Symptothermal method

The symptothermal method ia a form of natural family planning that involves observation changes in basal body temperature, cervical mucus changes combined with a calendar calculation. Individual minor indicators of fertility are observed and used, help to more accurately recognize ovulation time.[1]

SMT allows a woman to be more accurate in predicting her "safe days" than if she were to use any one of the methods alone. When using these methods together, the signs of one can be used to confirm those of the others. Combining methods also permits sexual relations during the early "dry days", and shortens the period of abstinence necessary for complete protection compared to using the BBT method alone.[2]

SMT 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. [3]

SMT has the following advantages:

• No physical side effects as any drugs, devices, chemicals or surgery required.
• It is safe.
• It is economical.
• It improves martial relationship as it involves co-operation of both partners.
• It can be discontinued easily if pregnancy desired.
• Once learned properly, doesn’t need any follow up or supply of contraceptives.
• SMT offers a natural alternative – a non-interventionist, drug free and effective way to manage fertility.[4]

Birth control effectiveness

If used correctly, natural family planning can be just as effective as taking the birth control pill to avoid unplanned pregnancies. Research indicates that if a couple either abstain from sex or use a barrier method during the fertile period, the rate of unplanned pregnancies was 0.4 percent and 0.6 percent per year, respectively. The pregnancy rate for women who used the symptothermal method correctly in this study, 0.4 percent, is the equivalent to one pregnancy per 250 women per year. [5]

External links

• Plan a Baby - An online educational resource for additional SMT information.
• Contraceptive Information Resource - An online educational resource for information relating to a variety of contraceptive methods.