Also known as fertility awareness, the rhythm method of birth control is an all-natural, hormone-free way to avoid pregnancy. While it’s not the right option for everyone, there may be reasons why it’s an option for you.
Consult with gynecologist John A. Whitfield, MD, and his team in Fort Worth, Texas, to determine whether the rhythm method is right for you. The same principles can also help couples conceive, since the technique involves tracking the times when you’re most fertile.
Perhaps it’s better to think of the rhythm method as a family planning device, since applying it can help you to get pregnant as well as avoid fertilization. The fundamental concept of the method is choosing to either prevent or encourage physical contact between an egg and sperm.
It’s all about timing. The rhythm method works best for women with very regular menstrual cycles and who are diligent about monitoring their cycles. Let’s look at the logistics of fertility tracking.
The average menstrual cycle ranges from 28-32 days, depending on the woman. Using the rhythm method, the first day of your monthly cycle is the day of your first menstrual period.
Ovulation occurs about day 14. If an egg isn’t fertilized, your next period starts in 14 days. Before you can use the rhythm method, you need to know closely how long your particular cycle lasts. This is why women with regular menstrual cycles generally have better results with the rhythm method.
Once you’re aware of the length of your cycle, you can then start to calculate the days when your body is fertile. For most women, ovulation occurs 14-16 days before the first day of menstruation.
Eggs are only viable for about 24 hours after being released by an ovary. That is, there’s only a day or two a month in which an egg can be fertilized.
However, sperm can live inside your body for up to five days. This creates a window of overlap of about 8-10 days, during which you should abstain from sex or use a barrier method like condoms or spermicide if you are intimate.
The United States Department of Health & Human Services, Office on Women’s Health, provides an online ovulation calculator to help you target the right window for your cycle.
Women with irregular menstrual cycles can’t reliably predict ovulation well enough for the rhythm method to be effective on its own. Short or long cycles, less than 26 days or longer than 32 days, also make it difficult to accurately calculate when an egg is released.
You should also avoid relying on the rhythm method for contraception when:
The rhythm method is also not suitable for people who become easily distracted from tracking their cycles.
Contact John A. Whitfield, MD, to learn more about the rhythm method. Call 817-927-2229 to schedule your visit today.
