Dear friends,
I've been working on this research for quite a while and have come up with some understanding which i want to share with you all hoping it is beneficial for you especially those of you who are planning their family life. The following is just one of the many birth control methods (condom, contraceptive pills, hormonal methods ...) which my research proves to be the most non-invasive, simple, and no-cost method for birth control. Yet, the effectiveness greatly depends on each individual practice. If you strictly follow the rules, it's definitely effective.
Rhythm Method
This method is also known as fertility awareness, periodic abstinence or the calendar method. It is a way of avoiding pregnancy by simply not having intercourse during the days when you ovulate. If you wish to use this method of birth control, you will need to track your menstrual cycle to understand your body’s pattern and know precisely the days when you are most fertile. Then, by avoiding intercourse on those days or using other birth control options, such as condoms, it can prevent pregnancy.
How Does it Work?
This method of natural birth control is based on an individual’s menstrual cycle. Typically, sperm can survive inside the female reproductive system for around 5 to 7 days, but an egg can only live for 24 hours. Therefore, it is possible that your egg may get fertilized even 2 or 3 days after intercourse when ovulation occurs and sperm is already present in the body. However, 24 hours after you have ovulated, it is fairly safe to say that pregnancy will not occur until your next menstrual cycle. But how can you know just when you are most fertile or ovulate?
There are a few hints that can help you know when you ovulate:
- Counting from the 1st day of your menstrual period, the ovulation day is the 14th day
- When you ovulate, you get great amount of vaginal discharge that looks and feels like raw egg whites (clear and slippery)
- You may also feel menstrual like cramping and have tender breasts
- Your basal body temperature rises (mostly in the morning, you feel that you're having a higher body temperature)
Who Can Use It?
Those who have irregular cycles cannot really benefit from the Calendar Rhythm Method. Because this method requires the use of periodic abstinence, it is recommended more often for people in long-term relationships. Furthermore, the rhythm method offers no protection against STDs, like HIV and chlamydia. This is another reason why it is more often recommended for couples in long-term, monogamous relationships where both partners have tested free of STDs.
Reliability
There are many factors that make rhythm method a not very reliable way of birth control. Apart from the usual mistakes that anyone can make, like tracking your cycle incorrectly and having intercourse during fertile days or maybe unwillingness of a partner. Another reason for the increased failure rate is that you use past cycles to predict future cycles. In most cases, past patterns are sufficient in providing you with a guideline for future cycles. However, any changes to your lifestyle, such as taking medication, dealing with stress, illness, starting menopause or breastfeeding, and chances are that your cycle may change.
Advantages
As a natural birth control method, using the rhythm method to track your fertile days is relatively simple compared to using a contraceptive patch or receiving hormone injections. Other advantages are:
- Almost anyone can practice it
- Does not require any apparatus
- Does not interfere with foreplay or intercourse
- Has no effect on long
-term fertility
Disadvantages
One of the biggest disadvantages of the rhythm method is that it does not protect against STDs. Other disadvantages include:
-Takes a lot of time to track the monthly cycle
-You cannot start using this method instantly and will need to note your cycles for at least 6 months first
-Partner may not be willing to cooperate
Reference: http://www.epigee.org/guide/rhythm.html
For related article in Khmer, visit http://healthandlove.org/Contraception/contraception_methods.html
