Abstract
Fertility awareness-based methods, or natural family planning (NFP), is one of the oldest practiced methods of birth control. Also known by the names periodic abstinence, rhythm method, standard days method, and the two-day method, it can be used for either pregnancy prevention or planning and is acceptable to all major religious groups. Fertility awareness-based methods are based on the observation of fertile and infertile periods of the menstrual cycle. Each of the various methods relies on the identification of cervical mucus changes, change in basal body temperature that increases around the time of ovulation, and/or a change in the position and feel of the cervix. There are also commercially available fertility monitoring devices and numerous Internet apps that can be used to assist the couple. If used correctly, reported efficacy rates are between 95% and 98% (Jennings et al. Contraceptive technology, 18th revised edition. New York: Ardent Media 317–329, 2004; Grimes et al. Contraception 72:85–90, 2005).
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Web Sites
An in-depth explanation of the method and assistance in finding an instructor can be found at the web site: www.CreightonModel.com.
Couple to Couple League: htpp://www.ccli.org/.
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Brink-Cymerman, D. (2020). Fertility Awareness Method/Natural Family Planning. In: Heath, C., Sulik, S. (eds) Primary Care Procedures in Women's Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28884-6_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28884-6_15
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