you rely on basal temperature data, record in a diary for several months and take measurements at the same time.

Here are the data that you will be guided by. At the beginning of the new cycle, the basal temperature fluctuates around 36.2-36.5 degrees. The day after ovulation, you will notice an increase in the indices to 37.1-37.3 degrees Celsius. This temperature will be maintained almost until the onset of menstruation. Two days before menstruation, the indicators will fall slightly to the level of 36.9-37.0. Depending on the amount of hormones in the body, the indices may experience slight fluctuations. It is worth noting that this method is most effective if a woman plans to become pregnant, but so far she has not been able to do so. The probability of conception when measuring the basal body temperature rises several times.

Ovulation test

Studies have shown that tests for ovulation at home have demonstrated greater efficacy. In connection with the change in luteinizing hormone in the urine with the probable accuracy of 99 percent, two most favorable fertile days can be determined. According to experts, the test for ovulation is the most successful in comparison with the natural family planning. Other studies have shown that the structure of cervical mucus and changes in basal body temperature often exaggerate the length of a fertile period. And this means, if you are planning to become pregnant, use the ovulation test. Another thing is that you are expecting unforeseen expenditure. Then, depending on the goals that you pursue, you can use a combination of several methods.

Mobile Apps for Modern Women

If you have long forgotten what a pen and paper are, use any available mobile application to maintain the fertility calendar.

How effective is the method of natural family planning?

Like in many forms of birth control, the effectiveness is markedly increased if you strictly adhere to the daily routine. For example, if a woman for some day forgets to take a birth control pill, the chances of an unwanted pregnancy increase markedly. If you do not take seriously the natural planning and skip the steps that you need to track the days of ovulation, your previous efforts may be in vain.

Some studies show that the most responsible women, who daily observe all the prescriptions of the method, insure themselves against an unwanted pregnancy by 95 percent. But in an attempt to become pregnant women demonstrate even more impressive results, close to one hundred percent. Some representatives of the fair sex, using natural planning, so well studied their body, which unerringly determined the days of ovulation without any tests.

Additional methods of protection during ovulation days

Until you reach the level of those professionals, which we mentioned a little earlier, tracking biomarkers in your interests. Well, in days of ovulation, you can not abstain from sex, using additional methods of protection, for example, condoms.

Risks of natural family planning

The most remarkable thing about this method is that it is devoid of numerous side effects. The only downside to planning is to get 5 percent chance to get pregnant if you do not want it. Therefore, before choosing this method of contraception for yourself, ask yourself, what will you do if the system fails? Also, this method is not suitable for women who have more than one sexual partner.