Wishing to Postpone- Family of the Americas

Wishing to Postpone

The Ovulation Method is not the old "rhythm method" or the temperature method. It is a new scientifically proven method, researched by Dr. John Billings with the scientific research confirmed by the famous endocrinologist James B. Brown. This method is based on the simple recognition of natural signs of fertility that appear for a few days during the woman's menstrual cycle. Family of the Americas (FAF) was instrumental in simplifying the teaching and charting system of the Ovulation Method that made it applicable for universal use. By keeping accurate records, a woman can now confidently identify the fertile and infertile phases of her cycle. Women with long or irregular cycles, breast-feeding mothers, and even those going through pre-menopause or discontinuing artificial methods of family planning may use the Ovulation Method safely and effectively. IRREGULARITY OF CYCLES DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH THE PRACTICE OF THE OVULATION METHOD

The time between the Peak and the beginning of menstruation is normally about two weeks. For a cycle to be considered long or short, it is the number of days between the end of menstruation and the Peak that will vary. There may be no dry days before the mucus begins, or the dry days may go on for longer than usual...even for weeks. The number of days of menstruation and of mucus may also vary.

Research in 1962 by leading Australian and New Zealand scientists, Dr. John Billings and Dr. James Brown, first verified the Ovulation Method for the scientific community. Dr. Brown (the originator of hormonal measurements in women), conducted hormonal studies to correlate the accuracy of women's observations of the cervical mucus patterns with the ovarian hormonal patterns associated with ovulation. After thousands of women's cycles in all reproductive categories were tested, research showed that the development of the mucus symptom coordinated with the estrogen levels in the follicular phase of the cycle much better than any other symptom accompanying ovulation. The relationship between estrogen and progesterone, the cervical mucus changes and ovulation was also established.

STATISTICS The following table lists a series of statistics based on studies performed throughout the world that show percentage of pregnancies using pregnancy avoidance methods.

Administrator	Country	Date	Couples	Cycles	Pregnancies	References
Billings, J.	Australia	1972	165	1,560	0%	J. Irish Med. Assoc Apr. 1977, 70.6
Weissman	Tonga	1972	282	2,503	0.5%	Lancet 1972 2, 813-6
Billings, L.	Australia	1972	98	3-4 years	0%	"The Billings Method" Edited by Anne O'Donova
St. Cloud	U.S.A.	1974	260	1,832	0.6%	Human Life Foundation Newsletter
Ball, M.	Australia	1976	124	1,635	2.9%	Europe, J. Ob. Gyn & Rep. Biol 1976, 6:2, 63-66
Kyu Ssn Cho-Urban	Korea	1976	465	11,064	1.61%	World Health Org. Geneva Feb., 1976
Kyu Ssn Cho-Urban	Korea	1976	918	11,064	1.96%	World Health Org. Geneva Feb., 1976
Happy Family Movement	Korea	1977-78	3,806	24,414	1.4%	Annual Report, H.F.M. Korea, 1977-78
World Health Organization	Philippines, India, Ireland, El Salvador, New Zealand	1977-78	725	7,514	2.8%	Fert. Ster. Vol 36 Pg. 591, 1981
Mascarenhas, M.	India	1978	3,530	39,967	0.06%	Mascarenhas MM "The Use- Effectiveness of the OM in India" 9:209, 1979
Dolack, L.	U.S.A.	1978	329	3,354	1.1%	Hosp. Program Aug, 1978 Pg. 64ff
Tamil Nadu Family Center, Bernard,C.	India	1978-79	3,275	39,300	0%	Annual Report Life
Cilacap - Rural	Indonesia	1978-82	978	14,541	0.27%	Pusat metode Ovulasi, Jl Jen. A. Yani 23, Cilacap
Klaus, H. et al	U.S.A.	1979	1090	12,282	1.17%	Contraception, June 1979, 19.6
Klaus, H.	U.S.A.	1981	72	808	0%	Presented 9th Annual Conference on Psychosomatic Ob. Gyn, 1981
A. Dedé	Italy, (Lombardia)	1985	720	2,974	0%	Medicine e Morale Jan. 1985
Xu, J.X., Zhang D.W.	People's Republic of China	1988-90	688	11,075	1.18%	Presented at 16th International Congress for the Family, Brighton, Eng. 1990
Arzú Wilson, Mercedes	Guatemala	1998-99	937	10,872	0.65%	Presented at the Anual meeting of the Knights of Malta Medical Association January 2002

Rates reflect method related pregnancies which are those which occur despite correct application of the rules for pregnancy avoidance.

THE OVULATION METHOD

The Ovulation Method is completely safe with no harmful side effects.
The Ovulation Method is simple to learn and to use. It does not distort the sexual act nor involve distasteful procedures. The spouses do nothing to their bodies but simply plan their relations according to the fertile and infertile days of the woman's cycle.
When used to avoid pregnancy, the Ovulation Method is at least as effective (98-99%) as any contraceptive but without the physical and psychological side effects.
The Ovulation Method costs nothing more than the modest price of simple learning materials.
With the Ovulation Method, the woman is able to know herself, to learn, and to appreciate the processes of her own body.
Using the Ovulation Method enables the woman to accept, control, and respect her fertility from the beginning to the end of her reproductive years.
The Ovulation Method fosters communication and mutual respect between husband and wife. The two cooperate in planning their family, taking into account each month of the woman's cycle.
When the couple must postpone a pregnancy, few days of abstinence that the Ovulation Method requires can help strengthen the marriage. The sacrifice involved is proof of the respect that the husband has for his wife. She in turn appreciates his willingness to sacrifice for her good and the good of the marriage, and her love for him increases.
The love of the couple is renewed after a period of abstinence with the Ovulation Method. Interest is kept high, as well as appreciation for each other.
The attitude of spouses who use the Ovulation Method is: "Our fertility is a natural gift and a normal function of the human body." This helps to bring peace and greater intimacy to their relationship.
The Ovulation Method can be used to achieve as well as to postpone a pregnancy. It is immediately reversible when the couple changes their decision to achieve or postpone pregnancy.
The Ovulation Method is acceptable to people of all cultures, educational and social levels and religions. The couple can use it with a clear conscience. This method, when used generously and not for selfish or materialistic reasons, respects life and the privilege of transmitting life.

ARTIFICIAL METHOD OF BIRTH CONTROL

Every contraceptive method involves medical risk.
Artificial Method of birth control involves ingesting dangerous drugs or using intrusive devices
The more effective the artificial method, the more dangerous it is, e.g., the Pill, The Patch and the IUD.
Artificial methods involve a continual expense.
Often artificial methods are used blindly without the woman knowing how they are affecting her body.
The use of contraception suppresses the normal, healthy function of the human reproductive system.
The use of contraception often encourages spouses to never communicate with one another about something as important as family planning. Many women are not even aware of when they are fertile or infertile.
Very often contraception frees the man from any responsibility when it comes to family planning. Most if not all of the burden of artificial birth control is placed on the woman.
Contraception places a barrier between husband and wife and limits the most intense physical expression of human love. When the couple is never required to make the sacrifice of abstaining (as is the case while contracepting), sexual relations can lose their deeper meaning. It is easy for a husband and wife to use each other. When couples are required to abstain from marital relations for a few days each month (if they need to postpone pregnancy), they find other ways to love each other, communication grows very strong, they appreciate the gift of sexuality and experience a new honeymoon each month.
Prolonged use of contraception sometimes results in infertility.
The level of discontent and the discontinuation rate of many contraceptives are extremely high in many countries, especially in the Third World. Contraceptive use is unacceptable to many religious and cultural traditions because it involves a direct attack on the capacity to transmit life. In addition, certain contraceptives such as the IUD and at times the Pill do not prevent the fertilization of the ovum, but instead produce a very early abortion a few days later by preventing the newly conceived human being from implanting in the womb.