A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING

What is Natural Family Planning ?

Natural family planning or fertility awareness helps you to recognise the fertile times and infertile times during the menstrual cycle (the time from the first day of a period until the day before the next period starts) so you can plan or avoid pregnancy.

How does Natural Family Planning work ?

You observe and record 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. 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.

How effective is Natural Family Planning ?

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.

What are the advantages of Natural Family Planning?

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 and there are no physical side-effects. You become more aware of your fertility and it can help you to communicate about your fertility and sexuality. It is acceptable to all faiths and cultures.

What are the disadvantages of Natural Family Planning?

It takes three to six cycles to learn effectively and you have to keep daily records. Events such as illness, stress and travel may make fertility indicators harder to interpret. To be successful, both you and your partner need to be very committed to the method and you need to avoid intercourse (or use a barrier method) during the fertile time. Natural methods do not protect you against sexually transmitted infections.

How is Natural Family Planning used?

Some natural methods rely on using only one of the indicators of fertility. Other methods use two or more indicators (this is more effective).

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. Combining the two indicators - Combining the two indicators acts as a double check and increases the effectiveness of NFP to avoid pregnancy. 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. 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. 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. - 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.

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.

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: Fertility UK, Clitherow House, 1 Blythe Mews, Blythe Road, London W14 0NW. Phone 020 7371 1341 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. There is also a comprehensive web site on: http://www.fertilityUK.org