Natural Family Planning

Natural Family Planning

Overview

There are four basic types of natural family planning:
1) the Sympto-Thermal Method (STM)
2) the Ovulation method
3) the "Rhythm" or Calendar method, also known as the Ogino-Knaus method, and
4) the Basal Body Temperature (BBT) method

Each of these methods, when used to avoid or postpone pregnancy, take into account sperm viability in the female reproductive tract, which averages three days (with a range of from two to seven days) and the fertile period of the ovum, which is about 24 hours. This means the fertile period may be a maximum of seven days before ovulation to two days after, and is more typically four days before ovulation to two days after.

The following descriptions of these four methods are merely summaries of the similarities and contrasts between them. Anyone who desires more detailed information on any of the methods should consult the NFP teaching groups such as The Couple to Couple League.