What is natural family planning and how does it work?
Natural family planning helps women recognise the fertile and infertile times of their menstrual cycle. Fertility awareness involves being able to identify the signs and symptoms of fertility during the menstrual cycle in order to plan or avoid pregnancy.
Natural family planning works by observing and recording a woman's body and the natural signs of fertility indicators each day of the menstrual cycle. If practiced correctly, this method is 98% effective.
What are the advantages?
- No side-effects
- No hormones are used
- Gives a woman a greater awareness of her body
- Acceptable to all faiths and cultures
What are the disadvantages?
- Need to avoid sex or use a condom or other form of contraception at fertile times of the menstrual cycle
- To be effective women need to keep daily records and both partners need to be very committed to the method
- Illness, stress and travel make fertility indicators harder to interpret
- It does not protect you against STIs