Let’s be real… about natural fertility awareness

We want to be real with you. Using the Billings Ovulation Method® to plan your family is not easy, although it is a simple method of natural fertility awareness.

Let us look at what real life is like when utilising it.

Daily monitoring of signs of fertility is required. Whilst this is as simple as noticing changes in your body, for example a pimple or hair growth, observation of the varying sensations and visible appearances of cervical mucus at the vulva is somewhat a skill that needs to be taught and practised (as with any other skill). This needs time and the daily discipline of intentionally paying attention to what she feels and sees at the vulva.

With this Method, throughout the day she pays attention to the language her body speaks, telling her important information about her fertility and her health. She must observe the signs of her body as she goes about her day.

She pays attention to what happens at the vulva (an external, highly sensitive part of the reproductive system) when walking around, washing herself, when wiping after urinating and even with movement from one body-position to another (for example from sitting to standing).

She is not doing anything strange, as though it is an investigation to look for the mucus or use a microscope to examine the discharge. Once she has paid attention to these natural signs, then those observations need to be recorded. One or two words are sufficient to write down what she observed.

Nowadays many choose a Billings App or online charting system, however paper charts, Excel spreadsheets and even drawings, colourings and pebbles have been utilised as recording mechanisms.

Over time, at least 3-4 months, paying attention to the varying vulval sensations and cervical mucus appearances at the vulva would become routine, like brushing one’s teeth.

Women of reproductive age who have charted their observations for years can become wearied by the busyness of life and want to take breaks from observing and charting. All women (single or not) are advised to chart their cycles, as ovulation is a sign of women’s health.

If she is ovulating regularly, her hormones are indicating that her body systems (heart, brain, etc) are working as they should. The menstrual cycle with ovulation is currently considered the fifth vital sign for women’s health! [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5730019/ and https://www.rhmgyn.com/post/the-female-fifth-vital-sign]

For couples, taking a break from charting is not advised especially when there is a serious reason to avoid pregnancy, such as in the case of illness or financial hardship. Couples are encouraged to take joint responsibility for their fertility and family planning goals. The husband is therefore encouraged to support her by asking about what her day was like (with respect to observing the signs), recording her observations, and learning the Method to understand her chart.

Some people purchase ovulation test kits from the pharmacy, which can identify ovulation (when fertility is high) accurately many times. Billings Method instructors do not advise use of these kits as they can be inaccurate at times because women’s cycles can change due to illness, when she is under stress, as women get older (especially 30 years plus), and when she is heading into menopause.

When it comes to the options in family planning, the alternative to using a natural method is, of course, contraceptives. It is simply “get it and forget it”. Go for an injection every three months, take a pill daily, use a device when having sexual intercourse, have a procedure done or have surgery completed.

These are serious measures to control fertility, as they all involve stopping what functions naturally either within the act of sexual intercourse or within women’s bodies. Some of the common side effects include moodiness (irritability), headaches, weight-gain, decreased sex-drive (libido) and feeling sick. Some women have lost their lives. Use of contraceptives does not involve the discipline of observing signs and daily charting required of natural fertility awareness.

Coming out of the Lenten season, Jesus showed us how to love. Sacrificial love is what makes superb relationships. This Method is Love!

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BOMA-TT Phone or WhatsApp: 384-1659, Email: naturalfertility@catholictt.org or billingstt@gmail.com, Local Website: billingstt.com, International Websites: woombinternational.org or billings.life