Description
Fertility awareness, or natural family planning, is based on a woman's individual ovulation cycle. With a clinician's help, a woman charts out her menstrual, fertile and infertile days, avoiding intercourse during fertile times. Different forms of natural family planning include the Sympto-Thermal Method, the Ovulation Method, the Calendar Method (a.k.a., the rhythm method), the Lactational-Amenorrhea Method (breastfeeding) and withdrawal.

How It Works
Fertility awareness methods each have one thing in common: they rely on the physiology of a woman's body, rather than on drugs, hormones or barrier methods. However, each method is slightly different: the Sympto-Thermal Method involves charting a woman's body temperature to determine fertile and infertile days; the Ovulation Method requires a woman pay attention to her menstrual and ovulation cycle, using her body's moisture and dryness to determine infertile days; the Calendar Method, formerly known as "the rhythm method," relies on a woman counting backwards from the last day of her period to determine the most advantageous times to have intercourse; the Lactational-Amenorrhea Method, which involves prolonging breastfeeding as a means for preventing ovulation; and withdrawal, also known as coitus interruptus, the often-ineffective practice of withdrawing the penis prior to ejaculation.

Should You Use It?
Natural family planning (NFP) is the only completely natural form of contraception other than abstinence. While many people prefer this natural, mutual method of preventing pregnancy, couples who use this method improperly are more likely to get pregnant than those who misuse artificial methods. Couples who use this method seem to like it -- most users of these methods tend to be very loyal, continuing to practice NFP longer than users of any other method. If you want to use fertility awareness as a method of contraception, you should first confer with a trained counselor, clinician or family planning specialist.

Effectiveness
Failure rates for each natural family planning method are as follows: Sympto-Thermal Method, 15%; the Ovulation Method, 20%; the Calendar Method, 18%; the Lactational-Amenorrhea Method, 6%; and withdrawal, 20%.

STI Protection
The fertility awareness method does not prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.

Advantages

• Very inexpensive.
• No artificial devices or drugs required.
• No harmful side effects.
• Teaches women more about their bodies.

Disadvantages

• Requires the participation and cooperation of both partners.
• Most methods have a high failure rate when used incorrectly.
• Couples should see a trained counselor before using NFP methods.

Where to Buy It
One of the biggest advantages to fertility awareness is that it doesn't require that you purchase anything prior to beginning it. Computerized fertility programs are available to make temperature and ovulation charting easier, and you might want to pick up a Basal thermometer; otherwise, all you'll need to do is visit a family planning clinician for some good advice and training.

Follow Up
When you are ready, using fertility awareness methods is an excellent way to get pregnant. However, don't just "reverse" whatever you are doing to prevent pregnancy -- see your doctor again for a quick consultation.

Contraception Overview