Abstract
Early methods of natural family planning (calendar rhythm, basal body temperature, and symptothermal) are briefly mentioned and dismissed as unsatisfactory for fertility regulation at our present state of knowledge of female reproductive physiology. Cervical mucus patterns, which reflect ovarian hormone levels, are shown to be accurate markers of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's menstrual cycle. Interpretation of these patterns forms the basis of the Billings Ovulation Method of natural family planning. Extensive laboratory and clinical studies have shown this method to be on a sound scientific footing, that it is applicable to all phases of a woman's reproductive life, and that women readily understand and are able to teach other women the meaning of these patterns as experienced by changing sensations at the vulva and changing characteristics of any visible mucus. The simple rules which have been formulated for postponing and achieving pregnancy are given. Field trials of this non-invasive method for fertility regulation in both developing and developed countries show that the rules are readily understood by participants. In the most recent trials, it has been shown that the method-related pregnancy rate is <1 per 100 woman years, which compares more than favorably with other contraceptive techniques.
Resumé
Les premières méthodes de planning familial naturel (calendrier cyclique, température corporelle de l'individu, symptomatologie thermique) sont rapidement évoquées et rejetées comme ne permettant pas de régler la fécondité de façon satisfaisante dans l'état actuel de nos connaissances sur la physiologie de la reproduction chez la femme. Les aspects du mucus cervical, qui traduisent les taux d'hormone ovarienne, se révèlent comme étant des marqueurs précis des phase de fertilité et d'infertilité au cours du cycle menstruel de la femme. L'interprétation de ces échantillons devient la base de la méthode dite ‘Billings ovulation’ de planning familial naturel. Des études de grande envergure effectuées en clinique et en laboratoire ont montré que cette méthode repose sur une base scientifique solide, qu'elle est applicable à toutes les phases de la vie reproductive de la femme, et que les femmes comprennent facilement et sont capables d'enseigner aux autres femmes la signification de phénomènes qui se manifestent par le changement des sensation au niveau de la vulve et les modifications caractéristiques de tout mucus visible. L'article énonce les règles simples qui ont été établies pour différer ou rendre possible une grossesse. Des essais pratiques de cette méthode ‘discrète’ de régulation de la fertilité ont montré à la fois dans les pays en développement et dans les pays industrialisés que ces règles sont facilement comprises par les participantes. Les essais les plus récents ont révélé que, si cette méthode est appliquée, le taux de grossesse est de 1 pour 100 année/femme, ce qui permet de la comparer plus que favorablement avec d'autres méthodes contraceptives.
Resumen
Los primeros métodos de planificación familiar (calendario cíclico, temperatura corporal de la persona, sintomatología térmica) son mencionados brevemente y rechazados como poco satisfactorios para regular la fecundidad en el estado actual de nuestros conocimientos relativos a la fisiología de la reproducción en la mujer. Los aspectos del moco cervical, que reflejan los niveles de hormona ovárica, aparecen como marcadores precisos de la fase de fecundidad e infecundidad durante el ciclo menstrual de la mujer. La interpretación de estos aspectos constituye la base del método denominado ‘Billings ovulation’ de planificación familiar natural. Extensos estudios clínicos y de laboratorio han demostrado que este método tiene una sólida base científica, que es aplicable a todas las fases de la vida reproductiva de la mujer, y que las mujeres comprenden fácilmente y son capaces de enseñar a otras mujerer el significado de estos fenómenos, que se manifiestan mediante el cambio de sensaciones a nivel de la vulva y las modificaciones características de todo moco visible. El artículo enuncia las reglas sencillas que se han establecido para demorar y posibilitar un embarazo. Los ensayos prácticos de este método no invasor de regulación de la fecundidad han demostrado, en países en desarrollo e industrializados, que estas reglas son fácilmente comprendidas por las participantes. Los ensayos más recientes han revelado que, al aplicarse este método, la proporcóo de embarazos es de <1 por cada 100 años-mujer, lo cual permite compararlo favorablemente con otros métodos anticonceptivos.
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This paper is based on a presentation given at the Seventh International Meeting of the Society for the Advancement of Contraception, which was held in Singapore on 4–11 November, 1990.
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Hume, K. Fertility awareness in the 1990s — the Billings Ovulation Method of natural family planning, its scientific basis, practical application and effectiveness. Adv Contracept 7, 301–311 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01849421
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01849421