INSIGHTS
The sympto-thermal method and the counting days methods are two types of fertility awareness based methods, a type of contraception that is not very popular.
Doctors do not tend to recommend the sympto-thermal method due to a lack of knowledge in this technique and do not recommend the counting days method due to its high rate of failure.
The sympto-thermal method can reach an accuracy rate of 99% if it is applied correctly by couples who are trained for this.
FINDINGS
The sympto-thermal method (STM) and the calendar based methods are two types of fertility awareness based methods (FABM). The first one consists in tracking the basal body temperature and checking the cervical mucus which signal the start and the end of the ovulation. The second method relies on counting the days of the periods to estimate the period of ovulation. Both these methods are very low cost but are not the most popular when it comes to family planning in developed countries as the pill is still the number one method. However, even if they are sometimes classified in the same type of contraceptive methods (natural ones), their success rates vary, with STM being very close to 100% if done correctly, whereas the counting method is close to 90%. The counting method is known to many but thought of as not reliable whereas the STM method suffers from a lack of marketing, despite its very high-efficiency rate, cheap cost and no side effect. Below is a deeper description of both methods.
1) THE SYMPTO-THERMAL METHOD
DESCRIPTION
This contraceptive methods relies on the tracking of two factors: the basal body temperature (BBT) and the presence of cervical mucus in the vagina. The BBT, which is normally between 96 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit tend to fall then rise during ovulation. The rise can be between 0.5 to 1 degree and is caused by a hormonal release of progesterone after ovulation occurs. To measure this change accurately, the temperature has to be taken with a special thermometer in the morning. Cervical mucus (CM) is a vaginal fluid whose consistency varies across the menstrual period. It can be in three states: Egg white, creamy or watery. During the ovulation period, the CM is clear and stretchy, and can be seen as residue in underwear. Outside ovulation, there is no CM, which indicates a non-fertility period. The CM's role is to facilitate sperm penetration and therefore conception.
TYPE OF EQUIPMENT NEEDED
This method of contraception is very low cost as it requires very little equipment. The temperature can be measure with a BBT thermometer, which differs from a standard thermometer by its higher accuracy, to the hundredth degree. The checking of cervical mucus can be done by inserting fingers into the vagina, therefore not requiring any equipment.
APPROXIMATE COST
Given that the equipment required is very basic, the cost is low. It includes a BBT thermometer which is valued at $10-30. It can also include some training on how to apply this method correctly. This can be free or at a small cost.
POPULARITY
Despite all the arguments in favor of STM as a safe and efficient contraception technique, it remains a method that is far from widespread and known. Some issues that can somewhat explain this low popularity is that STM is not marketed to physicians by pharmaceutical companies, as it does not require any drugs or medicine. Some organizations try to promote SMT, the largest one being based in Australia, called the World Organization of the Ovulation Method Billings (WOOMB). It is also approved by the Catholic Church and the Chinese Authorities.
STANDING IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY
Results from research have shown that many doctors understand the technique generally, but do not have sufficient knowledge about the technique to recommend it to patients. This situation is made worse by the fact that they also lack reminders after their medical studies are complete.
OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
STM belongs to the wide family of fertility awareness or natural family planning methods, but to the opposite of the calendar or counting days methods that base themselves on past cycles, it is a method that takes into account the present cycle only. It is not predictive like the others.
2) THE COUNTING DAYS METHOD (ALSO KNOWN AS CALENDAR)
The calendar method involves a calculation or a count of the number of days between cycles. This fertility awareness based method (FABM) is used to estimate the days with the highest possibility of ovulation, basing itself on previous cycles and their duration. For this technique to work, the number of days in a woman's cycle has to be recorded during at least 6 months, counting the first day of menstruation as day 1. Following these 6 months of counting the days between each cycle, a simple calculation allows to estimate the first day of the fertility period. This consists in subtracting 18 from the shortest cycle that was recorded in the 6-month period to find the first day of fertility and substracting 11 to find the last day of fertility. This method has to be updated each month on a rolling basis, always picking the shortest cycle in the last 6 months. In essence, the calendar method consists in tracking the length of cycles by counting the days during a period of a few months.
ACCURACY RATE
The calendar method is not considered one of the most efficient method to control pregnancy, as cycles lengths can be variable and change depending on various factors. Pregnancy rates for couples using this method recorded in various research vary between 4.75% and 11.96%, giving a success rate between 88.04% and 95.25%, depending on the correct or incorrect use. Other studies give it a 24% failure rate, resulting in a success rate of only 76%.
TYPE OF EQUIPMENT NEEDED
There are many free or cheap apps available to help track cycle periods. A simple calendar can also be used otherwise.
POPULARITY
Fertility based methods, including counting days, is not very popular given its high rate of failure. It is estimated that only 1.4% of women use this type of family planning technique.
STANDING IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY
Doctors tend to regard this method as very unreliable, and avoid recommending it to their patients for that reason. It has one of the highest rates of failures compared to other types of contraceptives.
OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
The calendar method can only, in the best case, give an estimate for safe and unsafe days. It does not provide information on the exact days of fertility. In addition to that, it cannot be used in case of cycles inferior to 27 days. Due to its high rate of failure, this method is best used combined with the STM.
The sympto-thermal method and the counting days methods are two types of fertility awareness based methods, a type of contraception that is not very popular.
Doctors do not tend to recommend the sympto-thermal method due to a lack of knowledge in this technique and do not recommend the counting days method due to its high rate of failure.
The sympto-thermal method can reach an accuracy rate of 99% if it is applied correctly by couples who are trained for this.
FINDINGS
The sympto-thermal method (STM) and the calendar based methods are two types of fertility awareness based methods (FABM). The first one consists in tracking the basal body temperature and checking the cervical mucus which signal the start and the end of the ovulation. The second method relies on counting the days of the periods to estimate the period of ovulation. Both these methods are very low cost but are not the most popular when it comes to family planning in developed countries as the pill is still the number one method. However, even if they are sometimes classified in the same type of contraceptive methods (natural ones), their success rates vary, with STM being very close to 100% if done correctly, whereas the counting method is close to 90%. The counting method is known to many but thought of as not reliable whereas the STM method suffers from a lack of marketing, despite its very high-efficiency rate, cheap cost and no side effect. Below is a deeper description of both methods.
1) THE SYMPTO-THERMAL METHOD
DESCRIPTION
This contraceptive methods relies on the tracking of two factors: the basal body temperature (BBT) and the presence of cervical mucus in the vagina. The BBT, which is normally between 96 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit tend to fall then rise during ovulation. The rise can be between 0.5 to 1 degree and is caused by a hormonal release of progesterone after ovulation occurs. To measure this change accurately, the temperature has to be taken with a special thermometer in the morning. Cervical mucus (CM) is a vaginal fluid whose consistency varies across the menstrual period. It can be in three states: Egg white, creamy or watery. During the ovulation period, the CM is clear and stretchy, and can be seen as residue in underwear. Outside ovulation, there is no CM, which indicates a non-fertility period. The CM's role is to facilitate sperm penetration and therefore conception.
ACCURACY RATE
The accuracy rate of the STM has been the subject of research in various developed countries. The most reliable sources estimate it at between 97-99% for correct use of the method and between 75-99% for regular usage. According to the statistics, STM is amongst the safest and most effective techniques to control pregnancies. Other sources evaluate it at 98.2% with correct use, 98.4%, and over 99%. All sources estimate that with correct use, STM has a success rate superior to 97%.
The accuracy rate of the STM has been the subject of research in various developed countries. The most reliable sources estimate it at between 97-99% for correct use of the method and between 75-99% for regular usage. According to the statistics, STM is amongst the safest and most effective techniques to control pregnancies. Other sources evaluate it at 98.2% with correct use, 98.4%, and over 99%. All sources estimate that with correct use, STM has a success rate superior to 97%.
TYPE OF EQUIPMENT NEEDED
This method of contraception is very low cost as it requires very little equipment. The temperature can be measure with a BBT thermometer, which differs from a standard thermometer by its higher accuracy, to the hundredth degree. The checking of cervical mucus can be done by inserting fingers into the vagina, therefore not requiring any equipment.
APPROXIMATE COST
Given that the equipment required is very basic, the cost is low. It includes a BBT thermometer which is valued at $10-30. It can also include some training on how to apply this method correctly. This can be free or at a small cost.
POPULARITY
Despite all the arguments in favor of STM as a safe and efficient contraception technique, it remains a method that is far from widespread and known. Some issues that can somewhat explain this low popularity is that STM is not marketed to physicians by pharmaceutical companies, as it does not require any drugs or medicine. Some organizations try to promote SMT, the largest one being based in Australia, called the World Organization of the Ovulation Method Billings (WOOMB). It is also approved by the Catholic Church and the Chinese Authorities.
STANDING IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY
Results from research have shown that many doctors understand the technique generally, but do not have sufficient knowledge about the technique to recommend it to patients. This situation is made worse by the fact that they also lack reminders after their medical studies are complete.
OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
STM belongs to the wide family of fertility awareness or natural family planning methods, but to the opposite of the calendar or counting days methods that base themselves on past cycles, it is a method that takes into account the present cycle only. It is not predictive like the others.
2) THE COUNTING DAYS METHOD (ALSO KNOWN AS CALENDAR)
The calendar method involves a calculation or a count of the number of days between cycles. This fertility awareness based method (FABM) is used to estimate the days with the highest possibility of ovulation, basing itself on previous cycles and their duration. For this technique to work, the number of days in a woman's cycle has to be recorded during at least 6 months, counting the first day of menstruation as day 1. Following these 6 months of counting the days between each cycle, a simple calculation allows to estimate the first day of the fertility period. This consists in subtracting 18 from the shortest cycle that was recorded in the 6-month period to find the first day of fertility and substracting 11 to find the last day of fertility. This method has to be updated each month on a rolling basis, always picking the shortest cycle in the last 6 months. In essence, the calendar method consists in tracking the length of cycles by counting the days during a period of a few months.
ACCURACY RATE
The calendar method is not considered one of the most efficient method to control pregnancy, as cycles lengths can be variable and change depending on various factors. Pregnancy rates for couples using this method recorded in various research vary between 4.75% and 11.96%, giving a success rate between 88.04% and 95.25%, depending on the correct or incorrect use. Other studies give it a 24% failure rate, resulting in a success rate of only 76%.
TYPE OF EQUIPMENT NEEDED
There are many free or cheap apps available to help track cycle periods. A simple calendar can also be used otherwise.
APPROXIMATE COST
The cost of this type of contraception is very low, with the best tracking apps in the market offered for free.
The cost of this type of contraception is very low, with the best tracking apps in the market offered for free.
POPULARITY
Fertility based methods, including counting days, is not very popular given its high rate of failure. It is estimated that only 1.4% of women use this type of family planning technique.
STANDING IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY
Doctors tend to regard this method as very unreliable, and avoid recommending it to their patients for that reason. It has one of the highest rates of failures compared to other types of contraceptives.
OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
The calendar method can only, in the best case, give an estimate for safe and unsafe days. It does not provide information on the exact days of fertility. In addition to that, it cannot be used in case of cycles inferior to 27 days. Due to its high rate of failure, this method is best used combined with the STM.