Dr. Hanna Klaus Natural Family Planning- Is it Scientific? Is it Effective?

With the significant decline in infant mortality since the beginning of the 20th century, the need for child spacing became evident to many persons. In the second half of the 20th century non-coital contraceptives were discovered and assumed a high profile because they were aggressively promoted. Nevertheless, cost-free natural methods are still preferred by many couples for reasons of economy, ecology, religion, as well as a desire to maintain control of one's own fertility. Definition Natural family planning is planning for achieving or preventing a pregnancy by the timing of intercourse. By observing and recording certain natural symptoms and bodily changes that occur in a woman's menstrual cycle and using the information as a guide, a couple can learn to identify the fertile and infertile phases of the menstrual cycle. If the couple wishes to achieve pregnancy, they can be aware of the best days for this to occur. If the couple wishes to avoid pregnancy, they should abstain from intercourse or genital contact during the fertile or risk period of the cycle. Natural family planning for preventing pregnancy is also referred to as "periodic abstinence. " The World Health Organization (WHO) defines periodic abstinence as voluntary avoidance of intercourse by a couple during the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle in order to avoid pregnancy.(1