Natural Birth Control: 7 Options to Help Prevent Pregnancy

Natural birth control methods, such as the calendar method, basal body temperature method, and withdrawal, are ways to help prevent pregnancy without using hormones. They also do not involve barrier methods, such as condoms or diaphragms.

These methods are usually based on observing changes in a woman’s body and menstrual cycle to estimate the fertile window. Sexual intercourse should be avoided during this time to reduce the chances of pregnancy, and it may take up to 12 cycles to fully understand menstrual cycle patterns.

Although these methods have the advantage of being natural and hormone-free, they also have several disadvantages. They are less reliable than many other birth control methods and do not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

Main methods

Natural birth control methods include:

1. Calendar method

The calendar method, also known as the rhythm method or Ogino-Knaus method, is a fertility awareness approach that involves avoiding sexual intercourse during the fertile window. It is based on tracking the length of the last 12 menstrual cycles.

To use this method, the start and end of the fertile window are calculated from menstrual cycle records. The first fertile day is estimated by subtracting 18 days from the shortest cycle, while the last fertile day is determined by subtracting 11 days from the longest cycle.

For example, if cycle lengths range from 28 to 30 days, the fertile window would extend from day 10 (28 minus 18) to day 19 (30 minus 11). Sexual intercourse should be avoided during this period.

The more variation there is in cycle length, the longer the abstinence period will need to be. This method tends to be more reliable for people with regular cycles, but overall, it is considered less effective than other methods of pregnancy prevention.

2. Basal body temperature method

The basal body temperature method is based on changes in body temperature, which may rise slightly after ovulation.

In this method, the person should take their temperature every morning before getting out of bed, using either an analog or digital thermometer.

Readings are recorded on a chart to track patterns and estimate the fertile window. To reduce the chance of pregnancy, sexual intercourse should be avoided during this time.

This is a simple method, but it requires time and consistency. It is also not fully reliable, as factors such as stress, poor sleep, illness, and variations in measurement can affect body temperature.

3. Cervical mucus method

The cervical mucus method, also known as the Billings method, involves monitoring changes in vaginal mucus to estimate fertility.

After menstruation, the vagina is typically dry. As ovulation approaches, the body produces clear, slippery, stretchy, and odorless mucus, often compared to egg whites. This type of mucus signals a fertile period, during which pregnancy is more likely. To avoid pregnancy, sexual intercourse should be avoided from the first day this mucus appears until three days after it disappears.

This method has limited effectiveness because various factors, such as vaginal infections or hormonal changes, can alter mucus production and consistency.

4. Symptothermal method

The symptothermal method combines the calendar method, basal body temperature method, and cervical mucus method.

It also takes into account common symptoms during the fertile window, such as breast pain or tenderness and abdominal cramps, for example.

Because it combines three natural birth control methods, it may be somewhat more reliable. However, according to the CDC, fertility awareness-based methods do not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

5. Withdrawal method

The withdrawal method involves removing the penis from the vagina before ejaculation to reduce the chance of sperm reaching the egg.

However, fluid released before ejaculation can contain sperm, so pregnancy may still occur even if ejaculation does not happen inside the vagina.

This method requires a high level of awareness and control from the partner withdrawing, as well as trust between partners.

Overall, the withdrawal method is considered to have low effectiveness and may also interrupt intimacy.

6. Ovulation test

An ovulation test can be used as part of natural birth control to help identify the fertile window. These tests measure the level of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine, which rises about 24 to 36 hours before ovulation and triggers the release of an egg.

A positive result indicates the start of the fertile window. To reduce the likelihood of pregnancy, intercourse should be avoided during this time.

Ovulation test kits are widely available at pharmacies and are generally easy to use.

7. Lactational amenorrhea method

The lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) is based on the idea that pregnancy is less likely during breastfeeding, but only under specific conditions. This period is also characterized by the absence of menstruation, known as amenorrhea.

According to the CDC, LAM is considered effective only if all of the following criteria are met: the person is less than 6 months postpartum, menstruation has not returned, and the infant is fully or nearly fully breastfed, with no more than 4 hours between daytime feedings or 6 hours at night.

When these conditions are met, fertility is temporarily suppressed. However, the method becomes less reliable if any of these criteria are not maintained, as ovulation can occur before menstruation resumes.

LAM is not recommended for individuals who are not breastfeeding.