This paper presents demographic data about use of NFP in Europe and the factors which have been identified as influencing that very low use level. Experience with a new ovulation detection device in clinical trials and observations of its over-the-counter promotions is discussed in the context of what is already known about how to maximize uptake of contraception in main-stream service provision. Some suggestions are offered as to appropriate means of encouraging women who are using artificial methods or no method to understand enough about their natural fertile cycle to consider NFP as an acceptable option.
ovulation detection devices natural family planning, NFP service delivery ovulation home kits, Kirkman ovulation detection NFP Europe, over the counter ovulation device clinical trials, natural family planning uptake barriers Europe, fertility awareness device service provision, demographic data NFP use Europe low uptake, ovulation detection technology family planning education, encouraging women natural fertile cycle awareness, contraception to NFP transition ovulation devices
PMID 9288345 9288345 DOI 10.1023/a:1006572525762 10.1023/a:1006572525762
Cite this article
Kirkman, R. J. (1997). Approaches for incorporating ovulation detection devices and home kits into learning NFP--implications for service delivery. Advances in contraception : the official journal of the Society for the Advancement of Contraception, 13(2-3), 269-272. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1006572525762
Kirkman RJ. Approaches for incorporating ovulation detection devices and home kits into learning NFP--implications for service delivery. Adv Contracept. 1997;13(2-3):269-272. doi:10.1023/a:1006572525762
Kirkman, Rosemary J. "Approaches for incorporating ovulation detection devices and home kits into learning NFP--implications for service delivery." Advances in contraception : the official journal of the Society for the Advancement of Contraception, vol. 13, no. 2-3, 1997, pp. 269-272.
A study was conducted to determine the accuracy and reliability of the Home Ovarian Monitor for measuring estrone glucuronide (E1G) and pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) during ovulatory cycles as a means of monitoring ovarian activity. Approximately 60 ovulating women in three centres collected timed specimens of urine (3h or more) for a total of six cycles each. The women measured the E1G and PdG excretion per 24h in their urine specimens using the Monitor. A local laboratory using the Monitor also measured the excretion. Urine specimens from 18 to 19 cycles were sent frozen to the WHO Reference Laboratory in London where they were analysed for E1G and PdG by the Monitor and by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The correlation coefficients between the Monitor and radioimmunoassay results obtained in London were better than 0.84 in 80% of the cycles. A urine bias caused the Monitor E1G results to be higher than those obtained by radioimmunoassay but the daily patterns were the same. In 50% of the cycles, this bias caused a delay of up to 3 days in identifying the beginning of the E1G rise compared with radioimmunoassay. Timing of the preovulatory E1G peak and the postovulatory PdG rise agreed within the experimental errors of the two systems. The study confirmed that women using the Monitor at home obtained results that were as accurate as those obtained by laboratory procedures. Careful supervision was required to maintain laboratory levels of quality control and interpretation of results.
Fertility AwarenessProvider Perspectives and BarriersNFP in Family PlanningNFP Service Expansion
Despite the recognized benefits for clients and programs of providing natural family planning (NFP) services, few family planning programs offer NFP and few provide fertility awareness education. Furthermore, many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide only NFP actually reach a very small percentage of the potential NFP users in the areas they serve. This paper discusses the results of interviews with selected family planning providers that were conducted to explore reasons why NFP and fertility awareness education are not offered in their programs, and with NFP providers to get their opinions on how to improve service delivery. The interviews were structured around some of the lessons learned from the successful incorporation of the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) into several multimethod family planning programs. There is agreement that the need for NFP services* is far from being met and that most clients lack the information and skills they could learn through fertility awareness education. The providers interviewed also acknowledged that offering these services would improve the quality of reproductive health services in general. Presented here are some ideas about why these services are not offered, as well as suggestions for integrating NFP and fertility awareness education into existing family planning programs.
Body LiteracyReproductive Health AwarenessBody KnowledgeCommunication Skills
To protect and advocate for their own reproductive health, people of all ages can greatly benefit from enhanced body/self awareness and strong interpersonal communication skills. Body/self awareness and interpersonal communications, along with gender awareness and the integration of sexuality, are the fundamental components of a new approach to obtaining high quality health called reproductive health awareness.
Fertility AwarenessStudy EvaluationContraceptive EffectivenessNatural Family Planning
To equip the reader with the tools necessary to evaluate studies of natural family planning (NFP) effectiveness found in the literature and to make recommendations for future NFP effectiveness studies.
Current standards to evaluate contraceptive method effectiveness are reviewed. A framework for evaluating reports on NFP is presented. Most NFP studies found in the literature are flawed in design and do not calculate pregnancy rates correctly. The results from the few well-designed studies are presented. Many factors influence NFP effectiveness, and these factors must be considered when evaluating published studies and designing future studies.