You do not want to resort to hormonal or mechanical contraceptives anymore? Then maybe natural contraception is the right option for you!
What are the advantages and disadvantages of natural contraception?
If you use natural contraception , you will determine your fertile and infertile days yourself. A woman is infertile in the period after her ovulation and before the next period. During the fertile days, which are almost six days of the cycle, condoms are additionally used if you do not want to have children.
Pill or thermometer?
Those who opt for natural contraception, get to know their body and especially their cycle well – a body awareness arises. And that is as important to the safety of this practice of contraception as a regular cycle, a healthy lifestyle and personal discipline.
The benefit of natural contraception is obvious: the woman does not need to expose herself to any hormones that may cause unwanted side effects in order to prevent pregnancy. The disadvantage: It is absolutely necessary that the measures are applied regularly and correctly. Factors such as alcohol, medication, lack of sleep and travel must be taken into account, because they affect the cycle. And spontaneous sex is likely to be in short supply.
What is the Pearl Index?
The Pearl Index has been developed to compare different forms of contraceptive methods in terms of safety. The calculation is based on 100 or 1000 women of childbearing potential who use a contraceptive oftheir choice for one year . If the index is 1 after this year, it means that one or ten women became pregnant during this period. An index of 0 means optimal security. Basically, then: The lower the Pearl index, the safer the respective method of contraception. This applies to both natural contraception and hormonal or mechanical methods.
Incidentally, sterilization, hormone implants and hormonal methods such as birth control pills and vaginal rings are among the safest methods of contraception. They are usually between 0 and a maximum of 1.5. But how high is the index of natural prevention methods?
How does the temperature method for contraception work?
Who decides to use the natural temperature method, picks up every morning right after waking up to the thermometer. The so-called recovery or basal body temperature is always measured at the same place, for example in the mouth or vagina. In the first half of the cycle, the body temperature is relatively low – between 36.5 and 36.8 degrees. Within 48 hours of ovulation , however, it increases by 0.2 to 0.5 degrees. Until menstruation, the temperature then remains constant at this level.
Natural contraception with the temperature method
Important for the temperature method: The recordings are required daily and over a longer period of time so that the temperature curve is clearly visible. In principle, however, the method only makes sense in combination with other contraceptives, as it depends on factors such as stress, sleep deficits and illnesses. The Pearl Index is between 1 and 3 for this contraception.
How safe is the cervical mucus method?
The cervical mucus method goes back to the medical couple Billings – and aims to determine the prevention of ovulation based on the consistency of the cervical mucus. And this is how it works: With a swab the liquid is absorbed directly at the entrance to the vagina or in the vagina. Color and texture then provide information on when the fertile and barren days take place. A few days before ovulation, the mucus becomes noticeable. It is smoother, clearer and finally stringy. After ovulation, he returns to a milky-cloudy and tough consistency.
With a Pearl index of 3 to 5, this natural method is not secure enough. Again, it is therefore recommended to resort to other contraceptives or methods.
What can the symptothermal method do?
The symptothermal method is a combination of temperature method and cervical mucus method. For this reason, it has a central importance for natural contraception and natural family planning. Anyone who uses this method will get to know the cycle in all its facets and can interpret changing body signs through regular observation.
In addition to the temperature measurement and a smear of your cervical mucus, the cervix or cervix should also be scanned. Because: During the fertile days, the latter is softer, slightly open and shifts upwards. In the optimal case, the Pearl index is between 0.4 and 2.3.
How useful is a menstrual calendar?
A menstrual calendar is ideal for supporting natural contraception. Especially useful are so-called cycle apps, with the help of which women get data on the duration and time of the next menstruation as well as information about PMS, discharge and pain. The more data the app gets, the more accurate the prognosis over the cycle.
Nonetheless, technical menstrual calendars are not suitable for contraception, but should only be understood as a practical supplement. Incidentally, the prerequisite for any form of natural contraception is that the cycle is not irregular.