What Is Natural Family Planning?

Natural family planning is a well-known method that couples have used to help determine when sexual activities might result in pregnancy. During the female’s menstrual period, the woman’s ovaries will release an egg known as ovulation. The egg will then move towards her uterus through her fallopian tubes. This is where all the fertilization will begin to take place. If the egg is unfertilized it can live up to approximately 12 hours. During the menstrual period if the egg is not fertilized it will be shed. A female is more at risk of becoming pregnant if sexual activities are taking place before or right after she ovulates.
 
Numerous things change within a female’s body when having a menstrual cycle. Keeping a log of these changes tend to help couples know when they can have or need to avoid having sex, if they are trying to avoid or achieve pregnancy.
 
There are two methods that are involved with NFP. The first method is the ovulation or mucus method. With this method you have to check the females cervical mucus days before and after ovulation has occurred. A female is more likely to get pregnant when the cervical mucus is clear, slick, and stretchy. The cervical mucus will feel and it looks like the uncooked whites of an egg.
 
The other method is the symptothermal method. A female will take her basal body temperature and carefully write it down on a chart. When ovulation has occurred her temperature will be slightly elevated.