– It’s high effort. Daily tracking is required to use fertility awareness-based methods correctly, and you need to spend time planning and record-keeping.
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– Some medications can cause changes in vaginal mucus, making some fertility awareness methods less predictable.”
– It requires self-control. You will need to abstain or use an alternate method for at least one week per menstrual cycle.
– It only works when both you and your partner cooperate.
– The calendar and standard days methods do not work for women with irregular periods, including teens (9).
– If you have recently stopped using a hormonal method, you need to use a non-hormonal method for a few months. Hormones affect your cycle, which will make fertility awareness-based methods ineffective initially. Use a non-hormonal method while you learn to track your menstrual cycle.
– It’s hard to stick to the plan if you are drunk.
– It does not protect your from sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.
Do the fertility awareness methods have any side effects?
No. There are no known side effects or risks when using fertility awareness methods.