Fertility Awareness–Based Methods for Family Planning and as an Alternative to Hormonal Contraceptives for Therapeutic Reasons
The Linacre Quarterly 78(2) (May 2011): 172–186
Ronald Ferris, M.D.
Abstract
In current medical practice, many women are prescribed hormonal contraceptives as a method of family planning. Over the years, medical professionals have prescribed hormonal contraceptives to manage numerous health conditions in addition to family planning purposes. A particular question arises in regard to women taking hormonal contraceptives for therapeutic reasons if the drug has a contraceptive effect and abortifacient properties. An important consideration is a definite lack of knowledge among medical professionals and patients about alternatives to hormonal contraceptives. To most lay people and medical professionals, fertility awareness-based methods equate to the outdated calendar rhythm method and therefore tend to be regarded as mostly a matter of chance so that they would have no benefit in helping manage gynecological conditions. In this paper, one will be able to see that modern fertility awareness-based methods are effective as a method of family planning and that there are medical applications that offer an excellent alternative in the treatment of various gynecological conditions, including infertility.