Rhythm method for natural family planning

Overview:

The rhythm method (calendar method) tracks a woman’s menstrual cycle on a calendar and avoids ovulating days. Ovulation days are the most fertile days in a woman’s menstrual cycle, with the highest chances of getting pregnant. Tracking the calendar and avoiding the fertile days can avoid unwanted Pregnancy. This can also be used to get pregnant if one is planning a pregnancy. 

Indications: 

The rhythm method can be used for the following:

• It can be used to avoid unnecessary Pregnancy
• It can be used to know the days when a woman is the most fertile 
• It can be used as a method of birth control by using birth control measures during the fertile days 
• It can also be used for conception when planning for a baby

Mechanism 

A menstrual cycle lasts for 28 to 32 days for any woman. The first day of the period represents the start of the menstrual cycle. About 14 days from the commencement of the menstrual cycle, the ovulation phase occurs. Ovulation, the fertile phase, occurs on the 14th day of the menstrual cycle. During ovulation the ovaries release egg. This egg when fertilized by a sperm transforms into a baby causing Pregnancy. 

If the egg is not fertilized the next phase of the menstrual cycle begins. Eggs released from the body can stay up to 1 day in the body. Sperms can stay alive for 5 days. So, fertilization of the egg and sperm can occur anytime between 1-2 days before or after the ovulation. 

The rhythm method helps to track the menstrual cycle. By noting the first day of the menstrual cycle on the calendar one can know the day of the fertile phase where they ovulate. By marking the day of ovulation on the calendar they can either avoid sex during those fertile days to avoid Pregnancy or have sex during those days if they are planning for Pregnancy. 

This method is called the rhythm method as it describes a predictable pace of the body’s natural rhythm that matches with the calendar’s rhythm. 

Advantages: 

This procedure has a few advantages 

• It is a natural method of contraception or planning 
• It does not use any extra hormones 
• It helps to track the period regularly 

Before the procedure:

Before starting the rhythm method, one has to inform the healthcare professional of the previous medical and surgical history. Also, one should inform them of any medications that have been taken in the past or are currently being taken. It is advisable to discuss with the HCP about the following:

• Recent birth
• Breastfeeding 
• Menopause 
• Using any contraceptive methods like birth control pills or other hormonal methods of contraception 
• Previous periods and how regular they were 

During the procedure:

Following the traditional calendar or rhythm method, use a calendar to record the past 6-12 menstrual cycles. This helps to understand the regularity of the menstrual cycles. Note down the number of days in each cycle, starting from day 1 of the period to the first day of the next period. This duration gives the length of the menstrual cycle. 

Identify the shortest duration of the menstrual cycle. Remove 18 days from the total days to get the fertile day of the cycle. Also, the most extended duration of the menstrual cycle must be identified. Remove 11 days from the total days to get the last fertile day of the cycle. These days indicate the fertile days of ovulation. Ovulation can also be checked by observing signs like the changes in the cervical mucosa and its texture, increased body temperature, or utilising ovulation strips. 

Based on this, one can have sex during the fertile days of the cycle if one is trying to conceive or avoid any unprotected sex during these days for birth control. Regularly update the calendar, notice any changes in the cycle or the fertile period, and plan sex accordingly. 

The rhythm method can also be done using the standard days method. This method is for individuals whose menstrual cycle occurs between 26-32 days without any alterations. Start by counting the days of the menstrual cycle. The first day of the menstrual cycle is the day 1. As an individual is considered unfertile during this period, one can have unprotected sex even though they are bleeding from days 1-7. 

The following duration from days 8-19 is considered fertile as ovulation occurs during this period. It is this period where one can have unprotected sex to get pregnant or avoid it if they are planning for birth control. The next days, from day 20 to the first day of the next cycle, are again an unfertile period where one can have unprotected sex. Start counting the next cycle again as day one and continue the same. 

Factors influencing the Rhythm method:

The Rhythm method is a traditional method and a natural method of birth control method. Many factors influence this method. They are: 

• Medications can influence the menstrual cycle. They can alter the number of days of the periods. 
• Stress can increase or decrease the duration of the cycle. 
• Infections causing severe sickness can also change the menstrual cycle duration. 

Risks and complications: 

A certain risk with this traditional method is tracking the correct ovulation period. Missing the tracking of the cycle decreases the efficacy of the calendar method. Recent Pregnancy or Breastfeeding can also make the reliability of this method difficult. Avoiding sex during the fertile days using the rhythm method helps to avoid Pregnancy, but it does not decrease the likelihood of sexually transmitted infections. 

Conclusion: 

The rhythm method is a traditional method of birth control. It tracks the menstrual cycle using a calendar and identifies the fertile days to avoid sex for contraception and have sex for Pregnancy. It is one of the natural and non-hormonal ways of birth control. 

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