The Health Blog

A German study found out that natural family planning method is as effective as the contraceptive pill provided it was taught properly and carried out correctly. The symptothermal method (STM) assesses fertility levels during the monthly cycle by measuring body temperature, and observing cervical secretions.

Oftentimes, the major reason for not having family planning, especially in developing countries, is financial constraints. The efficacy of natural methods is oftentimes questioned, even by health professionals, so many mothers wouldn’t resort to it.

SYMPTOTHERMAL METHOD

• Start of fertile period:
  The first fertile day is when the woman first identifies either: 1) first appearance or change of appearance of cervical secretion, or 2) the sixth day of the cycle.
  After 12 cycles, this second guideline is replaced by a calculation that subtracts seven days from the earliest day to show a temperature rise in the preceding 12 cycles.
• End of fertile period:
  The fertile phase ends after the woman has identified: 1) the evening of the third day after the cervical secretion peak day, and 2) the evening when the woman measures the third higher temperature reading, with all three being higher than the previous six readings and the last one being 0.2 degrees Celsius higher than the previous six.

CHANGE IN CERVICAL SECRETION

• The amount of the hormones estrogen and progesterone varies in the menstrual cycle, which alters the quantity and the consistency of cervical mucus
• Just before ovulation the secretions become clearer, wetter, stretchy and slippery, like raw egg white