Not done Lecture 11: Contraception, family planning, and abortion

Contraception

Methods that prevent the sperm and egg from meeting

Coitus interruptus

withdrawal method

How many days a month does a woman ovulate?

One

How long does an egg live after ovulation?

12-24 hours

How long does sperm live in good mucus?

3-5 days

The hormones ___ and ___ stimulate ovulation

FSH and LH

Calendar Rhythm Method

1. A woman records the number of days in each menstrual cycle for at least 6 months. The first day of monthly bleeding is always counted as Day 1.

2. The woman subtracts 18 from the length of her shortest cycle, and 11 days from her longest recorded cycle.

3. She updates these calculations each month, always using the 6 most recent months.

EXAMPLE:

• Shortest cycle: 27 days. 27-18=9.

• Longest cycle: 31 days. 31-11=20

• If avoiding pregnancy, she should abstain from intercourse from days 9-20

Standard days method — cycle beads

tracks fertility in cycles 26–32 days. Days 8–19 are fertile (white beads); brown beads = safe days. Move one bead daily to track cycle

Basal body temperature (BBT)

Lowest body temperature in a 24-hour period

How to use BBT

Use a basal thermometer at the same time each morning before getting out of bed

Pre-ovulation BBT

~97.2–97.7°F

Post-ovulation BBT

Rises ~0.4–1.0°F and stays elevated until menses

BBT limitation

Retrospective—confirms ovulation after it occurs and requires multiple cycles to identify patterns

Hormonal effects on BBT

• Estrogen

• Progesterone

• Estrogen → lowers BBT (follicular phase)

• Progesterone → raises BBT (luteal phase)

BBT if not pregnant

Drops → signals upcoming menses

Cervical mucus method: Not ovulating

dry or sticky — low fertility

Cervical mucus method: ovulation may be coming

creamy

Cervical mucus method: ovulation is very close

Slippery, wet, lubricative, thin, clear mucus

• associated with fertility!

Cervical mucus method: ovulation

very wet, stretchy, and resembles a raw egg white

Ovulation method

Daily observation and charting of cervical mucus to identify fertility

Peak day and ovulation

last day of the slippery sensation at the vulva that is closely r/t the time of ovulation

• egg released on peak day or 1-2 days after peak

Two day method

Fertility awareness method based on cervical secretions from today and yesterday

• 2 consecutive days without secretions = pregnancy is unlikely to occur

• Notices secretions today OR yesterday = pregnant is likely and she must avoid intercourse

Symptothermal method