We frequently discuss the topic of stopping the pill and what can be done afterwards to restore the body's hormonal balance.
Hormonal balance is therefore a really important topic, but what about contraception? Just because the pill or other hormonal contraceptives are no longer being administered to the body does not automatically mean that there is a desire to have children.
Therefore, it is necessary to choose a suitable hormone-free contraceptive method.
Contents
- Overview of hormone-free contraception
- NFP
- What is needed for NFP?
- Observe, document and interpret bodily signs: cervical mucus & temperature
- Natural Family Planning (NFP) for contraception – NFP 101
What options are there? Overview of hormone-free contraception
In addition to copper-containing contraceptive methods (copper chain, coil, ball), there are the "mechanical" and the symptothermal contraceptive methods.
Examples of "mechanical" methods include the diaphragm and the cervical cap, which are often used in conjunction with a chemically active contraceptive gel or cream. There are also condoms and female condoms, which are the only contraceptives that can protect against sexually transmitted infections.
Finally, there is the symptothermal method. "Sympto" refers to changes in cervical mucus and body temperature, and "thermal" refers to changes in body temperature.
Of course, one can simply follow the principle of abstinence, although this method is probably the least popular – fair enough.
NFP
This blog post will be about the symptothermal method of contraception, more specifically about NFP - natural family planning.
Family planning and contraception sound like a contradiction? Indeed, the name isn't entirely helpful at first glance. However, once you understand what it entails, it becomes clear why NFP (Natural Family Planning) is also suitable as a method of contraception.
The man's sperm cells can survive in the woman's body for up to 5 days under optimal conditions. The mature egg cell is released after its fertilization. The egg is capable of being fertilized for a maximum of 24 hours, after which it "decays" if fertilization does not occur. Since sperm cells have the ability to wait for the egg for up to five days, this results in a fertile period of 5-6 days per month.
The Natural Family Planning (NFP) method allows for a fairly accurate estimation of this period, also known as the fertile window. This means that, on the one hand, if you are trying to conceive, you can make the most of your predicted fertility to plan a pregnancy. On the other hand, it also means that fertilization can be prevented by ensuring that no sperm cells enter the uterus during the fertile period. Makes sense, right?
But first, some information about NFP and its application.
What is needed? NFP application, materials, equipment
- Thermometer with two decimal places or a cycle computer
- Willingness to engage with one's own body and to learn about the method
- Cycle chart or cycle app to record observed bodily signs
Observe, document, and interpret body language
The focus here is on changes in body temperature and cervical mucus. But other bodily signs, such as changes in the cervix, breasts, and mittelschmerz (mid-cycle pain), also help in perceiving the body and its cyclical changes.
When documenting observations, each person is entirely free to choose how they record them. Some prefer digital methods, while others prefer good old-fashioned paper and pen.
Regardless of the method chosen, day 1 of the cycle is the first day of menstruation, i.e., the start of menstrual bleeding. During this time, the intensity and pain of menstruation can be documented. Incidentally, severe pain is not normal. Read more here.
Cervical mucus
This makes sense three Things to consider:
1. What sensations do I feel at my vaginal opening?
- Does it feel damp or dry?
- Does it perhaps even itch a little, or do I constantly feel like I need to go to the toilet? even though I don't feel the urge to urinate?
2. What does the cervical mucus feel like?
- Is it lumpy, creamy, stretchy like raw egg white, or spinnable?
3. What does it look like?
- Is it yellowish, whitish, glassy, or reddish?
- Is it visible when I wipe the vaginal opening with toilet paper or my finger?
Evaluation:
Dry: infertile -> No mucus; "dry" is a relative term here. It's also possible that nothing is seen or felt at all. This usually occurs after menstruation and/or ovulation.
Sticky: possibly fertile -> white, moist, lumpy to sticky, beginning of the fertile window
Creamy: fertile -> moist and creamy, just before ovulation
protein: highly fertile -> moist and stretchy like raw egg white, possibly with white streaks, around the time of ovulation
When evaluating cervical mucus, it's important to note that its quality is highest around the time of ovulation. What constitutes "best quality" varies from woman to woman. Every woman has her own individual "mucus pattern," which usually repeats cycle after cycle. However, deviations can occur and should simply be recorded.
Once optimal mucus quality has been achieved, it can be assumed that ovulation has taken place or is taking place within +/- 2 days.
temperature
In addition to cervical mucus analysis, basal body temperature is measured in NFP.
There are two temperature levels in the cycle. In the first...In the first half of the menstrual cycle, the body temperature is lower than in the second half. The hormone progesterone, which dominates in the second half of the cycle, is responsible for this temperature increase.
Since progesterone only starts working after ovulation, the temperature increase of 0.2-0.6 °C can be used to determine when ovulation takes place.
Temperature measurement is also two Things that are particularly important: a thermometer with two decimal places and measuring immediately after waking up.
To explain: a simple fever thermometer usually only measures to one decimal place. Therefore, smaller changes cannot be detected. For example: The simple thermometer reads 36.2 °C, which is actually 36.20 °C. The next morning, the temperature is measured again and is 36.3 °C, but this time it is actually 36.39 °C. This means that the temperature has risen by almost 0.2 °C, not 0.1 °C as indicated by the simple fever thermometer.
Additionally, it's important to measure your temperature after waking up and before getting out of bed, as this provides the best comparison values. Physical activity contributes to an increase in body temperature, and it's lowest in the morning before getting up.
Documentation in an app or cycle chart then yields a temperature curve, which can be used to determine ovulation. i.d.R. can be clearly identified.
When documenting measurements, it's important to note any interfering factors. Excessive alcohol consumption, deviations from the normal routine, different measurement times, or illnesses can all affect the temperature reading. Therefore, it's advisable not to rely solely on temperature measurements. Having a backup plan is always better.
Natural Family Planning (NFP) for contraception – NFP 101
How it all works and what's needed is now clear... but what's next?
Especially for beginners using natural family planning (NFP), determining when the fertile phase ends is probably easiest. This becomes clear based on the temperature rise. Before ovulation, the temperature remains relatively consistently low. On the day of ovulation, there is a slight drop in temperature, and on the day after ovulation, the temperature rises, marking the beginning of the second phase of the cycle.
For women who document their cycles using a cycle chart and without a cycle computer or app, there are a few things to keep in mind.
The temperatures of the next three days following the temperature drop are analyzed, as these must also be elevated. The rule is that the temperature of the third temperature reading (point c) after the temperature drop at the presumed ovulation (point 1) must be 0.2 °C higher compared to the day before the temperature drop (point 2). The temperature curve diagram illustrates this. If this rule is not met, one must wait longer for the temperature to rise.
And what about fertility at the beginning of the cycle?
For beginners, the 5-day rule applies. This means the first 5 days can be considered infertile (this falls within the period of menstruation, as this is the first day of the cycle). Once several cycles have been tracked, the fertile window can be estimated more accurately.
Modern cycle tracking apps analyze the data themselves and provide a fertility forecast. However, cervical mucus and other bodily signals should always be taken into account as well.Remember: there's a safety net! Weather apps don't always predict the correct weather either, and a glance out your own window provides reassurance.
Logically, during the fertile window, contraception should either be used with a condom, diaphragm or cervical cap, or no contraception at all. sexual intercourse What is best suited here is something everyone has to decide for themselves.
If natural family planning (NFP) is being considered as a method of contraception, the partner should also be involved. After all, it doesn't just affect the woman. NFP is therefore also referred to as a partner-based method.
This may all sound incredibly complicated. Ultimately, however, NFP offers the opportunity to better understand and get to know your own body. Could there be hormonal imbalances because there hasn't been a temperature rise, or is the body giving other signals that something is wrong?