Fertility Awareness

One way of birth control is to be fully aware of fertility changes in a female’s body. Typically, the female produces eggs in the ovaries all her lifetime. But during menarche, young women start to ovulate. Ovulation is the physiologic process of the female egg or ovum which makes it viable for fertilization when penetrated by a male sperm. In a month, only one ovum is released from any of the two ovaries in the female’s reproductive system. Furthermore, ovulation occurs once a month and usually lasts for 24 hours on the average. When this ovum does not get fertilized, it then travels down from the fallopian tubes to the uterus area and sticks onto the endometrial lining to start the menstruation process. This goes on cycle after cycle every month usually lasting 28 or more days.

For some women, they can have regular monthly periods making the guesswork for ovulation easier. Ovulation often happens 14 days on the average after counting day one of menstruation. By knowing the week of ovulation, a woman can avoid sexual contact or unprotected sex on those days to decrease chances of getting pregnant. By gaining fertility awareness, you are in control of yourself and you would feel more confident.

Fertility Awareness

Fertility Awareness

Fertility awareness does not need any purchases for contraception. Perhaps getting an ovulation thermometer can help predict ovulatory periods. Usually, the body temperature is higher when ovulation happens. Also, there are no known side effects in this method of contraception. Fertility awareness is also known as the Calendar method, and it would require self-discipline to abstain from having sex on fertile periods.

However, there are still risks of getting pregnant with these methods. Stress, physical and hormonal factors can alter ovulation periods, making the guessing of when it will happen challenging. Suggestively, you can combine fertility awareness with other contraceptive methods to get a more effective birth control.

In terms of decreasing chances of pregnancy, fertility awareness may work, but it does not, however, prevent acquiring sexually transmitted diseases.

Advantages

* No purchases needed
* No hormonal side effects
* No allergic and harsh reactions to body
* Accepted in many religions as a natural contraception
* Practices self-control and discipline
* May prevent pregnancy when accurately and regularly practiced

Disadvantages

* Ovulation can change with physical, emotional and stressful factors
* May lead to pregnancy if inaccurately done
* Does not protect against STDs
* Needs vigilant monitoring of ovulation times and calendar counting
* May strain relationships for the periods of abstinence

Video

This video talks about fertility awareness and how you can apply it in your life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyDuLArlYEk

Related Links

Arborita

http://www.arborita.lt/EN/Medical/Contraception/natural-contraception-EN.htm

Birth Control Comparison

http://www.birth-control-comparison.info/fam.htm