Family Life: Natural Family Planning Techniques

Can anyone use the natural family planning?

Most women can use natural methods as long as they receive good instructions and support. They can be used at all stages of your reproductive life, whatever age you are. Natural family planning may not be a suitable method for women who do not have periods.

It may take longer to recognise your fertility indicators and to start to use natural family planning if you have irregular cycles, after stopping hormonal contraception, after having a baby, during breastfeeding, after an abortion or miscarriage, or when approaching the menopause.

How effective is natural family planning?

How effective any contraceptive 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 contraception, 80 to 90 will become pregnant in a year.

If used according to teaching and instructions, natural family planning methods are up to 99 per cent effective, depending on which method is used. This means that up to one woman in 100 will get pregnant in a year.

If natural family planning methods are not used according to instructions, more women will get pregnant.

Natural family planning is more effective when taught by a specialist natural family planning teacher, and when more than one fertility indicator is used.

Some people choose to combine their fertility awareness knowledge with male or female condoms – this is sometimes known as fertility awareness combined methods. The effectiveness of this depends on how well you use male or female condoms.

What are the advantages of natural family planning?

• ·         Using fertility awareness makes you more aware of your fertility and can help to plan a pregnancy or avoid a pregnancy.
• ·         There are no physical side effects.
• ·         It can help you recognise normal and abnormal vaginal secretions.
• ·         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 3–6 menstrual cycles to learn effectively.
• ·         You have to keep daily records.
• ·         Some events, such as illness, lifestyle, stress or travel, may make fertility indicators harder to interpret.
• ·         You need to avoid sex or use male or female condoms during the fertile time.
• ·         Natural methods don't protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Download  FULL ARTICLE ON NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (PDF)