Fertility Awareness · Biomarkers
Abstract
Users of natural family planning (NFP) methods of birth control should be aware of the medications that can effect their ability to read their fertility signs. Antihistamines and decongestants are the most common medications that can affect the mucus signs. Antihistamines tend to dry up the mucus while decongestants tend to liquify mucus. Some anti-depressants sometime act like antihistamines while steroids like cortisone do not change the signs but can lengthen the cycle. Although with cortisone it seems to depend on when in the cycle it is administered. Finally, while antibiotics do not effect the cycle they can cause a secondary yeast infection. These yeast infections can in turn make reading difficult. The solution is to eat yogurt, take lactobacillus tablets or drink acidophilus milk before, during and after taking antibiotics.
Topics
Related research
Biomarkers · Cervical Mucus
Natural methods of family planning
Clubb E, 1986 · J R Soc Health
Natural methods of family planning make use of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of the menstrual cycle. Recognizable signs and symptoms occur cyclically, and women can be taught to recognize them. Changes take place in basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and the cervix uteri. Basal body temperature rises about .2 degrees C (.4 degrees F) immediately after ovulation when the blood levels of progesterone increase. Following menstruation, cervical mucus is composed of cense cellular matter that forms an impenetrable barrier (typeG). As the cycle progresses under the influence of increasing estrogen, there is a predominance of characteristically lumpy opaque mucus (type L). A few days before ovulation, the characteristically thin slippery crystal clear stretchy mucus is produced (type S). Fertile mucus is composed of a combination of L-type and S-type mucus. Estrogen casuses changes to take place in the muscle and connective tissue of the cervix. As estrogen levels rise during the pre-ovulatory phase, the cervix softens and the cervical os opens. A woman can be aware of these changes by gently palpating the cervix with her finger tip. These signs and symptoms which reflect accurately the rise and fall of the hormones estrogen and progesterone are the basis of fertility awareness on which natural methods of family planning are based. In addition to knowing when ovulation takes place, it is also necessary to know the length of time the ovum can be fertilized after ovulation and the life span of the sperm in the female genital tract before ovulation. In fertile mucus, sperm will live an average of 3 days, but it must be understood that it is possible for sperm to survive for 5 days if conditions are right. To make allowances for sperm survuval, the fertile phase starts when follicular development begins and estrogen levels start to rise. The life span of the ovum is less than 24 hours. Natural family planning methods--including the temperature method, the ovulation method (Billings), the calandar method (rhythm), and the sympto-thermal method are explained.
Methods · Billings Ovulation Method
Natural family planning: a review
Klaus H, 1982 · Obstet Gynecol Surv
This review of natural family planning (NFP) focuses on the following: components of the fertile phase; sympto-thermal methods; the history and methodology of NFP (calendar rhythm, basal body temperature, cervical mucus--the Billings Ovulation method); special circumstances--periods of erratic ovulation (puberty, lactation, premenopause, discontinuation of ovulation suppression, cervicitis and vaginitis, ovulation suppression by stress and pharmaceuticals); effectiveness of natural family planning; achieving pregnancy; achieving couple autonomy (confidence in the method, periodic abstinence, dynamics of the learning process, and support systems); problem areas; and delivery systems. The number of users of NFP methods increased from 2.8% of currently married couples in 1973 to 3.4% in 1976. In 1979, 75,000 new clients received training in contemporary NFP, while the number increased to over 100,000 in 1980. NFP is planning for achieving or preventing a pregnancy by the timing of intercourse. A couple can, by observing and recording certain natural symptoms and bodily changes that occur in a woman's menstrual cycle and using the information as a guide, learn to identify fertile and infertile phases in the menstrual cycle. Precise prediction of ovulation forms one of the components of delineation of the fertile phase. Billings pioneered the use of cervical mucus as a single parameter for the prediction of ovulation and its application to NFP. Women are instructed to observe their mucus patterns at the vulva, relying primarily on the sensation of wetness and lubrication, the use of the Kegel exercise, palpation with the finger, a "wipe-through" with toilet paper, or a combination of these observations. In the absence of ovulation, the usual changing mucus pattern is also absent. NFP can be used either to achieve or to avoid pregnancy. When NFP is used to avoid pregnancy, one will encounter method-related pregnancies, teaching-related pregnancies due either to poor teaching or poor learning or both. The major use effectiveness studies are listed in table form, and the results are shown under new headings. To achieve pregnancy, it is the general practice of NFP instructors to teach women to recognize and record their fertility signs and to suggest some months of merely concentrating coitus at the time of maximum fertility. Mastery of NFP calls for both identification of the fertile phase and integration of that knowledge into the couple's sexual decision making and behaviors. Studies are reviewed in terms of the spectre of genetically damaged offspring. NFP instruction is available in nearly every country outside the Soviet bloc.
Methods · Sympto-Thermal Method
Natural family planning
Lanctôt CA, 1979 · Clin Obstet Gynaecol
NFP (natural family planning) has replaced the term of rhythm method in the last decade as a designation for those methods of fertility regulation based on periodic abstinence. A graph presents the symptoms observable during the menstrual cycle and the ways in which these symptoms coincide with the fertile and infertile periods within the cycle. NFP counseling aims at teaching couples how to recognize the beginning and end of the fertile period within the menstrual cycle. Each of the following types of NFP are discussed and explained in detail: 1) calendar or calculation method; 2) temperature method; 3) symptothermal methods; and 4) cervical mucus methods. All of these involve detection of the time of ovulation combined with abstinence during the fertile period of the cycle. The symptoms to recognize are taught with each method. Findings from 5 retrospective and 12 prospective studies on the effectiveness of NFP are tabulated. Current research and suggested areas for future research in the field of NFP are mentioned. In the last 20 years, NFP has been popularized through more popular-oriented educational programs. Governments have taken over funding of some NFP programs. Now that NFP effectiveness has been well established, motivation and counseling will be the most important elements in NFP education in the future.
Methods · Sympto-Thermal Method
Natural family planning. An alternative
Soler F et al., 1995 · Rev Enferm
The scientific foundations and most notable features of modern natural family planning (NFP) methods are described. NFP techniques require observation of the signs and symptoms occurring during the fertile and infertile phases of the menstrual cycle. Abstinence during the fertile period is implied when NFP is used to avoid pregnancy. Modern NFP methods are associated with success rates similar to those of oral contraceptives, the IUD, and condoms. NFP methods are based on such phenomena as the limited survival time of the ovum and sperm, the occurrence of ovulation only once per cycle, the ability to diagnose ovulation using simple means, and the ability of human beings to delay sexual satisfaction. Among the advantages of NFP methods are low cost, brevity of the required training time, increased knowledge of the body and capacity for self control, shared responsibility by both partners, and moral and religious acceptability. The Billings and symptothermal methods have shown average use-effectiveness rates ranging from 71.5 to 89.5% and from 83.4 to 97.8%, respectively. All studies of symptothermal methods conducted since 1985 have shown Pearl indexes under 5. The symptothermal method is based on observation of the duration of previous cycles, cervical mucus, basal body temperature, and optionally on palpation of the cervix and other symptoms such as breast swelling, acne, intermenstrual bleeding, and mood changes. Use of the symptothermal method requires special graph paper for recording the temperature and other symptoms. The beginning of the fertile phase is recognized by subtracting 19 from the shortest cycle in the past year, or by the appearance of cervical changes or changes in the mucus.
Fertility Awareness › Biomarkers › Cervical Mucus · Contraception › Adverse Effects › Mood and Libido
PMID 12285019 12285019
Keywords
Biology, Cervical Mucus, Cervix, Drugs, Error Sources, Examinations And Diagnoses, Family Planning, Family Planning, Behavioral Methods, Genitalia, Genitalia, Female, Laboratory Examinations And Diagnoses, Laboratory Procedures, Measurement, Natural Family Planning, Ovulation Detection, Physiology, Research Methodology, Self Care, Treatment, Urogenital System, Uterus