Go Natural – Sex without Gimmicks

Posted by admin on Nov 18, 2009 in Issues & Ideas | 0 comments

“100% All-Natural!” “Chemical, additive and preservative free!” The move to being “natural” has never seemed as prominent and popular as it is today, whether watching TV or grocery shopping. As the trend gains momentum it begins to reach all areas of life. We strive to rid ourselves of unnatural substances in what we eat and drink, in the materials our clothes are made of and in the ingredients of our shampoo.
Sexuality is no exception. Where couples once might have been hesitant to “go natural” in their sex lives, for fear of unexpected surprises, Natural Family Planning (NFP) has begun to gain popularity in couples searching for alternatives to hormonal contraceptives.

NFP is a broad term that encompasses many approaches to sexuality. By far the most common and scientifically reliable of these is the Billings Ovulation Method. This method was researched and developed in the 1950s by doctors John and Evelyn Billings of Melbourne, Australia, in response to a growing need for an effective, natural method of family planning. It is centred around the pattern of changing cervical secretions in a woman’s cycle, which indicates the level of fertility based on the sensation and appearance of the secretions. In 1978, the World Health Organization (WHO) completed a one year trial of the method in five countries and concluded it to be at least 97 per cent effective in preventing pregnancy (woomb.org), comparable to the pill which is 92-99 per cent effective.

Despite this high success rate, its popularity has only started to increase in the last 10 years. Many associate certain myths with the method, confusing it with the Rhythm Method (which is highly unsuccessful and often nicknamed the “Mommy Method”), concluding that only woman with highly regular cycles will be successful in using it. However, with solid instruction, knowledge and implementation, the Billings Method has the advantage of breaching all obstacles of education, finances and access to health care.

Why use the Billings Method? Unlike all other forms of family planning, it is cost-effective, it does not involve ingesting synthetic hormones and it has no increased risk of cancer or infertility associated with it. In a study of 1000 couples who solely use NFP, which was done by the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, it was found that the divorce rate was less than one per cent, a staggering statistic in the world we live in where nearly 50 per cent of all marriages (even Christian ones) end in divorce. Perhaps it is because of the necessary ongoing communication between the couple, the increased knowledge and appreciation of the woman’s body and a unified effort of the couple instead of the responsibility solely being on either the man or woman.

Whether you’re married or preparing for that “ring by spring,” consider this all-natural alternative.