Today is our topic of discussion Natural methods
Natural methods
Abstinence:
It means refraining from sex during the fertile days of the woman. It is achieved in three ways –
Calendar method/rhythm method/safe period:
Safe period:
It is the sterile period in each menstrual cycle during which conception does not occur.
Danger/fertile period:
The time during which a viable egg is available for fertilization by sperm.
Calculation:
The day one of a ‘period’ is the first day of the cycle. Ovulation occurs 12-16 days before the next period. The method involves calculation of the shortest and longest cycles over the last twelve cycles.
The fertile/danger period is calculated as 18 days subtracted from the shortest cycle and 10 days from the longest cycle. If the cycle is regularly 28 days the fertile phase would be from Day 10 (28 minus 18) until Day 18 (28 minus 10). If the cycle varies from 21 to 35 days, the fertile phase would be from Day 3 to Day 25. Besides these days, rest of the days is safe.
Basal body temperature method:
It requires a thermometer that can record even a slight change in the temperature. After the periods end, measure body temperature orally every morning and record it. On the day of ovulation, there will be a sudden increase in the temperature indicating high fertile period. The couple should abstain from intercourse till the temperature drops down to normal body temperature as before ovulation.
Cervical mucus method:
The color, consistency and the feel of cervical mucus can help in determining the safe and unsafe days to have sex. If the discharge white, stretchy or wet, it indicates ovulation phase. During this phase sex should be avoided.
Coitus Interruptus (‘withdrawal’/’pull out’ method):
During sexual intercourse if the man pulls out his penis just before ejaculating, it can prevent any sperm from entering the vagina. However, the fluid secreted before ejaculation can also contain sperms.
Breast feeding:
If the baby is less than six months old, the women are fully breast feeding, and her periods have not recommenced, the chance of pregnancy is in the order of 2%. Beyond six months, the protective effect of breast-feeding diminishes.
D. Sex without intercourse
Sperm survival:
After intercourse, the vaginal secretions return to its more typical acid state and sperm can survive for a period of 48 to 72 hours (very rarely, up to 7 days). The secretion of the vagina is increased before intercourse when it becomes more alkaline than at other times. This alkaline environment is more favorable to sperm survival.
The ballooning of the upper vagina before intercourse reduces loss of seminal fluid after intercourse and during orgasm (sexual momentum) the uterus exerts a negative pressure, which tends to suck sperm in from the vagina.
Ovum survival:
Usually 24 hours after ovulation and maximum upto 48 hours
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