Several contraceptives are available for people who don’t want to have children or don’t want to become pregnant such as IUDs, birth control pills, and vaginal rings, among others, that can reduce the risk of conceiving.
Monitoring your menstrual cycle and ovulation signs is key to preventing pregnancy. The natural family planning method, also known as the fertility awareness method, is an alternative to medications and devices that has swept TikTok for several months. In this method, you must know and track your menstrual cycle intimately.
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There are risks and benefits to any contraceptive. Here are expert opinions about the hormone-free option.
Natural Family Planning: Why Do People Choose It?
Many people choose natural family planning because they don’t want to use a device or take hormones that seem “unnatural” to their bodies. You can avoid hormonal birth control side effects by choosing natural family planning.
Women can control their fertility by tracking their menstrual cycles. Daniel DiSabatino, an ob-gyn at Axia Women’s Health, says this is a way for them to work around religious rules. Natural family planning is also an option for those who do not wish to use birth control.
Natural Cycle Birth Control: How Does It Work?
Ovulation is generally considered the most fertile period of your body in natural family planning. DiSabatino tells Yahoo Life that by avoiding unprotected intercourse during your fertile period, you can help prevent naturally becoming pregnant.
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Natural Family Planning: How Effective Is It?
You need to keep track of your daily cycle. Purdie says 85% of users are protected from pregnancy when they are consistent in tracking or make a mistake in their data. 93-95% of women would be able to control their cycle using natural birth control.
Every individual will experience natural family planning differently. Experts say it’s impossible to make 100% accurate predictions, with a human error occurring occasionally. The period between ovulation and menstruation is supposed to be 14 days, but that’s not always true, says DiSabatino.