Natural methods of preventing pregnancy can be a great option for couples who are looking to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. These methods do not involve using any hormonal contraceptives or drugs, but instead rely on careful timing and monitoring of the body's cycle and fertility signs. Natural methods include tracking basal body temperature (BBT), charting cervical mucus changes, abstaining from intercourse during fertile days, withdrawal before ejaculation, and breastfeeding as contraception.
Basal Body Temperature Method involves taking your temperature first thing in the morning with a special thermometer after at least three hours of sleep continuously. This helps you track ovulation because BBT increases slightly just after ovulation has occurred due to rising progesterone levels in the body. With this method it is important to be consistent when taking temperatures and record them accurately so that patterns can be observed over time.
Cervical Mucus Method involves observing changes in cervical mucus throughout your menstrual cycle as it will increase in quantity prior to ovulation which makes it easier for sperm to travel through the reproductive tract while making conception more likely if unprotected sex occurs during these times. It is important to check daily for consistency and understand how your own pattern works so that you can identify potential fertile days each month where avoiding intercourse may help reduce chances of pregnancy occurring naturally without any other form of birth control or protection being used effectively alongside this method.
Withdrawal Before Ejaculation is another natural method which relies on having self-control over ejaculatory reflexes by pulling out before orgasm happens during sexual activity - but this does come with risks involved as there is still some fluid released prior to ejaculating which could contain sperm cells capable of fertilizing an egg if present near enough! Therefore even though this might sound like a simple solution it should never be considered as reliable alone without considering other forms too such as barrier methods etcetera...