Modified Rhythm Method Shown to Be as Effective as the Pill

[gravity]

But Who Has That Kind of Self-Control?

Depending on whom you ask, not having babies is easier, or harder, than ever
By Christopher Mims

For years the birth control methods collectively known as periodic abstinence have been jokingly referred to as "Vatican roulette," a nod to the fact that these techniques are both Vatican approved and quite likely to end in pregnancy. (The World Health Organization reports that on average, women practicing periodic abstinence for a year have a one in four chance of becoming pregnant.)

A new German study, however, has found that, when practiced correctly, a method of periodic abstinence known as the sympto-thermal method (STM) leads to an unintended pregnancy rate of only 0.6 percent annually. This rate is comparable with that of unintended pregnancies in women who use birth control pills, the most popular method of contraception in the U.S.

For the sympto-thermal method to work, women must keep track of three things: their core body temperature, the fertile days of their cycle as measured by a calendar, and their cervical secretions. Using this information, women are able to abstain from sex during their fertile period, which is the two weeks that surround the day on which they ovulate. According to lead study author Petra Frank-Herrmann, a fertility researcher at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, STM is more effective than the other so-called periodic abstinence methods because it uses more than one type of information to predict the dates of a woman's fertile period.

As effective as STM can be, experts say it is not right for everyone. Whereas the method is cheap (read: free) and appeals to women who want a natural birth control method, it requires a strong commitment on the part of both partners.

More:http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleid=80D25E2D-E7F2-99DF-39F66842EB6BE952

[dysfunctional press]

1. unfortunately, the rhythm & blues method often results in pregnancy...

especially when liquor is involved.

[Cobalt-60]

2. Its rubbish.

They push it because they know it doesn't work.
I watched contraception opponents do everything but put a gun to my mother's head in the 60s when she said 5 kids were enough.
I don't believe a single word out of their lie holes and never will.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

3. I've heard the modification where you have no sex at all works well.

[papau]

4. "It's difficult to abstain from sex for two out of four weeks," - these kids are not as tough as we

were!

:-)

[gatorboy]

16. Seriously, what sex fiends!

A kid or two will remedy that (unless you're catholic...then never mind...)

[Forkboy]

5. Well I think this needs to studied in further detail.

Who's free this weekend? :evilgrin:

[xchrom]

6. i am.

:evilgrin:

[Forkboy]

10. *SNARF*

Got me on that one! :D

[xchrom]

22. lol -- i thought you might get giggle outa that.

[Forkboy]

23. More than a giggle...looks like I got a date too!

:evilgrin:

[xchrom]

35. lol -- you are a bad boy....

:spank:

but are you as bad as me? :smoke:

[Forkboy]

36. Bad? I'm the worst!

At least that's what all my partners have said :shrug:

[xchrom]

37. lol -- i'll be the judge of that. -- pick me up at eight.

[Forkboy]

38. LMAO!

:rofl:

[radfringe]

7. heh

Vatican Roulette.... That's what my mom called it when she found out she was pregnant with my brother - less than 5 months after I was born..,

[RC]

8. And add a week on both sides to be extra safe. Aha!. 100% sure!

"...which is the two weeks that surround the day on which they ovulate."

[gollygee]

11. Yeah those are the two best weeks too

why sign up for a plan where you only get to have sex when you aren't all that interested, and have to abstain when you really want it?

And two out of four weeks is a lot of time. It would have to at least decrease your chance of getting pregnant by 50%, wouldn't it?

[annabanana]

9. Aw Jeez.. Here we go again.

When the Catholic Church was fighting tooth and nail against contraception, this was the hobbyhorse they rode.
I'm sure it's as effective now as it was then.

[bmbmd]

28. Catholics only care about rhythm and bingo.

And, if you lose the rhythm-BINGO!

[htuttle]

12. "Because we don't believe in all that Papist claptrap, we can take precautions."

"Because we are members of the Protestant Reformed Church, which successfully challenged the autocratic power of the Papacy in the mid-sixteenth century, we can wear little rubber devices to prevent issue.
...
That's what being a Protestant's all about. That's why it's the church for me. That's why it's the church for anyone who respects the individual and the individual's right to decide for him or herself. When Martin Luther nailed his protest up to the church door in fifteen-seventeen, he may not have realised the full significance of what he was doing, but four hundred years later, thanks to him, my dear, I can wear whatever I want on my John Thomas, ...and, Protestantism doesn't stop at the simple condom! Oh, no! I can wear French Ticklers if I want.
...
I can go down the road any time I want and walk into Harry's and hold my head up high and say in a loud, steady voice, 'Harry, I want you to sell me a condom. In fact, today, I think I'll have a French Tickler, for I am a Protestant.'"

[BlueIris]

13. Vasectomies are even more effective than either hormones or the so-called rhythm method.

But wait, that would require men to start doing their part to effectively prevent pregnancy in the same manner that society has always expected women to. We can't have that...

[Marnieworld]

17. Sure we can have that.

And do. My hubby took one for the team and I'll be forever grateful.

Many people want to have children at some point so they look for a less permanent solution while they wait for that time. But once you reach where you want to be (# of children- in our case zero) then Snip away! :P

[TahitiNut]

29. But that would require that ALL the men any woman had sex with would get the operation.

That could be a LOT of operations! :eyes:


:hide:

[gravity]

31. I actually like that method

I had radiation cancer treatment which made me infertile, but luckily I went to the sperm bank before that so I can still have a kid into the future if I want to and have the money to. It's one less worry in life.

I really don't think it's a bad idea to just get a vasectomy and store some of you sperm in a bank. The only problem is that it is rather unnatural way to have a baby when you do want to have one, but like everything, it has it's costs and benefits.

[Firespirit]

14. Riiiight.

*says a woman whose cycle is so irregular she can ovulate anytime between every 14 days and every 90 days*

No thanks.

[gravity]

18. Well it's not for everyone

The article says that 90% of the couples dropped out of the study, so they aren't recomending it for most people.

[Marnieworld]

19. Poor you

Then that means you will be deprived the joy of measuring "cervical secretions" too.
:eyes:

(Barry White playing) "Hold on honey. I'm measuring my secretions. Does that make you horny baby? Yah!"

My cycle fluctuates like crazy too. There would be no way for me to do this if I had to. I'm glad that I don't.

[Firespirit]

24. It's just a really bad idea if you want something that works well

Unless I am repeating a myth -- and if I am then someone please correct it -- women are usually horniest... yep, precisely when conception is most likely to occur.

Nature is evil to us.

[Marnieworld]

34. anecdotal evidence right here

Yep, that is my most, um, loving time. :blush: Makes sense biologically. With other primates it is called Estrus. I swear I get more attention when I have PMS like a scent or a vibe given off.

It's logical that if someone only has sex once a month they'd be less likely to get pregnant but not as much as complete celibacy which is just as likely.

[Marnieworld]

15. So if we do the math

This means that you can't have sex for the two weeks surrounding ovulation, then there's the time when you have your period. Are they saying that women should only have sex 7-10 days a month? I, um, personally, would have a problem with that. I think it's an unrealistic expectation and is designed for failure.
I'm all for options since I had a HORRIBLE experience on the pill but jeesh! This is not an option.

[gravity]

20. It is an option for some people

but not for majority of the population since most people have a problem with it just like yourself.

Only 10% of the couples in the study were able to stick with the plan.

[blogslut]

21. I knew a couple that used the modified rythm method

Of course, they used it to conceive a child. ;)

[SmokingJacket]

25. So, only have sex during your period, and maybe a few days

on either side.

Fun!!!

[sutz12]

26. Birth control by taking all the fun out of sex.

:shrug:

[gatorboy]

27. Think of all the extra praying they'll be doing!

[bmbmd]

30. The little poem they recite in third world countries:

If vagina dry, the sperm will die.
If vagina wet, a baby you will get.

[TZ]

32. The key phrase here is

"when practiced correctly". I always thought of this as basic biology myself. But it can be hard to do if you are not familiar with the concepts, outside of the umm other factors like extreme self-control for a good deal of the month. My sister actually CONCEIVED her child using this method.

[aikoaiko]

33. Germans -- always trying to convince Germans to make more German babies.