Transcript Natural Family Planning

Natural Family
Planning
Safe and Effective?
Underappreciated tool in Global
Environmental Concerns?
Birth Control Quiz
Q: How many methods of birth control/family
planning are 100% effective? (effective in
avoiding pregnancy?)
A: (Three)
• TOTAL abstinence
• Castration
• Total hysterectomy (removes ovaries)
Birth Control Quiz
Q: What are reasons a sexually active couple would NOT use
artificial birth control?
A: Some include:
• Religious (RC, Islam)
• Allergic to latex!
• Health risks assoc. with hormonal methods
• $$$!
• Availability!
• Desire children!!
• Others?
Biology Basics I
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Length of female’s hormonal cycle = 28 days
(“Textbook” only)
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Life of sperm (3 -5 days)
Life of ovum (36 hours)
Day of ovulation = “Day 14”
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“Day 1” = First day of menses
HA!!
Safe day for intercourse? (All couples; all cycles)
Natural Method I:
Calendar Rhythm
Q: What do you call people who practice calendar
rhythm?
A: Parents!
Strategy:
• Assume woman always ovulates on Day 14
• Abstain from intercourse a couple of days
before & after
Biology Basics II
Certain hormonal changes occur in EVERY
WOMAN, EVERY CYCLE *
• Exponential growth of estrogen
• PEAK level of estrogen  Triggers LH surge
 triggers ovulation!!!!!
• Progesterone released (from “empty egg house”)
AFTER ovulation
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* (Assuming ovulation occurs!)
Biology Basics II
Fertility Signs:
• Rising level of estrogen
 Increases
female’s receptiveness to sperm
 Fluid cervical mucus
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High Levels of progesterone
(an anabolic steroid)
 Increase in basal body temperature
Natural Method II:
Sympto-Thermal
Strategy:
Monitor woman’s fertility signs
 Major: cervical mucus, cervical position, basal
temperature
 Minor: ovulation pain, other cyclic indicators
Use information to avoid or achieve pregnancy
Natural Method II:
Sympto-Thermal
Effectiveness?
WHO study on 20,000 Indian couples
• All couples lived in poverty
• All were uneducated
• All received GOOD NFP instruction
Pregnancy Rate: Approached Zero! (< .2%!!!!)
“NFP is cheap, effective, and without side effects…”
BMJ, 1993
Perspectives
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Health:
No health risks to male or female user
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Feminist perspective
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Ecological Perspective
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Does not suppress woman’s cycle; works with her natural cycle
Only method (other than condoms) in which male is involved
Does not pollute
Always available, to even poorest couples, if proper training has occurred
Effectiveness: Extremely effective, if couple is properly trained
& desires effectiveness; is also effective to achieve pregnancy
References & Resources
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1993 WHO study:
http://www.fertilityuk.org/nfps831.html#item1
Fun fertility self quiz:
http://www.fertilityuk.org/nfps01.html#htmlquiz
Couple-to-Couple League, based in Cincinnati, Ohio
Books:
Merryl Winstein, Your Fertility Signs, Using them to avoid or achieve Pregnancy Naturally
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0961940107/ref=sib_dp_pt/
102-7191199-1800131#reader-link
Kippling, John & Sheila, The Art of Natural Family Planning