This blog post is about natural birth control.
When it comes to birth control, many people are seeking more natural approaches that don’t involve synthetic hormones or invasive procedures. Natural birth control methods provide an alternative that empowers individuals to work with their body’s natural rhythms. By understanding your menstrual cycle and fertility signs, you can use these methods to prevent pregnancy effectively—without the side effects of hormonal contraceptives.
In this blog, we’ll dive into what natural birth control is, how it works, and how you can get started on a path toward body literacy and empowered fertility management.
What Are Natural Birth Control Methods?
Natural birth control methods, also known as Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM), involve tracking your body’s fertility signals to determine when you are most and least likely to conceive. Unlike hormonal contraceptives, which suppress your reproductive system, these methods work with your body’s natural cycles. This allows you to avoid or achieve pregnancy by understanding when you are fertile.
Many people choose natural birth control for various reasons:
- No synthetic hormones that may affect your mood, libido, or health.
- Increased body literacy—you become deeply attuned to your body’s patterns and signals.
- Non-invasive and cost-effective, requiring little more than careful tracking and understanding.
Types of Natural Birth Control Methods
Here’s a look at some of the most common natural birth control methods and how they work. I am certified both in NFPTA and Sympthermal method Instruction, work with me.
1. Cervical Mucus Only Methods
These include Billings and Creighton methods. Your cervical mucus changes throughout your cycle, becoming more clear and stretchy when you are approaching ovulation (your most fertile time). By learning to observe and interpret these changes, you can accurately predict when you are fertile. This method requires daily tracking of your mucus patterns. Cervical Mucus only methods may be preferred by someone who requires a more simple method which does not need anything other that cm observations, but many women do not have clear mucus patterns and do require additional fertility signs to be confident.
2. Symptothermal Methods
Combine symptom of cervical mucus and sometimes cervix position, with the thermal part – your BBT. Your basal body temperature is your body’s lowest resting temperature, which rises slightly after ovulation. This is my preferred method because it combines the most important fertility sign, CM with a clear way of closing our fertile phase. In studies this method has come up again and again as most reliable for couple avoiding pregnancy when used correctly. Methods taught include Lisa Hendrickson Jack’s method that I teach, Justisse, NFPTA, Symptopro and Sensiplan.
3. Symptohormonal Methods
Symptohormonal methods include Marquette and FEMM, and are loved by women postpartum, because they can be most easy to use with long cycles and delayed ovulation because they add a device to measure lutenizing hormone present in your urine and can add to your overall picture of your fertility. On a personal note, I like these methods for those with scant or hard to read CM patterns, but most often find the combination of CM and BBT is enough to gain a strong picture of your fertile phase.
4. Calendar/Rhythm Method
Including this as an honorary mention! The Calendar Method estimates fertile days based on the length of previous cycles. While simple, this method can be unreliable, especially for people with irregular cycles. It’s typically used alongside other signs of fertility for greater accuracy. This is often the method which gives FAM a bad name due to its low levels of reliability.
5. Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM)
This method applies to breastfeeding individuals. Exclusive breastfeeding can naturally suppress ovulation for around the first six months postpartum. However, it’s important to follow specific guidelines to ensure effectiveness. In conjunction with a Fertility Awareness Method this can be a great way of avoiding a following pregnancy right after your last!
How Effective Are Natural Birth Control Methods?
When used correctly, natural birth control methods can be highly effective, but like all forms of contraception, they depend on accurate use and consistency. Here’s how they stack up:
- Perfect use: Natural methods like the Symptothermal Method can be up to 98% effective when practiced correctly.
- Typical use: With typical use (accounting for human error), effectiveness can range from 75% to 88%.
The key to effectiveness is education and consistent, accurate tracking. Fertility awareness methods are most reliable when used with a trained instructor, particularly for beginners.
Benefits of Natural Birth Control Methods
Why choose natural birth control? Beyond avoiding synthetic hormones, natural methods offer a range of benefits:
- No side effects: Unlike hormonal contraceptives, there are no medical side effects with natural methods. They’re entirely safe and non-invasive.
- Greater body awareness: Tracking your fertility allows you to understand your body on a deeper level. Many people using these methods feel more in tune with their health, mood, and energy levels.
- Fertility knowledge: You’ll gain valuable insights into your reproductive health, which can be useful for preventing pregnancy or achieving it later when you’re ready.
- Cost-effective: Once you’ve learned how to track your cycle, these methods require little to no ongoing costs, making them a budget-friendly option.
- Increase connection with your partner: the need for communication and collaboration with these methods can improve intimacy.
Challenges and Considerations
While natural birth control has many advantages, it’s important to consider the following challenges:
- Learning curve: Natural birth control methods, especially FAM, require education and practice. There’s a period of learning to observe and interpret your body’s signals accurately.
- Daily tracking: You’ll need to commit to daily tracking of your fertility signs, such as temperature, cervical mucus, and more.
- Partner cooperation: (I include this as a benefit too, see above!) Since natural methods require abstinence or alternative protection during fertile periods, partner communication and cooperation are essential.
Who Can Benefit from Natural Methods?
Natural birth control is an excellent choice for individuals or couples who:
- Want to avoid synthetic hormones or medical interventions.
- Are looking for a sustainable, body-conscious method of contraception.
- Are open to learning about their cycle and willing to invest time in tracking and education.
- Have irregular cycles and want a deeper understanding of their body’s unique rhythms. Using a FAM can speed up diagnosis of underlying conditions and allow you to monitor your healing journey closely.
How to Get Started with Natural Birth Control
If you’re curious about using natural birth control methods, the first step is education. You can begin by reading books on fertility awareness, using apps to track your cycle, or working with a certified fertility awareness educator to guide you through the process.
Here are a few resources to help you get started:
- Books: Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler is a popular and comprehensive guide although slightly outdated now. The Fifth Vital Sign by Lisa Hendrickson Jack is a good introduction. I am undertaking a FAMM™ practitioner certification mentored by Lisa.
- Apps: Although apps can be helpful to get started with tracking, I do not recommend relying on their predictions for birth control they can be faulty. Read Your Body is the only app I recommend. As my client you get 3 months for free, after that it is $20.99 annually.
- Certified Educators: Working with a fertility awareness instructor will provide personalized guidance and ensure you’re using the method effectively.
Conclusion
Natural birth control methods offer a safe, empowering alternative to traditional contraceptives, helping you understand and work with your body’s natural rhythms. While they require commitment and education, the benefits—no side effects, greater body literacy, and cost-effectiveness—make them an appealing option for many.
If you’re ready to explore natural birth control methods, start with education and consider partnering with a fertility awareness educator to maximise your success. Your body has a lot to tell you—natural birth control gives you the tools to listen.
References
“The discovery of different types of cervical mucus and the Billings Ovulation Method.” Bulletin of the Natural Family Planning Council of Victoria 21, no. 3 (1994): 3–31. Odeblad, Erik.
“The effectiveness of a fertility awareness based method to avoid pregnancy in relation to a couple’s sexual behaviour during the fertile time: a prospective longitudinal study. ”Human Reproduction22(2007):1310-1319. Frank Herrmann P., et al.
“Natural Family Planning with and without barrier method use in the fertile phase: efficacy in relation to sexual behavior”: a German prospective long-term study. Advances in Contraception13 (1997):179-189. (Note: In this paper, effectiveness was calculated when barriers were not used during the fertile period because barrier use is its own method.) Trussell, J.
“Contraceptive failure in the United States.” Contraception (2011): 397- 404.4. Gnoth C., Godehardt E., Frank-Herrman P., and Freundl G.
Human Reproduction (2003): 1959-1966.5. Vande Vusse L., Hanson L., Fehring R.J., Newman A., and Fox J.
