NaPro or Rhythm?

Many couples are looking for ways to naturally achieve or avoid pregnancy, and the Rhythm method, one of the oldest and most accepted techniques, may look promising. There are problems with this method, though. Having an awareness of a woman’s cycle and the way her body works is more helpful, and far more effective. The Creighton Model FertilityCare™ System, [CrMS], and NaProTechnology provide a couple with the necessary tools to naturally achieve or avoid pregnancy far more successfully than the Rhythm Method.

In the early part of the 20^th century, the Rhythm Method was widely promoted as the only natural and moral way of birth control. Many people saw it as synonymous with natural family planning. As time went by, though, the problems with this system became apparent and more accurate methods of natural family planning were devised. These are now generally accepted as more effective and no less moral than the Rhythm Method.

The Rhythm Method is based on three assumptions. The first of these is that a woman ovulates 14 days before the beginning of her next cycle. So, if her cycle is 30 days, she should ovulate around day 16, plus or minus a day or two. The second assumption is that sperm live for three days, and the third that an egg lives for 24 hours. Couples practicing the Rhythm Method judge when, or when not to have intercourse based on these facts.

The Rhythm Method, however, has around a 20% failure rate. This is why. Not every woman’s cycle is regular, and not every woman ovulates every cycle. Even a woman whose cycle is very regular may not ovulate at exactly the same time each cycle. It is hard to count 14 days back from when your next cycle should begin if you don’t know when the cycle should begin.

Having a way to judge when a woman is ovulating rather than just assuming based on the calendar date is a far more effective way to achieve or avoid pregnancy. The CrMS and NaProTechnology give a couple a way to track a woman’s fertility naturally using physical biomarkers such as cervical mucus patterns and hormone levels. This method teaches a couple to know for certain when and if a woman is ovulating. It also helps the couple to identify any problems with a woman’s cycle and find natural solutions to those problems. The problems may not even have been evident to the couple if they were relying solely on the Rhythm Method for their family planning.

We have come a long way from the days when the Rhythm Method was the only way of natural family planning. There are now infinitely more effective ways to get pregnant, or not as the case may be. NaProTechnology empowers a couple to use what they know about the woman’s body and her cycles to ensure they have the family they want. If you are looking for a natural alternative to the Rhythm Method, please contact a CrMS practitioner today.

The Marguerite Bourgeoys Family Centre FertilityCare Programme has helped couples get pregnant from all across the GTA.