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Fertility awareness
The Fertility Awareness 2015 reading from RCOG will be useful. You also might like to have a look at the Family Planning brochure that is available on the Fertility Awareness page.
Some couples decide that they wish to use "natural family planning". It is important they are aware that best efficacy is obtained when ovulation time has been predicted by the addition of temperature, cervical mucus and other clinical indicators in addition to just using the calendar method (using dates alone). As can be seen from the above reading, clinical indicators are, in the main, retrospective indications of when ovulation has occurred
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The diagram left will assist your understanding of the menstrual cycle and the changes that occur that are useful for natural family planning.
click on the image for a larger view |
Case work: Marjory
Here are some other questions for you to consider - take time to formulate your own response before you view our answers.
- Using dates alone how do we calculate when ovulation is likely to occur?
- What is the maximum time for sperm survival?
- For how long after ovulation does the egg remain viable?
- If we were using dates alone what would be the fertile phase for a woman with a 23 day cycle?
- What are the implications of this for women who have a short cycle?
- Luteal phase is fixed and is 14 days(12-16) before the next period occurs
- 7 days
- 24 hours
- A woman with a 23 day cycle would thus ovulate Day 9 (7-11) and be fertile from day 2 to day 12.
- Can get pregnant if has unprotected sex during her period.
Marjory has come back to see you today. She has had her first baby 3 months. Will the fact that she is still breast feeding offer any contraceptive protection?
There are 3 important questions to ask Marjory before you can answer this question - what are they? - Click here to see the box with answers after you have jotted down your thoughts.
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