The pros and cons of using natural family planning as a method of birth control are described below.
Advantages
The advantages of using natural family planning methods include:
- most women can use them, providing they are properly trained by a teacher in fertility awareness and keep accurate records
- you do not need any further help from a healthcare provider once you have learnt how to use them
- they can be used to avoid pregnancy or to become pregnant, according to your wishes
- they do not involve chemicals or physical products, so there are no adverse side effects
- they can help you recognise normal and abnormal vaginal secretions, so you are aware of any sexually transmitted infection
- they are acceptable to all faiths and cultures
- they involve your partner in the process which can often help increase feelings of intimacy and trust
- they are immediately reversible - as soon as you stop using the methods, you can get pregnant (unlike the contraceptive injection, where your fertility can take a while to return)
Disadvantages
The disadvantages of using natural family planning methods include:
- they are much less effective in real world setting compared to other types of birth control; as many as 1 in 4 women using them will conceive within one year
- they will not work without the continuing commitment and cooperation of both yourself and your partner
- to be most effective you will need to be taught by someone trained in natural family planning
- it can take several menstrual cycles before you can become confident in identifying your fertile time – this can be 2-3 cycles for measuring body temperature and monitoring your cervix and up to six cycles for using the calendar method - during this time you will have to use barrier contraception
- it is not suitable if you have persistent irregular periods
- you will need to keep daily record of your fertility signs
- factors such as stress, illness, travel, lifestyle and use of hormonal treatments can disrupt your fertility signs. This includes oral emergency contraception, if you use this you will need to wait for 2 complete cycles before relying on NFP again.
- during your fertile time you will either need to abstain from sex or use a barrier method of contraception
- if you do decide to abstain it can sometimes be up to 16 days during which you cannot have sex – this can sometimes cause problems in a relationship
