Natural Birth Control – Does it Really Work?
Did you know that a woman is able to conceive during a 5-day window of her cycle? Women can only get pregnant when they are ovulating, and once the day(s) of ovulation are determined, a woman can use that knowledge as a form of natural birth control. Cycle tracking is a way for people to learn when they are most likely to get pregnant. It involves watching patterns in your menstrual cycle, tracking things like basal body temperature and cervical mucus. By recognizing these signs, you can figure out your fertile days and choose to avoid on those days.
At GA Wellness, we want women to learn about their bodies. There are so many benefits to cycle tracking and it's important that women have at least some knowledge about what is happening throughout their cycle.
How Effective Is Natural Birth Control
No method is perfect, and natural birth control is no exception. A typical use failure rate for fertility awareness methods is around 24% per year, meaning about 24 out of 100 women relying solely on cycle tracking might become pregnant in a year (source Mayo Clinic). With perfect use—charting daily and avoiding unprotected sex on fertile days—the failure rate can drop to about 1–5% (source American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists).
These numbers show why consistency matters. Missing a temperature reading or forgetting to log cervical mucus can change your fertile window. There is a learning curve to cycle tracking and it is recommended that a woman abstain for at least 3 months while she is figuring out her cycles and learning to read her body cues.
Benefits and Drawbacks to Consider
Every birth control choice has pros and cons. For cycle tracking, here are a few key advantages:
- No synthetic hormones or chemicals, so there are no drug side effects.
- Low or no cost after initial supplies (thermometer, charts, or app subscription). There are free ways to track your cycle as well.
- Greater body awareness and understanding of your menstrual health. There have been countless situations where a woman identifies something off with her cycle and she is able to detect an issue before it becomes severe.
On the flip side, here are some challenges:
- Requires consistent attention and record-keeping.
- Learning curve.
Tips for Getting Started Safely
If you decide to try cycle tracking, start by gathering the right tools. Like mentioned before, there are so many methods to cycle tracking, so do your research and figure out what works best for you. If you struggle with one method, try another! Or better yet, try a combination of a couple of methods!
- Basal Body Temperature (BBT) A basal body thermometer that measures to two decimal places can help detect tiny temperature shifts. Some popular ones are Natural Cycles or the Daysy.
- Cervical Mucus (Creighton Method): This method uses the changes in your cervical mucus to determine your fertile window. It’s great because it's completely cost-free, but it is one of the methods that is hardest to learn.
- LH Strips (Marquette Method): There is also the option to get LH strips and/or fertility monitors that read hormones in your urine to determine whether or not you are fertile. This is the most expensive option, but the easiest one to follow as the monitor does all the reading for you and there is no guessing involved!
There are so many more options out there than the ones listed above. Do your research and find something that works for you!
Making an Informed Decision
Cycle tracking can be an effective natural birth control method for women who are willing to keep detailed records. If nothing else, learning the phases of your cycle and when you are most likely to ovulate will help you take control of your overall health, not just your fertility.
At GA Wellness, we support you in making an informed choice that fits your lifestyle and health needs. For more information, schedule a free consultation with our caring team. We’re here to answer your questions and help you feel confident in your decision.
Sources
- Mayo Clinic Natural Family Planning Effectiveness 2022
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Practice Bulletin 2018
