Rhythm Method Birth Control

Rhythm method birth control is probably the oldest form of birth control still in use today. The basic theory relies on timing sexual intercourse around a woman's ovulation schedule. Rhythm method birth control is used by avoiding sexual intercourse when a woman is ovulating and for the number of days prior to ovulation that sperm could live in a woman's body.  

To practice rhythm birth control you will need:

• The date of the first day of the woman's last menstrual period.
• Calendar
• Back-up method of birth control

1. On a calendar, locate the first day of the woman's most recent menstrual period.
2. Count back fourteen days, as this is when ovulation generally begins for most women
3. As sperm is known to live inside a woman's vagina anywhere from three to seven days, avoid unprotected sexual intercourse during this time.
4. Abstain from sexual intercourse over that week of every month, as that is the time when an egg is most likely to be fertilized.

Tips:

Some women's menstrual cycles are different, so exact calculations are hard to pinpoint.

There isn't a set number of days that sperm has been known to live inside a woman, so use a backup method of birth control.

This form of family planning has a failure rate of 13% to 20%.

This form of birth control is not recommended for women who have been known to have irregular menstrual cycles.

Rhythm method birth control is also not recommended for women whose menstrual cycles are not the exact same number of days each month.