Understanding Fertility Awareness Methods: Track Your Cycle Naturally
These days, everyone talks about awareness of health, of life, of lifestyle choices.
As Aristotle said, “The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness.”
But pause for a moment!
Are you actually aware of your own fertility cycle?
Your body has an inbuilt natural rhythm, with a window where the chances of you conceiving are higher. Knowing them isn’t just biology; it’s empowerment for you. Fertility awareness methods help you read these signals. This may improve your chances of pregnancy (if you want to), especially in a time when more couples face fertility challenges.
With fertility awareness methods, you can choose what feels right, planning for a baby or avoiding pregnancy. After all, the choice is always yours.
Let's first explore….
Couples Are Facing Infertility Issues More Than Ever! Do
Decades ago, life was simple. People used to grow fruits and vegetables in the backyard. They bought fresh produce from the market without pesticides, chemicals, or plastic packets. Everything they eat had real taste, fruits had fragrance, and grains had strength.
Women’s lifestyles, too, were very different; Movement such as walking long distances, drawing water, and sweeping was a natural part of their daily life. These everyday activities kept their bodies active, hormones stayed balanced, and their wombs healthy.
Now compare that to the present scenario. The food items are filled with pesticides, unregulated preservatives, and hormones. In addition to that, things that were once symbols of purity, such as milk and fruits, are not spared. Now these have chemicals running through them. Now, what is happening is your body absorbs all this, and fertility is one of the first areas to suffer.
We know it is difficult, but make sure to stay away from pesticides and hormone-injected food items.
If you are someone trying to conceive while being afraid of fertility issues, then you need to be aware of natural family planning and various types of methods. These methods are used for fertility awareness to either prevent or achieve pregnancy.
Knowing about them can really help in your family planning journey.
Also Read: Safe Exercises During Pregnancy: A Trimester-Wise Guide
Types of Natural Family Planning Methods
There are 6 common natural family planning methods to either avoid or achieve pregnancy.
Below is the breakdown in a simple manner:
1. Standard Days Method (or the rhythm method of birth control):
It is also known as the calendar method for family planning. Imagine your menstrual cycle is a calendar. If your monthly cycle is regular (lasting between 26 and 32 days) then days 8 to 19 are when you’re most likely to get pregnant. So, couples can avoid unprotected sex or have sex to get the desired result.
2. Billings and Creighton Methods (Cervical Mucus Method):
These methods, you need to pay attention to your cervical mucus (the natural fluids your body makes). Your mucus changes in feel and appearance throughout the cycle. If it is slippery, stretchy mucus, this means it's ovulation time and fertility is high. You may use this sign to get pregnant or avoid it.
3. TwoDay Method:
Think of this method as an easier version of the mucus method; just notice if you have mucus today or yesterday. If yes, then it’s a fertile time, so be prepared for your desired actions. If no mucus for two days, then your fertility is low.
4. Symptothermal Method:
This fertility awareness method is more detailed; It is a combination of checking your cervical mucus plus tracking your morning body temperature. If your mucus is transparent, slippery, and stretchy, then it marks the start of the fertile period.
However, if your resting temperature is slightly high, this happens right after ovulation, which marks the end of fertile days. prevent or plan pregnancy.
5. Marquette Model:
This method is also a combination of two things. In this, you need to watch your mucus and use special electronic devices (to detect the level of estrogen and luteinizing hormone levels in your pee). This is a more accurate method to help pinpoint your fertile days. There are some other gadgets, like miniature microscopes look at saliva or cervical mucus for changes that appear around ovulation.
6. Lactation Amenorrhoea Method (For New Moms):
It is a natural contraception method for breastfeeding women. This method relies on a lack of ovulation, unlike other natural family planning methods. A woman needs to exclusively breastfeed her newborn every 4 hours during the day and every 6 hours at night. If her periods haven’t started again yet, then the chances of getting pregnant reduce for the first 6 months after birth.
When implemented rightly, fertility awareness methods can be effective between 91% and 99% at preventing pregnancy. Also, 24 in 100 women have the chance to get pregnant when tracking their fertility for a year.
Also Read: Understanding Newborn Umbilical Cord Care: Why It Matters
Conclusion
Now that you have discovered the various natural family planning methods, implement them in your life to plan your family at your own pace. However, it is important to understand that there might be times when these methods may not be enough. And seeking professional guidance from a trusted hospital like Cocoon becomes crucial. Remember, there’s nothing to feel embarrassed about asking for help.
