CONTRACEPTION

METHODS

In today’s modern world, there are various options available for a couple to plan their family. OR, “How to avoid an unwanted pregnancy?” a question that should be answered before starting unprotected sex.

There is a wide choice of methods available, includes: 

• Natural family planning methods.
• Barrier methods.
• Hormonal methods.
• Intrauterine devices.
• Permanent methods for females and for males.
• Emergency contraception.

Natural Family Planning Methods

Methods of planning and preventing pregnancies by observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of the menstrual cycles, with the avoidance of intercourse during the fertile phase, if pregnancy is to be avoided.

• Rhythm Method.
• Basal Body Temperature method.
• Cervical mucus method.
• Symptothermal method.
• Lactational amenorrhoea method.
• Withdrawal method.

RHYTHM METHOD

Also known as Calendar Method. Based on Orgino-knaus theory that ovulation, release of mature female egg takes place about 14 + 2 days before the next menstrual period.The calendar method attempts to predict ovulation using a woman’s menstrual history.

• A written record should be kept.
• The day on which bleeding starts, should be marked
as day 1.
• This should be done for at least 6 months.
• Then count the days in each cycle.

Of course, you have no assurance that your cycle variations will remain the same. So you must continue to mark each Day 1 and list the length of your last cycle. Note the length of shortest and longest cycle.

Charting Your Pattern

• To find out the unsafe period:
• Note the days of your shortest cycle.
• For e.g. 27 days.
• Subtract 18 from the total number.
• I.e. 27 – 18 = 9
• That’s the day you are likely to be fertile and you must start using contraception to avoid unwanted pregnancy.
• Now, take the longest cycle,
• Say for e.g. 32
• Subtract 11 from that number
• I.e. 32 – 11 = 21
• This is the last day of your unsafe period.
• So, in summary, a woman having a shortest cycle of 27 days and a longest cycle of 32 days for the last 6 – 8 cycles, the probable unsafe period is between day 9 to day 21 of her cycle, throughout.
• I.e. it is safe to have unprotected sex between 0 – 8 days and between day 22 – till menses (safe time)

Remember

If all your cycles are shorter than 27 days, don’t try to use calendar estimates at all.

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