Advantages of a Natural Method of
Contraception
From LoveToKnow Pregnancy
The advantages of a natural method of contraception are very appealing to women who want to avoid side effects commonly associated with man-made birth control.
Types of Natural Birth Control
Before delving into the advantages of a natural method of contraception, it helps to become familiar with the types of natural birth control for you to consider.
- Abstinence involves refraining from engaging in intercourse.
- Douching is believed to remove sperm from the uterus before they can reach the egg.
- Basal body temperature method requires the woman to take her temperature in order to determine when ovulation occurs.
- Calendar rhythm method uses the woman's menstrual cycle as a guide to determine when ovulation is most likely to occur during the month.
- Mucus inspection involves looking for changes in mucus that indicate that ovulation is occurring.
- Withdrawal method occurs during intercourse when the male withdrawals before seamen is released.
- Ovulation indicator testing can detect a rise in certain hormones that spike during ovulation.
- Sympto-thermal method combines mucus testing, basal temperature, and the rhythm method into one approach.
Each approach offers ways to reduce the chances of becoming pregnant. It is important to note that the only approach that is 100 percent effective is abstinence. The other methods are considered to be natural because they do not use synthetic hormones and they do not involve barrier devices or other mechanical elements to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Douching is listed among the natural birth control methods, but it is not an effective approach. Anyone who wants to avoid becoming pregnant should consider other alternatives because douching is simply ineffective.
Natural Birth Control Pills
The all natural birth control pill is an option that many may find helpful. This product is not available in the United States at present. Some argue that though the natural birth control pills contain bioidentials, they are still man-made components that change the way the body naturally works.
Advantages of a Natural Method of Contraception
The advantages of a natural method of contraception are considerable. No approach is as effective as abstinence and many natural forms of birth control are not quite as reliable as hormones or mechanical devices. However, the benefits of taking a natural approach make this option worth exploring.
Fertility Awareness
Many natural family planning methods help to build an awareness of how the female reproductive system works. The process is educational and is effective in developing a way to monitor reproductive health. The woman learns how to look for signs of ovulation, including changes in temperature, mucus, and menstrual cycles.
This type of natural birth control method can help women become more familiar with healthy signals and it can help them detect possible health problems as well. Women who are in tune with their bodies are more likely to seek medical attention when something seems amiss.
Side Effects
One of the most attractive benefits of choosing natural birth control methods is the lack of side effects. Synthetic hormones come with a slew of side effects and some can be quite troublesome. Barrier devices, spermicidal agents, and other artificial birth control have side effects ranging from irritation to infections.
Natural family planning has no side effects because the couple focuses on abstaining from intercourse during times when the woman is most likely to conceive. No hormone alterations, devices, or chemicals are used in the process.
Expense
Natural birth control methods are relatively inexpensive and, since they do not involve chemicals or drugs, they may lead to fewer doctor bills. Artificial birth control methods can be very costly. The price of the initial cost of the birth control is considerable and they may lead to problems that require medication and doctor visits.
Approaches like the rhythm method require little more than a calendar and a writing implement. Natural birth contraception that uses basal temperature or ovulation indicator testing requires minimal investment.
Birth Control and Conception
Some artificial birth control methods, like the pill, patches, or IUDs, can make becoming pregnant difficult after they are no longer in use. This is a glaring disadvantage of using artificial means to prevent pregnancies.
One of the biggest advantages of a natural method of contraception is the approach is viable for couples who want conceive. Many of the natural birth control methods require women and their partners to become familiar with their fertility cycles. This makes chances of conceiving a baby more likely once they do decide to start a family.
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This page has been accessed 630 times. This page was last modified 17:49, 3 September 2009.
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