Modified Rhythm Method Shown to Be as Effective as the Pill

But Who Has That Kind of Self-Control?

Depending on whom you ask, not having babies is easier, or harder, than ever
By Christopher Mims

For years the birth control methods collectively known as periodic abstinence have been jokingly referred to as "Vatican roulette," a nod to the fact that these techniques are both Vatican approved and quite likely to end in pregnancy. (The World Health Organization reports that on average, women practicing periodic abstinence for a year have a one in four chance of becoming pregnant.)

A new German study, however, has found that, when practiced correctly, a method of periodic abstinence known as the sympto-thermal method (STM) leads to an unintended pregnancy rate of only 0.6 percent annually. This rate is comparable with that of unintended pregnancies in women who use birth control pills, the most popular method of contraception in the U.S.

For the sympto-thermal method to work, women must keep track of three things: their core body temperature, the fertile days of their cycle as measured by a calendar, and their cervical secretions. Using this information, women are able to abstain from sex during their fertile period, which is the two weeks that surround the day on which they ovulate. According to lead study author Petra Frank-Herrmann, a fertility researcher at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, STM is more effective than the other so-called periodic abstinence methods because it uses more than one type of information to predict the dates of a woman's fertile period.

As effective as STM can be, experts say it is not right for everyone. Whereas the method is cheap (read: free) and appeals to women who want a natural birth control method, it requires a strong commitment on the part of both partners.

More:http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleid=80D25E2D-E7F2-99DF-39F66842EB6BE952

especially when liquor is involved.

They push it because they know it doesn't work.
I watched contraception opponents do everything but put a gun to my mother's head in the 60s when she said 5 kids were enough.
I don't believe a single word out of their lie holes and never will.

were!

:-)

A kid or two will remedy that (unless you're catholic...then never mind...)

Who's free this weekend? :evilgrin:

:evilgrin:

Got me on that one! :D

:evilgrin:

:spank:

but are you as bad as me? :smoke:

At least that's what all my partners have said :shrug:

:rofl:

Vatican Roulette.... That's what my mom called it when she found out she was pregnant with my brother - less than 5 months after I was born..,

"...which is the two weeks that surround the day on which they ovulate."

why sign up for a plan where you only get to have sex when you aren't all that interested, and have to abstain when you really want it?

And two out of four weeks is a lot of time. It would have to at least decrease your chance of getting pregnant by 50%, wouldn't it?

When the Catholic Church was fighting tooth and nail against contraception, this was the hobbyhorse they rode.
I'm sure it's as effective now as it was then.

And, if you lose the rhythm-BINGO!

"Because we are members of the Protestant Reformed Church, which successfully challenged the autocratic power of the Papacy in the mid-sixteenth century, we can wear little rubber devices to prevent issue.
...
That's what being a Protestant's all about. That's why it's the church for me. That's why it's the church for anyone who respects the individual and the individual's right to decide for him or herself. When Martin Luther nailed his protest up to the church door in fifteen-seventeen, he may not have realised the full significance of what he was doing, but four hundred years later, thanks to him, my dear, I can wear whatever I want on my John Thomas, ...and, Protestantism doesn't stop at the simple condom! Oh, no! I can wear French Ticklers if I want.
...
I can go down the road any time I want and walk into Harry's and hold my head up high and say in a loud, steady voice, 'Harry, I want you to sell me a condom. In fact, today, I think I'll have a French Tickler, for I am a Protestant.'"

But wait, that would require men to start doing their part to effectively prevent pregnancy in the same manner that society has always expected women to. We can't have that...

And do. My hubby took one for the team and I'll be forever grateful.

Many people want to have children at some point so they look for a less permanent solution while they wait for that time. But once you reach where you want to be (# of children- in our case zero) then Snip away! :P

That could be a LOT of operations! :eyes:


:hide:

I had radiation cancer treatment which made me infertile, but luckily I went to the sperm bank before that so I can still have a kid into the future if I want to and have the money to. It's one less worry in life.

I really don't think it's a bad idea to just get a vasectomy and store some of you sperm in a bank. The only problem is that it is rather unnatural way to have a baby when you do want to have one, but like everything, it has it's costs and benefits.

*says a woman whose cycle is so irregular she can ovulate anytime between every 14 days and every 90 days*

No thanks.

The article says that 90% of the couples dropped out of the study, so they aren't recomending it for most people.

Then that means you will be deprived the joy of measuring "cervical secretions" too.
:eyes:

(Barry White playing) "Hold on honey. I'm measuring my secretions. Does that make you horny baby? Yah!"

My cycle fluctuates like crazy too. There would be no way for me to do this if I had to. I'm glad that I don't.

Unless I am repeating a myth -- and if I am then someone please correct it -- women are usually horniest... yep, precisely when conception is most likely to occur.

Nature is evil to us.

Yep, that is my most, um, loving time. :blush: Makes sense biologically. With other primates it is called Estrus. I swear I get more attention when I have PMS like a scent or a vibe given off.

It's logical that if someone only has sex once a month they'd be less likely to get pregnant but not as much as complete celibacy which is just as likely.

This means that you can't have sex for the two weeks surrounding ovulation, then there's the time when you have your period. Are they saying that women should only have sex 7-10 days a month? I, um, personally, would have a problem with that. I think it's an unrealistic expectation and is designed for failure.
I'm all for options since I had a HORRIBLE experience on the pill but jeesh! This is not an option.

but not for majority of the population since most people have a problem with it just like yourself.

Only 10% of the couples in the study were able to stick with the plan.

Of course, they used it to conceive a child. ;)

on either side.

Fun!!!

:shrug:

If vagina dry, the sperm will die.
If vagina wet, a baby you will get.

"when practiced correctly". I always thought of this as basic biology myself. But it can be hard to do if you are not familiar with the concepts, outside of the umm other factors like extreme self-control for a good deal of the month. My sister actually CONCEIVED her child using this method.