The fertility awareness method is a method where women can try to get pregnant or avoid getting pregnant by monitoring their own fertility cycles. It is the oldest form of birth control, and if used correctly, it can be one of the most effective. In fact, one of the earliest mathematical artefacts to have been unearthed by archaeologists is a stone artefact that experts think was used by prehistoric women to track their fertility cycles.
Every woman's fertility cycle varies in length, but the average length is approximately twenty eight days. The first day of her cycle is the first day of her period, and the last day of her cycle is the day before the first day of her next period. She is normally fertile in the days in the middle of the first and the last day. Some women are fertile for only a few hours whereas others are fertile for four days or so.
The fertile part of the cycle is when the woman releases an egg from her ovary. However, most women are fertile for a couple of days prior to the egg's release because sperm can survive in their body for a day or two before they actually meet an egg.
When a woman is using the fertility awareness method, she will check her vaginal discharge every day. The discharge will change as she goes through her cycle. As a general rule, fertile discharge is stretchy. If the woman can pull the discharge between her thumb and index finger without it breaking, she is probably fertile. On these days, she should avoid having sex if she does not want to get pregnant. If she wants to get pregnant, she should have as much sex as possible on these days.
The discharge will not be easy to read if it has been affected by birth control. Even the latex from a condom can have an effect on the discharge. Thus, if a woman truly wants to use the fertility awareness method, she needs to avoid all types of birth control. In addition, she needs to check her discharge in the morning before having sex.
The fertility awareness method is the oldest form of birth control, but it still has a place in the world today. It allows women to get to know their bodies better, and it allows them to avoid the hormones and side effects that are implicit in most forms of birth control.
James Copper is a writer for Pune Fertility Center where you can find guidance on what is the fertility awareness method? and how it can increase you chances of conceiving a child