 Pregnancy
the natural way
Fed up with pills, devices and gadgets? Here's the way to make your
pregnancy happen naturally.
When Joslyn Bellamy decided to start a family she used the same method
to conceive as she had used for contraception. She used a technique called
the Billings Method which involved noting fertility signs on a chart to
discover her most fertile days. This monitoring of fertility signs is
also known as Natural Family Planning (NFP) or the Fertility Awareness
Method (FAM).
What is Natural Family Planning and Fertility Awareness Method?
The idea behind natural family planning is very simple and helps you
to recognise your own individual pattern of fertility and infertility
during your menstrual cycle to plan or avoid a pregnancy.
The Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care says that
fertility awareness methods (FAM) include all family planning methods
based on the identification of the fertile time. It also says the effectiveness
of these methods depends on two key things:
- the accurate pinpointing of the fertile days of a woman's menstrual
cycle (the fertile time) and
- the timing of sexual behaviour.
NFP should be taught by a specialist teacher but if used according to
teaching and instructions, it's up to 98 per cent effective. Joslyn's
husband Paul was a little sceptical but she says "I think he felt reassured
that we were going to go to classes to learn about it rather than just
reading about it and attempting to get it right!"
Understanding your menstrual cycle
Because identifying the time of ovulation is the cornerstone of natural
family planning, the key to understanding how it works is by understanding
your own menstrual cycle.
- Length of cycle - cycles vary in length from 23 days or less
to over 35 days.
- Ovulation - in a normal cycle an egg develops and is released.
This is ovulation.
- Period - the lining of the womb is prepared for a possible
pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the lining is shed in your period.
- Fertile window - your fertile time is from 7 days before ovulation
until 1-2 days after ovulation so if you know when you are going to
ovulate you can predict your fertile time.
Your menstrual cycle is under the influence of hormones - oestrogen and
progesterone - which cause physical and emotional changes in your body
throughout your cycle. Fertility awareness is being aware of these changes.
What does it involve?
To use NFP effectively you need to learn to observe and record the different
signs, or indicators, in your cycle. It takes good instruction and 2 or
3 cycles to learn to do it competently but recognizing the indicators
will help you to know your fertile time.
Joslyn says, "The technique we were taught was the Billings Method where
you observe your cervical mucus and fill in a daily chart with stickers
noting the appearance of it. The differences in the mucus let you know
when you are fertile and when you are not. It was really easy to follow."
The main indicators in NFP include:
- The waking temperature
- Cervical mucus changes
- Changes in the cervix
- Calculations of cycle length
- Minor indicators of fertility
The waking temperature - at the time of ovulation, your temperature
will rise by 0.2C or more and will remain like this until the start of
your period. This rise confirms ovulation has taken place and after 3
consecutive days your fertile time has ended. You chart this first thing
in the morning before getting out of bed using a digital thermometer.
This is known as Basal Body Temperature (BBT). Disadvantages. You need
to be very motivated to monitor and record your BBT effectively. Also,
the readings may not be accurate if you are unwell.
Cervical mucus changes - these changes occur throughout your cycle,
ranging from dry 'infertile' days to moist, sticky 'fertile' days. Around
your most fertile time, cervical mucus resembles raw egg white. Every
day you need to observe and record the changes in your mucus and be able
to recognise the 'stringy' indicator of ovulation.
Disadvantages. It is difficult to assess mucus if you have had
recent intercourse because the semen alters the appearance of mucus.
Changes in the cervix - particularly useful for women with very
long cycles or during breast-feeding, the first change is noted one or
two days prior to changes in cervical mucus, and can give you a very early
warning of approaching fertility.
Calculation of cycle length - You should measure the length of
your cycle from the first day of your period (fresh red bleed) up to,
but not including the first day of your next period. Any spotting prior
to your period should be included in the previous cycle (pre-menstrual).
Disadvantages. This method of calculating ovulation demands an
accurate recording of your period intervals. This method of calculating
ovulation demands an accurate recording of your period intervals. And
Babyworld fertility expert Steve Killick warns, "For women who have an
irregular cycle, it can be very difficult to predict when ovulation will
occur."
Minor indicators of fertility - these include ovulation or Mittelschmerz
pain - a sharp pain or dull ache on one side of the lower abdomen for
up to a few hours. A characteristic tenderness or tingling sensation of
the breasts may also be experienced around ovulation.
Disadvantages. Not all women experience or are aware of these
changes.
Combining all fertility indicators
NFP is most effective when all the fertility indicators are used together.
According to Fertility UK, conception is possible at any time during the
fertile phase but the peak day frequently coincides with the day of ovulation
confirmed by the temperature shift and at this time of maximum fertility,
the cervix is high, short, straight, soft open and flowing with fertile
mucus.
What are the advantages?
1. No chemicals or physical devices
One of the main advantages of NFP is that it doesn't use chemicals or
pills, a factor which is very important for Babyworld member Sarah, who
is trying to conceive her second child while still breastfeeding her 9
month old son.
She says, "I have been charting my basal body temperature, checking cervical
fluid and noticing other things about my body such as sore nipples, cramps
and headaches."
Joslyn was concerned because her mother had breast cancer, which has
been lightly linked with some contraceptive use. She says, "We wanted
natural family planning as we were both aware of some of the health risks
of other types of chemical hormone based contraception like the pill."
2. Plan or avoid pregnancy
You can use fertility awareness to plan or avoid a pregnancy. Sarah says,
"I would recommend it to others if you seem to be struggling to conceive
as it may just be that you aren't timing things right."
And Joslyn says, "NFP is a brilliant form of contraception - it's totally
natural.
"It's also great for planning to get pregnant as it teaches you when
are the optimum times for your fertility without you having to go down
the ovulation kit path."
3. Raises awareness of your fertility
Toni Weschler Author of Taking Charge of Your Fertility says,
"It is unfortunate that the Fertility Awareness Method is even referred
to as a method, because in reality, it should be seen as a fundamental
life skill that all women should learn, just as they are now taught basic
feminine hygiene."
Joslyn agrees. "Using the NFP did raise my awareness of my peak time
for conception and it made me hyper aware of my whole cycle."
4. Enhances your relationship
Joslyn says this form of family planning can be very romantic. "Going
to the classes together were brilliant in terms of bringing us even closer
together - there is a certain amount of emphasis placed on your relationship
during the classes and using the method is definitely all to do with co-operation!"
"I think in some ways it makes things more romantic - there is certainly
a sense of taking joint responsibility for contraception.
It doesn't destroy the spontaneity within your relationship either because
it's a much more holistic approach."
Fertility and ovulation testing kits
Kits can be a useful addition to your natural family planning but will
cost about £20. Ovulation testing kits can be helpful especially
if your menstrual cycles are irregular or to help you check that you have
got the natural test right! Fertility tests are newer on the market and
could be a good way to start your baby-making journey by checking the
status of your fertility.
They are available at most chemists and supermarkets without a prescription
and are generally located in the same section as pregnancy tests and other
family planning items.
Ovulation predictor kits - an ovulation kit detects the increase,
or surge, of a hormone called luteinising hormone (LH) that occurs approximately
one to two days prior to ovulation. This is the trigger for ovulation
and it's also a signal that your 'fertility window' has arrived. If used
properly it can predict fertile and infertile periods and is 94 per cent
accurate. babyworld's
ovulation calculator can help you plan when it's best to have baby-making
sex
Male and female fertility test - the most recent development is
the Fertell fertility test, a kit designed to detect the status of male
and female fertility. The male kit measures sperm quality and the female
kit measures the quantity of healthy eggs women have left. Both tests
can be done in the privacy of your own home.
Where to next?
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