Methods of contraception, natural

The Methods of contraception, natural -Methods of avoiding conception that do not involve the use of any contraceptive hormones or devices. These methods are based on attempts to pinpoint a woman’s fertile period around the time of ovulation, so that sexual intercourse can be avoided at this time.

The calendar method is based on the assumption that ovulation takes place around 14 days before menstruation. Due to its high failure rate, it has been largely superseded by other methods. The temperature method is based on the normal rise of a woman’s body temperature in the second half of the menstrual cycle, after ovulation has occurred. The woman takes her temperature each day using an ovulation thermometer.

Sex is considered to be safe only after there has been a rise in temperature lasting at least three days. The cervical mucus method involves attempting to pinpoint the fertile period by charting the appearance and amount of cervical mucus during the menstrual cycle. Certain recognized changes in the mucus occur before and often at ovulation. The symptothermal method is a combination of the temperature and mucus methods.