Model Marriage by Bishop Dag Heward Mills

Family Planning Methods

Disadvantages:

1. The fluid that seeps from the erect penis before ejaculation often contains
   sperm cells. These sperm cells may cause pregnancy even though the
   ejaculation is done outside the vagina.


2. It is often difficult to control accurately the time of ejaculation. The
   discipline required for withdrawal before ejaculation may take away
   some of the enjoyment of the experience.


3. The sudden withdrawal may prevent the wife from reaching orgasm in
   intercourse.


4. If 1,000 couples used coitus interruptus method, there would be only a 20
   per cent decrease in the number of pregnancies. This means there would
   be 160 to 200 unplanned pregnancies in the course of a year.

(b) Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is a method of contraception and it is only effective when practised exclusively
without food supplements. It is usually not effective due to existing working conditions.

(c) Scientific Methods

Used to determine the time when ovulation has occurred so that coitus can be avoided.

i. The Calendar Method

To use the rhythm (or calendar) methods successfully, a woman must know just how much
variation there is in the length of her own menstrual cycles. This requires that she keep a written
record of her menstrual periods for eight to twelve months before she can rely on the system.
Basically, this detailed record is kept in order to better predict the beginning date of the next
menstrual bleeding, called Day 1 of the menstrual cycle.

Once she has such a record, her physician can show her how to calculate the number of days
each month during which intercourse must be avoided. Basically, she should subtract fourteen
days from the next predicted date of onset of menstruation to find the day of ovulation. Then for
the four days just before ovulation and for three days after it, she should avoid intercourse.

ii. Basal Body Temperature

Depends on identification of rise in basal body temperature which occurs at the time of
ovulation. A rise of approximately 0.3 - 0.5 C. The knowledge of ovulation time determined by
this method for several months, helps you to know precisely the ovulation period and
consequently the period when it is safe to have intercourse without getting pregnant.

NB: Temperature recording may be affected by fever due to malaria or infections, for example.