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Once you understand the relationship between your hormones, your basal body temperature, and your fertility, you will be able to more easily use the combination of methods referred to as Natural Family Planning, or NFP.
Also referred to as "fertility awareness", or the "sympto-thermal" method, the goal of NFP is to enhance a woman's ability to control her own fertility, whether that be for contraceptive or reproductive purposes. Rather than relying on mechanical devices and tests, the methods used in NFP are simply those that are naturally available to any woman ~ tracking the menstrual cycle and basal body temperature on a calendar, and maintaining awareness of changes in cervical mucus and position.
We discussed basal body temperature in a previous feature. Now we'll briefly touch on the other components of NFP.
Noting changes in the cervical mucus and the position of the cervix requires first knowing what those differences are and what they indicate. Generally, during the time that a woman is most fertile, her cervical mucus should undergo chemical and physical changes that enhance delivery of the sperm to the ovum. While most women are at least vaguely aware of the changes in their vaginal discharge monthly, changes in the actual position and structure of the cervix may be foreign to most. You will find an excellent description of the changes in cervix at Fertility UK. This method requires daily attention by the woman to her bodily changes, and again, for several cycles in order to help determine a pattern.
For an easy-to-understand description of the above methods, please see ONNA's pages on "Menstrual Cycles and Charting". However, be aware that it is recommended you learn NFP with the help of experienced practitioners, and there are a number of organizations dedicated to that very task. While your medical practitioner can educate you on the specific tasks involved in NFP, it may help to have a little support, too. You can visit the Primer on Natural Family Planning for a good overview plus a number of resources, online and in-print, to find out about NFP organizations near you.
Natural family planning methods can increase your chances at conception, in addition to helping you better know your (or your partner's) body.
© Tracy Morris
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