Fertility Awareness Method

Statistics

 *   First  Use: 388  ; 1930s; 1960s
 * Duration: Cylcic
 * Implementation: Schedule adhearence
 * Effectiveness: 76% (24/100)
 * Costs: Minimal to No Cost
 * STI Protection: None

History
Up until 1678 scientists hadn’t identified sperm, and to figure out its physiological purpose took another hundred years. Female ovulation wasn’t really investigated until the 1930s, and up until 1990s, even physiologists couldn’t demonstrate when fertilization of the egg occurred.

While most other cultures prohibited having vaginal intercourse during menstruation, in ancient India it was encouraged because they believed children were born from a mixture of menstrual blood and semen. In Medieval Europe there were a lot of rules as to when you could or couldn't have sex (for religious reasons) and the [unishment for breaking these rules was often going on a starvation diet (eating only bread and water for many days). These rules included abstaining from sexual activity during menstruation, Lent, all feast days, and Sundays (among many other religious observances).

Western science didn’t have a good grasp on fertility until the 1960s when they decided that examining cervical mucus was a good way to improve the calendar method, other cultures (for example, Native Americans) had a good understanding of fertility in the 17th and 18th centuries and used it to plan their families.

Description
The fertility awareness method relies on monitoring the hormones from your mucus to determine fertility, called the Cervical Mucus Method. The mucus changes in quality and quantity just before and during ovulation. With personal instruction, many women can learn to recognize these changes. For this method to work one must understand all the instructions clearly.

Your mucus will go through a couple phases: tacky, cloudy, slippery, and dry. During your period you have what is called "dry days," which are the days you are the safest to engage in intercourse. Usually, you will have the most mucus just before ovulation. It looks clear and feels slippery, like raw egg white.

When it can be stretched between the fingers, it is called spinnbarkeit—German for stretchable. These are the "slippery days," and the peak of a woman's fertility. After about four slippery days, you may suddenly have less mucus. It will become cloudy and tacky again.

After you may have a few more dry days before your period starts. These are also safe days. (Fertility awareness-based methods, 2013)

Effects
Side effects:


 * As with any method, it is not 100% foolproof.
 * There is no side effects as long as the instructions are followed properly.
 * When doing these checkings make sure to use proper hygeine.

Jump
Back — Forward

Main