Fertility Awareness Methods

Sympto-Thermal Method

Average Failure Rate: 16%

The sympto-thermal method of natural birth control involves determining the few days out of a woman's menstrual cycles when conception can occur, and then avoiding sexual intercourse on those days. This method involves determining this fertile time in two ways: based on a woman's basal body temperature (it rises after ovulation) and by recording other fertility cues (such as mood and cervical secretions). The name "sympto-thermal" method, comes from body cues (i.e. symptoms) and a woman's temperature (i.e. thermal or thermometer).

How It Works: The Thermo Part

The sympto-thermal method requires that a woman take her temperature every morning before she gets out of bed and record the reading. Depending on where she is in her menstrual cycle, there will be slight variations in her temperature. These variations are most easily measured with a special thermometer that has a range of only a few degrees, known as a basal thermometer Before ovulation, the temperature is likely to be between 97.2 and 97.4 degrees F. After ovulation, it will rise by at least 0.5 degrees and is often above 98 degrees F. When the temperature stays elevated for at least three days, a woman may assume she has already ovulated. Intercourse for the rest of the cycle will not result in pregnancy. To determine the infertile time before ovulation, a woman needs to look at her pattern of previous cycles. Her last "safe" day is one week before the earliest recorded day of temperature rise, or 5 days after the first day of her period.

How It Works: The Sympto Part

Intercourse during the time before ovulation is less safe than the time after ovulation because sperm have been known to live up to six days. For this reason, some couples choose to have sex only after the fertile period. This practice, known as the post-ovulatory temperature method, is the most effective of all natural methods, with a failure rate of only 1% among perfect users. However, it is not recommended because it requires a very long period of abstinence.

Effectiveness of the Sympto-Thermal Method

Consider the sympto-thermal method if you are committed to following the rules strictly. This method can be more difficult to use for women with small infants, as getting up frequently in the night can make the temperature readings less accurate. Illness, travel, or alcohol consumption can throw off the basal temperature reading as well. This is why it is important to use as many body signs as possible to predict ovulation for maximum efficacy.

Recommended Stuff Basal Thermometers: Order directly from DrugStore.com Ovulation Predictor Test, 5-Test Kit: Order directly from DrugStore.com Pregnancy Tests: Order directly from DrugStore.com Books about how to get pregnant

OviTrack Basal Thermometer

Featured Links

• At this site:
  • NFP Charting View or print out a full-sized chart for personal use
  • Ovulation / Mucus Method
  • About Natural Methods
  
  
• The following links are provided as an informational resource or counterpoint and are not necessarily endorsed by the author:
  • The Symptothermal Method: Christian Contraception
  • Fertility Awareness and NFP Service
  • A Primer on Natural Family Planning includes a collection of short articles, FAQs, and links about NFP, infertility, breastfeeding, resources, NFP organizations, chastity, etc.
  • CCL's Natural Family Planning Classes & Resources
  • Nature's Method of Birth Control - The Ovulation Method
  • ProFam NFP Software
  • Family of the Americas Great information on NFP and risks of artifical contraception
  • Pregnancy Surprises: Using a calendar to determine fertility could backfire: Healthyway article about natural methods

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