Senior midwives at the International Maritime Hospital (IMaH) have advised women to seek help from health personnel to monitor their cycles for six months before considering the use of natural family planning methods.
Some women have reported getting pregnant despite using methods like the menstrual calendar and withdrawal.
Ms. Millicent Asante and Ms. Rosemary Fosuaa, both senior midwives at IMaH, shared this advice while speaking to the media.
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Ms. Asante, speaking on “Family Planning and Ante-Natal Care,” emphasized the importance of accurately understanding one’s cycle before relying on natural methods to avoid failures and unplanned pregnancies.
She explained that some women might have irregular menstrual cycles, making natural family planning methods unsuitable for them. Some women’s cycles could vary from 28 to 31 days or even up to 35 days.
Ms. Fosuaa added that miscalculations in natural birth control methods could lead to fertilization, as couples might not be aware of their accurate cycle information. The calendar method, based on the average menstrual cycle of 28 days, may not be applicable to everyone, especially the approximately one percent of women with a 31-day cycle. Using this method without proper monitoring could result in unintended pregnancies.
Furthermore, Ms. Fosuaa cautioned that the withdrawal method, involving pulling out before ejaculation, might also fail due to errors or excitement. Healthy sperm can reach and fertilize an egg within 90 seconds of discharge, making this method less reliable.
In light of these potential issues, she encouraged individuals who cannot depend on natural methods to consult their healthcare providers. Health care providers can guide them in choosing suitable family planning contraception methods to meet their specific needs.