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    Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Birth Control & Safer Sex > What is rhythm method?
    Posted on: 05/20/2008

    Question

    what is rhythm method?

    Answer

    There is an old joke that goes like this: Question: What do you call the rhythm method? Answer: Parenthood

    That said, the rhythm method refers to the fact that women usually ovulate only once each mentsrual cycle and sperm can live inside a female for only a few days. So in theory, there are only about 10 days a month a female could get pregnant. By avoiding those days, you can avoid pregnancy.

    However, the Billings Method requires months of record keeping to predict ovulation. It requires the female to take her basal body temperature every morning before she gets out of bed, record the consistency, amount and color of her vaginal mucus, and look at the "os" or cervical opening inside her vagina, which is way more paperwork than most teens will tolerate. In addition, nature makes us the most interested in sex when we are ovulating, making accidents quite common.


    Answered By:
    Nancy Brown , Ed.S, M.A., Ph.D.


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