Symptothermal Contraception

Excerpt

Symptothermal contraception or fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) of family planning are birth control methods in which women collect information to inform themselves of their fertile window, the days of the cycle with the highest fecundity. These methods depend on observations of signs and symptoms that correlate with different hormone levels as indicators for an approximate timeframe when ovulation is likely to occur. Typical data may include 1 or more of the following: menstrual dates, basal body temperature (BBT), cervical mucus or position, and urinary hormone metabolites. Due to the data collection that the patient requires, symptothermal contraception is commonly referred to as a "fertility-awareness" contraceptive method. FABMs of family planning incorporate barrier methods, such as condoms, spermicidal gel, diaphragms, and withdrawal use during the fertile window. The use of these barriers distinguishes FABMs of family planning from natural family planning, which allows only abstinence during the fertile days.