How effective is the method?

Note: The pregnancy rates given below are for periodic abstinence only.

Important: Effectiveness of periodic abstinence varies more as compared to other family planning methods. For highest effectiveness, couples should never guess about the fertile time. They should abstain completely from sexual intercourse during fertile times.

Only somewhat effective as commonly used--- 20 pregnancies per 100 women in the first year of use (1 in every 5). This rate comes from survey findings. It is not known how these women identified their fertile time.

Effective or very effective when used consistently and correctly---

• Consistent use of single-indicator methods:

1. Cervical secretions: 3 pregnancies per 100 women in the first year of use (1 in every 33).
   
   
2. Basal body temperature: 1 pregnancy per 100 women in the first year of use (when intercourse takes place only after ovulation and before next menstrual period
   
   
3. Calendar: 9 pregnancies per 100 women in the first year of use (1 in every 11).

Advantages

• Once learned, it can be used to avoid pregnancy or to become pregnant, according to the couple’s wishes.
• No physical side effects.
• Very little or no cost
• Can be used by most couples if they are committed to it.
• Once learned, there would be no need for professional help
• Very effective if used correctly and consistently.
• Can be learned from trained volunteers. Contact with trained medical personnel is not necessary.
• It is immediately reversible.
• Periodic abstinence is acceptable to the religious groups that reject other methods.
• No effect on breast milk or breast-feeding. No hormonal side effects.
• Involves men in family planning.

Disadvantages:

• Usually only somewhat effective.
  
  
• Takes up about 2-3 cycles to learn how to identify fertile time accurately using cervical secretions and BBT. Less time to learn the calendar method, although it is best if a woman has records of the last 6-12 cycles to identify the fertile time.
  
  
• If using periodic abstinence requires long periods of without vaginal contact ---8-6 days each menstrual cycle, abstinence may then be difficult for some couples.
  
  
• Can become unreliable or hard to use if the woman has fever, has a vaginal infection, is breast-feeding, or has any other condition that changes body temperature, cervical mucus, or menstrual cycle length.
  
  
• After childbirth, it may be hard to identify the fertile time until menstrual cycle