Posted by Karen Eisenbraun on Apr.29, 2009

©iStockPhoto.com - Ahmad Hamoudah

Birth control: Most of us use it, have used it, or will use it in some form or another. Whether you opt for hormonal methods like the pill or the patch, barrier methods such as condoms or diaphragms, intrauterine devices, or surgical sterilization, no method is without its drawbacks. Hormonal methods can cause side effects such as weight gain, headaches, depression, decreased libido, and nausea, and the potential dangers of ingesting synthetic hormones for extended periods of time are still largely unknown. Barrier methods are inconvenient. Intrauterine devices can be painful and are associated with complications such as uterine puncture and tubal infection. Surgical sterilization is costly and usually irreversible.

You may be surprised to learn that there is another option, one that is virtually free of side effects, costs, and inconveniences: natural birth control.

What is natural birth control? Natural birth control, or the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) involves monitoring fertility signs that are naturally produced by the female body. In addition to being free of costs and side effects, FAM can also provide you with a greater understanding of and appreciation for your own reproductive system, which also leads to greater overall sexual health and confidence. Fertility awareness should not be confused with the Rhythm Method. The Rhythm Method assumes that all women have a 28-day cycle, with ovulation occurring around day 14. In realty, every woman’s cycle is different, and even the same woman can experience ovulation on different days of her cycle from month to month. FAM involves charting concrete fertility symptoms to identify your own individual fertile phase.

The basic premise of FAM is simple: learn to tell when you are fertile, and either avoid intercourse during this time period, or use a backup method such as condoms. The practical application is a bit more complex, but easy to master in time. The female body produces three main fertility symptoms: basal body temperature, cervical fluid, and cervical position. The following provides an overview to each of these three symptoms and should be viewed as an introduction to fertility awareness. Fertility awareness is a complex subject that should be fully researched and understood before being used as a primary method of contraception. To learn how to safely and effectively practice FAM, please consult the resources provided at the end of this article. It should also be noted that FAM does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases and should therefore be practiced only in the context of a monogamous relationship.

Basal Body Temperature

Basal body temperature is the body’s lowest temperature achieved during rest. You should take and record your temperature every morning upon waking, preferably at or around the same time and before getting out of bed. At the beginning of your cycle (the first day of your period is the first day of your cycle), your temperature will likely remain low. Mid-cycle, you will experience a rise in temperature. This rise may seem small (for example, rising from 97.2 to 97.7 degrees), but if observed on a chart, the temperature shift will be clearly evident. This change in temperature indicates that ovulation has occurred. During ovulation, the egg releases the hormone progesterone, which is responsible for this rise in temperature. For the rest of your cycle leading up to your period, your temperature should remain high. Because the spike in temperature indicates that ovulation has already occurred, basal body temperature should not be used to predict fertility. Rather, it should be viewed as one component to obtaining an overall understanding of your fertile phase.

Cervical fluid

As ovulation approaches, the cervix begins to release a fluid, the purpose of which is to give sperm a substance in which to swim. You may have noticed this fluid on your underwear and wondered what it indicated, or even if it was a sign of an infection. Cervical fluid is perfectly normal and a valuable sign in understanding fertility. Once cervical fluid begins appearing (sometime between your period and your temperature spike), changes in the quality of the fluid should be observed. It will be milky and sticky at first, gradually changing to a slippery and stretchy substance that indicates peak fertility. Cervical fluid can be observed by inserting a clean finger into the vagina, preferably at different times throughout the day. You can consider yourself safe to have unprotected intercourse the evening of every dry day. When cervical fluid begins to appear, you should consider yourself fertile.

Cervical position

As you become fertile, your cervix will raise, soften, and open to allow sperm to enter more easily. These changes can also be observed by inserting a clean finger into the vagina until you feel the surface of the cervix. It may take some time to be able to detect changes in the cervix. During your non-fertile phase, it will be lower and firmer, like the cartilage in your nose. When you are in your fertile phase, the cervix will raise and become softer and feel more like your lips.

By observing and charting all three fertility symptoms, you will be able to create a complete picture of your fertile phase. Although an egg is typically considered viable for 24 hours, sperm can survive in the uterus for several days; therefore you should consider yourself fertile for at least a week, beginning with the appearance of cervical fluid and until a few days following your spike in temperature. As you become accustomed to charting your fertility symptoms, it will become easy to identify your personal patterns and your own peak fertility day. Fertility awareness requires diligence and may seem like a lot of work, but the rewards are worth it. Not only will you be able to identify your fertile phase, you will also be able to predict — with surprising accuracy — when your period will begin, and you will soon be able to identify any changes in your gynecological health that could indicate more serious health problems.

If you are interested in learning more about fertility awareness, please visit www.ovusoft.com or read Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. This book provides step-by-step instructions and easy-to-use charts for monitoring your fertility signs.

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Posted under About Mom, Family.