NFP: Natural Methods of Family Planning

As safe as the birth control pill and completely without hormones: the contraceptive method Natural Family Planning, NFP for short.

NFP is a purely natural method of contraception, also known as symptothermal method. In addition to measuring temperature, this method includes observation of the cervical mucus (alternatively the cervix).

Both are documented on a cycle sheet, in a contraception computer or in an app. With a little practice you can determine which phase of your menstrual cycle you are currently in. This in turn gives you information about whether or not you are at risk of becoming pregnant.

Symptothermal method completely without hormones

NFP as a symptothermal method is particularly recommended, as it is both helpful for family planning and one of the most reliable contraceptive methods when used correctly. But the biggest difference to other contraceptive methods: With NFP you are no longer dependent on taking hormones.

Nevertheless, you can still have sex without contraception on certain days or, if you want to have a child, you can become intimate with your partner at the time of ovulation. The best thing is that when used correctly and conscientiously, the hormone-free contraceptive method of the coil, birth control pill and condoms is in no way inferior in terms of safety.

The advantages of contraception with NFP

• The symptothermal method is just as safe as other common contraceptives when used correctly
• You get to know your body (finally) – and also love it
• It is almost free. You only need a normal clinical thermometer.
• No intervention in the female body is necessary
• It has no side effects
• Sensiplan can be used for contraception as well as for childbearing and family planning

How does that work exactly?

The basis of Natural Family Planning is the observation and documentation of body symptoms. Your body uses the components temperature, cervical mucus and cervix to show you where you are in your current cycle.

Taking temperature

Every morning – at best always at the same time – you take your basal body temperature, i.e. the body temperature you have immediately after waking up and before getting up (don’t even go to the toilet for a short time!). The temperature is taken either in the closed mouth, rectally or vaginally.

Your basal body temperature provides information about the hormone progestin. It is released after ovulation and causes the temperature to rise. At the end of the cycle, i.e. shortly before the start of your period, the basal body temperature drops again. The longer you use the method and record it on your cycle sheet or in your cycle computer, the more accurate the information about your fertility will be.

Observing cervical mucus

In addition to the temperature, the cervical mucus also changes in the different phases of the cycle. Similar to the basal body temperature, the secretions of mucus that emerge from the vagina provide information about the stages of the cycle. While the temperature method can be used primarily to determine the infertile days, the observation of the cervical mucus, the so-called Billings method, can also be used to determine the beginning of the fertile days. These observations should also be meticulously recorded on the cycle sheet or in the contraception computer, such as Cyclotest.

Checking the cervix

Instead of cervical mucus, you can also observe your cervix and cervix. This is particularly useful if there is little or no cervical mucus. Similar to this, the cervix follows a pattern that allows you to determine the fertile days. Like the other values, this component should be recorded on your cycle sheet so that you can react accordingly if you want to have children or use contraception.

Important: At least two body symptoms must be observed and not just the basal body temperature alone.

So either

• Temperature + cervical mucus or
  Temperature + Cervix

Getting pregnant: Using NFP to help bring happiness

You can get pregnant in about five to six days per cycle. This is mainly due to the stamina of the sperm, which can survive in the uterus for up to five days, in order to catch the actual time window for fertilising the egg. This in turn is only 12-18 hours. So if you do not want to become pregnant, you should use contraception around 5 days before and 2 days after ovulation. If the opposite is the case, NFP increases your chances of getting pregnant.

Leading tables made easy

To get an overview of your cycle, you write down your data in a table. There are different ways to do this. Some women use a cycle computer or even a contraception computer. Other women prefer to use an app, such as myNFP, in which temperature and mucus observations are entered every day. Of course you can also simply use ordinary paper.

The nice thing about it is that you gradually get a feeling for your body and possible changes – for example, if you have just stopped taking the pill because you want to have a child.

Who is NRP suitable for?

For all women and couples who would like to or have to give up hormones for contraception, who are willing to deal intensively with their body, who are conscientious enough to keep meticulous records, and who need some time, patience and practice before they can analyse their temperature curve and become experts in cervical mucus. During this time, usually 2-3 months, you must use other forms of contraception! And, as with all things, it is of course also a question of habit.

How safe is the birth control method?

The symptothermal methods of the NRP require one thing above all: discipline. Taking the temperature at the same time every morning, examining the cervical mucus or cervix several times a day – that sounds quite strenuous at first, but it is important. This is the only way you can safely prevent with the symptothermal method.

As with all other contraceptives, the same applies here as well: It all depends on the application. If NFP is carried out conscientiously, it is a safe alternative to hormonal contraception such as the contraceptive pill or coil – and it is completely free of side effects and almost free of charge. This safety is also confirmed by the Pearl Index of 0.3, which means that of every 1,000 women who use this method for one year, an average of three women become pregnant.

You should avoid these mistakes in NRP:

1. Just taking temperature is not enough: The NFP method consists of measuring the temperature plus another physical symptom to the symptothermal method – only in this way can it really offer security. We are therefore talking about observing the cervical mucus or palpating the cervix. Both are super easy, but for many people unfamiliar at first.
2. You don’t write down your temperature curve: Many beginners write down their values on a piece of rough paper and are surprised that they hardly notice any difference between the values or wonder what they should read from it now. The curve must be entered into an app or on a cycle sheet. In addition, the second number after the decimal point is rounded up or down. The curve is only complete at the end of the month.
3. Have no patience with yourself: After two weeks you wonder what the hell this is all about? You’re annoyed with measuring? You can’t interpret the values? You don’t understand all this? You can’t interpret the consistency of your cervical mucus? Don’t give up yet. It’ll take a month or two before you see the light. Be patient with yourself.
4. Disruptive factors are disregarded: Disruptive factors are many and varied and quite nasty. In the beginning you have no idea what has an influence on the temperature and you might be overwhelmed. But after a short time you know exactly what influences the temperature and can interpret your curve in a relaxed manner.
5. Measuring duration, measuring time and measuring location are too inaccurate: A really reliable value is given by a measuring time of three minutes – but most digital thermometers beep much earlier. Therefore, either use a standard, manual clinical thermometer or buy a special model suitable for NFP. The measurement is taken immediately after waking up, still lying in bed – basal body temperature. Correct measurement locations: Under the tongue (mouth closed!), vaginally or rectally. It is only important to stick to one measuring point. No Go: Under the armpits!
6. Sleep time and sleep quality: Those who work in shifts or basically always go to bed and get up again at different times have a hard time with the temperature method. Six hours of sleep in a row is a prerequisite. Restless nights or a bedroom that is too hot or cold can affect the temperature. And also the wake-up time. What works for you, you will find out for yourself in the first two to three months.

If you are unsure whether you are doing everything correctly when using the symptothermal method or if you need help interpreting your curve, it is advisable to attend an introductory course on NRP.