Family planning advocates discourage reliance on natural method

An advocate of family planning is warning couples that rhythm and withdrawal are ineffective means of birth control.

Couples can choose among four methods of family planning, which are collectively called "Four Bs," said Dr. Ricardo Gonzales, medical advisor of Social Acceptance Project of the Academy for Educational Development.

Gonzales said rhythm is not reliable if a woman does not have a regular menstrual period since she is not supposed to be fertile 10 days before and after menstruation.

"Withdrawal is also not effective because even in the initial discharge of men, they also release sperm," he said. "The method calls for the withdrawal of the penis before it ejaculates."

Gonzales said the "Four Bs" are basal body temperature, breast feeding, body reaction or sympo therma, and billing.

"The body temperature of a woman should be taken daily if it’s near the mid-cycle or during the 14th day from the first day of the menstrual period," he said.

"If the temperature is not normal or if it’s going up and down, the risk of pregnancy is higher. That means it’s ovulating time."

Gonzales said "billing" refers to a woman’s vaginal discharge.

"If the discharge is sticky, the woman is likely fertile," he said.

Gonzales said a woman is not likely to get pregnant up to six months after giving birth, as long as she breastfeeds and her menstruation has not yet resumed.

"This is called lactation amenorrhea method," he said. — Sheila Crisostomo