Natural family planning may be an appealing birth control option if you can't or choose not to use other contraceptives.

Natural family planning  helps predict when ovulation may occur.

Therefore it aids in decision  to avoid unprotected intercourse if one chooses not to conceive.

The natural birth control methods may include:

  • Charting your temperature daily/ The rhythm method- helps identify the safe days or the days you are most likely to conceive.
  • May also include Lactational amenorrhea which involves breastfeeding the new born baby for up to 6 months to avoid ovulation.
  • Tracking changes in cervical mucus.
  • Paying attention to other key fertility indicators.
  • Withdrawal

Benefits of Natural Family Planning 

  • No side effects involved
  • Inexpensive 

When used correctly all the time, fertility awareness methods offer contraceptive accuracy of about  91% to  99% .

When the instructions are not strictly adhered to, it offers accuracy of about  76%. 

Among the practices, withdrawal method is the least effective since it is highly  based on self control.

Natural family planning may not be suitable in certain conditions such as:

  • In irregular periods.
  • When you cannot breastfeed (lactational awareness practice)
  • When you need to avoid getting pregnant due to a health condition.

Always speak to a doctor or nurse to get more information on whether you can use a  natural family planning.