Natural Methods | Behavioral Methods |
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Continuous AbstinenceAbstinence from sexual activity means not having any sexual intercourse at all. No sexual intercourse with a member of the opposite sex means that there is no chance that a man's sperm can fertilize a woman's egg. A man or a woman can practice abstinence from sexual activity for a specific period of time, or continuously throughout one's lifetime. Abstinence is essentially 100% effective in preventing pregnancy. Another significant benefit of abstinence is that it markedly reduces the likelihood of contracting a sexually transmitted infection. In this context, abstinence means refraining from all vaginal, anal and oral sexual activity because sexually transmitted infections can be passed from one person to another in any and all of these ways. It should be noted that sexual activity such as mutual masturbation and touching of the other partner's genitals can, in some instances, transfer sperm during heavy mutual foreplay possibly leading to pregnancy. Oral sex will not cause pregnancy. However, if we are trying to prevent sexually transmitted infection, then any contact can transmit organisms, from kissing on down the line. more info... Fertility Awareness Method - FAMThese methods of contraception are considered "natural" because they are non-mechanical and non-hormonal. They are not barrier methods in the sense that they kill the sperm or prevent the sperm from reaching the egg. Additionally, they do not involve the use of hormones. Instead, these methods require that a man and woman not have sexual intercourse during the time when an egg is available to be fertilized by a sperm. The fertility awareness methods (FAMs) are based upon knowing when a woman ovulates each month. In order to use a FAM, it is necessary to watch for the signs and symptoms that indicate ovulation has occurred or is about to occur. On the average, the egg is released about 14 plus or minus 2 days before a woman's next menstrual period. But because the egg survives 3 to 4 days (6 to 24 hours after ovulation) and the sperm can live 48 to 72 hours (up to even 5 days in fertile mucus), the actual time during which a woman may become pregnant is measured not in hours, not in days, but in weeks. FAMS can be up to 98% effective, but they require a continuous and conscious commitment with considerable self-control. Although these methods were developed to prevent pregnancy, they can equally well be used by a couple to increase fertility and promote conception. more info... WithdrawalWithdrawal is also called coitus interruptus. The man withdraws his penis from a woman's vagina before he ejaculates so that the sperm released from his penis does not enter her vagina. There are problems with using withdrawal as a contraceptive method. First, a man may release sperm before he has an orgasm. Secondly, a man needs self-control and a precise sense of timing to be able to withdraw his penis from the woman's vagina before he ejaculates. Because this can be difficult for the man to do successfully, the withdrawal method is only about 75-80% effective in preventing pregnancy. more info... OutercourseOutercourse is lovemaking without penetration into a vagina or an anus. It allows a couple to be sexual, more intimate, and even orgasmic with one another without having sexual intercourse. With outercourse, no semen, vaginal fluids, or blood is shared between partners. As a result, outercourse protects against pregnancy and some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Some outercourse pleasuring possibilities include hot talk, sexy stares, erotic fantasy, spicy role-plays, sensual massage, showering or bathing together, strip-tease, mutual masturbation, phone or e-mail sex, and dry sex (a.k.a., dry humping or frottage). Lactational Awareness Method - LAMLactational infertility is based upon the idea that a woman cannot become pregnant as long as she is breastfeeding her baby. It is true that a woman may not ovulate quite as soon after giving birth as she would if she were not breastfeeding. Women who are breastfeeding usually start ovulating again between 10-12 weeks after delivery. A nursing mother may start ovulating again and not realize she is fertile, as ovulation can occur prior to the return of her menstrual period. If this happens and the mother has unprotected sexual intercourse, she can become pregnant at the same time she is still breastfeeding her previous baby. If a nursing mother does not wish to become pregnant again, she must again start to use an appropriate method of contraception. more info...             |
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