Different kinds of contraceptive methods that exist: discussion topic for the women of Mumosho when the Girl Peace Ambassadors go into the field at the end of the month

English translation by community member LightMyWay.

1. KEEPING AN EYE ON THE CALENDAR In most women’s bodies, the egg is released 14 to 15 days before the period starts. Therefore a woman should use the date she expects her next period to start to calculate her fertile period. This becomes a problem if the woman is not regular each month, for example one month her period might start 26 days after the start of her previous one. Therefore she can never be sure of the exact date when her period is going to start, which means she can never be sure of the exact dates of her fertile period. She can use an ordinary medical thermometer. Her temperature can vary slightly from one day to the next, but when her temperature rises definitively about 0.2 degrees Celsius higher than the previous day and remains elevated for 60 hours, this is ovulation. Any intercourse after these 60 hours will probably not cause pregnancy.

2. ARTIFICIAL METHODS

Coitus interruptus/withdrawal: This method involves withdrawing the penis before the ejection of the liquid called sperm. The man withdraws his penis from the vagina just before ejaculating.

Advantages: Method free of physical danger, no sexual continence necessary

Disadvantages: This method is not certain to be 100% effective, breaks the sexual rhythm which is not satisfying for the woman

Here is the first part; the second will follow. Thank you for reading this journal, and your comments are important for us to continue our work.