Professional Documents
Culture Documents
planning
natural fa
family planning
plan
natural family planning
family planning
natural family planning
planning
natural family
family pla
atur
natural family planning
ural family plan
natural family planning
family plannin
natural fam
2 3
37.1
37.0
36.9
36.8
36.7
36.6
36.5
36.4
36.3
family planning?
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
F
7
It takes 3–6 menstrual cycles to learn effectively.
S M T W T
6
You have to keep daily records.
5
4
Some events, such as illness, lifestyle, stress
3
or travel, may make fertility indicators harder
2
April
to interpret.
S
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1
You need to avoid sex or use male or female
F
S M T W T
condoms during the fertile time.
Natural methods don’t protect you against
sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
S
Can anyone use natural family
Q
F
planning?
S M T W T
Most women can use natural methods as long as
they receive good instructions and support. They
can be used at all stages of your reproductive life,
whatever age you are. Natural family planning
S
F
may not be a suitable method for women who
S M T W T
do not have periods.
8
It may take longer to recognise your fertility
7
indicators and to start to use natural family
6
5
planning if you have irregular cycles, after stopping
March
4
hormonal contraception, after having a baby,
3
F
1
menopause.
Month and year
Date
°C 37.1
37.0
36.9
36.8
36.7
36.6
36.5
36.4
36.3
Circle day of cycle
Wet, slippery, clear, stretchy
Moist, white, cloudy, sticky
Dry. No secretions seen or felt
Period
High, soft, open
Cervix
8 9
Can I combine temperature and Are there any other fertility indicators?
Q cervical secretions fertility indicators? Q Some women may be aware of pain around
Yes. Combining the temperature and cervical ovulation or changes in the breasts, skin, mood or
secretions indicators acts as a double check and sex drive. These are the least reliable indicators of
increases the effectiveness of natural family your fertile time.
planning. The fertile time starts at the first sign of
any cervical secretions and ends after the third How do I use fertility monitoring
high temperature has been recorded and all Q devices?
three high temperatures occur after the last day You can buy a number of different fertility
of having wet or clear, slippery secretions (the devices. They work by monitoring changes in
peak day). temperature, urine or saliva. In the UK the main
product available is Persona. This consists of a
How can I work out how long my small handheld computerised monitor and a
Q menstrual cycle lasts? series of urine test sticks which measure
The length of your cycles can help you to work hormonal changes. Persona interprets these
out the start of your fertile time. Keep a record changes and can predict the fertile and infertile
of the length of your last six cycles, then find your times of your menstrual cycle.
shortest cycle and subtract 20 days to find the If you use Persona according to the instructions,
first fertile day. Calculating your cycle length is not it is around 94 per cent effective. This means that at
a reliable way of working out the end of your least six women in 100 will get pregnant in a year.
fertile time and should not be used on its own as Computerised thermometers work by
a fertility indicator. combining information about the length of your
menstrual cycle and temperature. More research is
How do I monitor changes to my needed about the effectiveness of these products.
Q cervix? Luteinising hormone (LH) dipstick tests or
During your menstrual cycle your cervix changes ovulation predictor kits are designed to be used
in position and feels different. Around your fertile by women planning a pregnancy. They are not
time the cervix will feel higher in the vagina, soft effective as a natural family planning method.
and slightly open. During your infertile time your
cervix will feel low in the vagina, firmer to touch
and closed. These changes are not reliable enough
to be used on their own as a fertility indicator.
12 13
Can I use breastfeeding as a natural your cycle to return to normal and for your
Q family planning method? natural family planning indicators to be reliable.
Breastfeeding is also known as lactation. When used
as a contraceptive method it can be very effective Where can I get help with natural
in avoiding pregnancy and is known as lactational
Q family planning?
amenorrhoea (LAM). LAM can be up to 98 per You will need to find someone to teach you how
cent effective in preventing pregnancy if all of the to use natural family planning. General practice and
following conditions apply: contraception clinics do not often teach it so you
you are fully breastfeeding – this means you may need to find your own teacher – some charge
are not giving your baby any other liquid or a fee. You can get further information from:
solid food or Sexual health direct: FPA helpline:
you are nearly fully breastfeeding – this means 0845 122 8690
mainly breastfeeding your baby and infrequently Fertility UK at www.fertilityuk.org
giving your baby other liquids and
your baby is less than six months old and How do I find out about contraception
you have no periods.
Q services?
The risk of pregnancy increases if: The Sexual Health Information Line provides
you start breast feeding less often, or confidential advice and information on all aspects of
there are long intervals between feeds - both sexual health. The number is 0800 567 123 and
day and night, or the service is available from Monday to Friday from
9am - 8pm and at weekends from 11am - 4pm.
you stop night feeds and use supplement
feeding. For additional information on sexual health visit
Once your baby is over six months old the risk of www.fpa.org.uk
getting pregnant increases, so even if you don’t
have periods and are fully or nearly fully Information for young people can be found on
breastfeeding, you should use another www.brook.org.uk
contraceptive method. Clinics
To locate your closest clinic you can use the find a
If I have to use hormonal emergency
Q contraception will it affect my fertility
clinic Iphone app.
f
p
natu
a
www.fpa.org.uk
The Sexual Health Line is provided by the Department of Health. This booklet is
produced by FPA (sexual health charity) registered charity number 250187. Limited
liability company registered in England, number 887632. Supported by Department
of Health. FPA does not run the Sexual Health Line.
© FPA printed in November 2012 ISBN 978-1-908249-27-2
If you have any questions or comments about this booklet, or
would like information on the evidence used to produce it,
please email feedback@fpa.org.uk. The information in this
booklet was accurate at the time of going to print. The
publication will be reviewed annually.
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