What is the symptothermal method?
Over time, it has been shown that calendar methods to know the phases of the menstrual cycle, are not always reliable means of planning. Therefore, neither counting the days one by one, nor using a mobile application, will be able to prevent pregnancy.
Because? Well, they work with approximations, so they do not have certain results. Therefore, it is through M.S.T. or also known as symptothermal method, that you can know the fertile states exactly.
If you want to implement a care scheduling with a method without hormones or desires know your precise moment of ovulation, you need to know this!
Whether you want to avoid pregnancy or be aware of the perfect time for conception, the symptothermal method It's just what you need...
What is the symptothermal method?
It is the most modern and updated way to understand female fertility and other details about the menstrual cycle. Its purpose is to be able measure biomarkers that the body emits, depending on the phase in which the reproductive system is working.
It has been shown that by observing vaginal body temperature, vaginal discharge, and other similar data, you can identify if it is wise or not to have sexual relations.
It is a constant surveillance technique for it to be truly effective: exams must be done 2 or 3 times a day and the information provided is recorded to obtain results.
Its failure statistic is only 0,4%, but to use it you must have gynecological preparation and good sex education. Otherwise, reading the data would be difficult to understand and therefore would not be useful to you.
However, it is currently very popular for not presenting hormonal changes, in addition to being a sustainable and friendly method for intimate health.
It's just about learning to read biological signals and plan your sexuality based on it (whether you want to prevent pregnancy or, on the contrary, seek one).
How can a registration be carried out with the symptothermal method?
This method searches reorganize the phases of the cycle to which priority is given, so that it is possible for you to take care of your fertility naturally. Previously, it was made to believe that menstruation is what governs or conditions the cycle, when in reality It's ovulation.
After all, every month the female organism tries to fertilize, The most fertile moment of the cycle being crucial.
If the effective entry of a sperm has not occurred, then menstruation It's a cleanse to prepare the uterus for the next period.
So, the first thing you should know is that, to keep a correct record, we will focus on the ovulation and the processes that are before or after that.
Although it is true that it needs prior information, but It's just learning about your body.…No complex medicine!
And… How to do it? Don't lose track of this steps which we list below:
It is not a passive method
Contraceptives such as the IUD, injections or pills are mechanisms that require minimal collaboration or commitment. All that remains is to follow the instructions regarding the frequency of each application and leave the rest to the medicine. and its hormonal blockage.
To plan with symptothermal method, there must be a daily control. As we mentioned, the doses should ideally be 2 times a day (but they can be 3 if your gynecologist recommends it).
So you don't get distracted, set alarms on your mobile hours that you can do the control (preferably when you wake up and at night).
You will need two essential tools
Your faithful companions in the process will be a basal thermometer and a control application. It is not necessary that you have a physical graph, since there are many platforms that help you with that.
In addition to allowing you to keep your observations organized, they also make easier to read them to identify the phases of your cycle.
The most important thing is that you use a way to simplify your tasks and that you can easily understand. Remember that, at the end of the day, what is important is that you know the state of your health.
On the other hand, and although it is true that any thermometer can be useful, digital basal thermometers They are more accurate, since they are trained to perceive lower temperatures (such as those found in the intimate area), so the result is infallible.
Gynecological support is essential
Above all, in the first two cycles, and while you know your body, you can count on professional assistance.
Now there are also fertility recognition courses and that promote sexual education.
Many of the family planning software They help you read your data and explain what those observations mean. But, if you don't want to leave anything to chance (or doubt), professionals like gynecologists They will be your allies at the beginning of the method.
What do I need to know to use the symptothermal method?
Now that you know how to keep your records and what you will need firsthand, the question may fall to the signs of fertility that you have to collect.
Let's remember that we are going to focus on biomarkers: Cervical mucus and basal temperature.
Pay attention to your vaginal discharge
He cervical mucus It is a secretion from the cervix that helps sperm survive in the acidic climate of the vagina, or prevents their entry, depending on the phase.
When it comes off a little, we can recognize it as “vaginal discharge” and although it has several types, we will be aware of the most watery and elastic which occurs between days 10 and 14 of the cycle.
When the cervical mucus is dry, sticky or separates, it has no degree of fertility! But when it becomes more elastic and malleable, indicates a time of ovulation.
This signal only warrants a daily observation and can vary the flow twice in a day, but generally they tend to stay the same between 24 and 48 hours. Even so, any variation you observe, do not hesitate to write it down.
Vaginal discharge microscope Link
Measure basal temperature
It consists of identifying the body temperature through two decimal places and is capable of offering a specific thermal result. There are 3 ways to do it:
- Placing the thermometer under the tongue
- Putting the thermal end inside the vagina
- Doing the same procedure, but in the anus.
Mainly, measure it in hours of the tomorrow and at the end of the day. Likewise, you can take another shot in the middle of the day if you notice any changes and want to have more data about the process.
To detect temperature:
- LINK temperature detection patches
- Thermometers with two decimal places LINK
- LINK infrared thermometer
What information do I obtain with the symptothermal method about my hormones?
There are precisely 2 hormones that control the reproductive cycle: estrogen and progesterone. The first is very fertile and the second is one in which there is no fertilization and gives way to menstruation.
In this way, make the daily evaluation, will allow you to know if the hormonal cycle is proceeding normally (in case you have endometriosis, ovarian cysts, or other similar things).
Also and if you use it as a contraceptive method, you will know when there is an increase in estrogen and sexual relations are not recommended.
You will be able to recognize progesterone because it sends as a signal a sticky, dry or creamy cervical mucus like hand lotion.
Although they all correspond to different phases, the common point that They are not fertile. He estrogen It is quite the opposite and is manifested by the elastic mucus of ovulation.
Frequently asked questions about the symptothermal method
Since it does not involve medication, the symptothermal method It usually generates unknowns about its operation or profitability.
Therefore, we want to respond to the main curiosities of the symptothermal method:
Is it really effective? Do you have no margin for error?
It has been shown to have more than 99% accuracy (even more than other contraceptives that cover 97 or 98%).
How is this data used as a contraceptive method?
The intention is to know the fertility window to completely suspend penetration on those days. If condoms are used for sexual contact on the days of ovulation, then one would be relying on the protection of the condom.
Can you really have unprotected sex after the most fertile phase has passed?
A sperm cannot survive more than 5 or 6 days in the vagina considering the acidic climate. Therefore, it is not possible for some established on day 20 of a cycle to survive until the next day 14 when you ovulate.
What if cycle monitoring apps call all my days a “possible fertile day”?
They do not give you certainty because they are not taking your data, they only predict the phases according to your cycle (if it is 26, 28, 30 days). Since they know that a cycle can vary due to diet, illness, stress and other reasons, they do not provide insurance and ask you to take care of yourself in the same way. Now, with the information you gather through the symptothermal method You are sure which days are fertile and which are not.
Does it work for cycles of all durations?
Regardless of whether your menstruation comes every 24 or 32 days, you can use the symptothermal method. It even helps you know what your healthy time is and if you are going through hormonal imbalance.
As you can see, this medical feat is a sexual care tool in all aspects. They are arguments for you to make decisions about your body and your reproductive system… Make the most of it!
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