Natural Family Planning Method

The natural family planning is a process using a combination of three methods to determine the most fertile time of a woman’s cycle. Couples may use this information to try or avoid pregnancy.  Natural family planning works well for women who do not want to use drug or hormones as a form of birth control.

1. Use a calendar to track your menstruation cycles. The first day of your period is Day 1. The length of your cycles over time will be used later.
2. Set an alarm to wake you at the same time each morning. Wake up and take your basal body temperature with a thermometer. Your resting temperature is the most accurate, as your body heat changes constantly throughout the day. It is important to take your temperature as soon as you wake up and before getting out of bed. Keep a record of your temperature. The resting temperature will increase by a degree during ovulation.
3. Check your cervical mucus every day. The cervical mucus changes during your cycle to create a welcoming environment for sperm.  When the mucus is thin, clear, and resembles egg whites you are fertile.
4. After you have tracked your period for several months determine your fertile time.  Take the duration of your shortest cycle and subtract eighteen. If your shortest cycle was 29 days you would subtract eighteen to get the number eleven. Take the number or days in your longest cycle and subtract eleven. If your longest cycle was 34 days you would get 23. Using those two numbers shows you are fertile sometime between the 11th and 23rd day of your cycle
5. During the time frame of your cycle determined above, continue to watch additional fertility signs.  You are likely to experience an increase in temperature and notice egg white cervical mucus. If you wish to get pregnant now is the best to have sex. If you are trying to avoid pregnancy wait until after the 23^rdday of your cycle.