Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Comparison Of Abstinence And Coital Frequency Between 2 Natural Methods Of Family Planning, Richard Fehring, Mary Schneider

Richard J Fehring

Introduction The length of periodic abstinence, due to overestimation of the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle, is often a cause for dissatisfaction, discontinuation, and user error with natural family planning (NFP) methods. The objective of this research was to compare the length of required abstinence (ie, estimated fertility) and coital frequency between 2 NFP methods. Methods This was an analysis of data from a 12-month prospective comparison study in which participants were randomized into either an electronic hormonal fertility monitor (EHFM) group or a cervical mucus monitoring (CMM) group—both of which included a fertility algorithm as a double check …

Cohort Efficacy Study Of Natural Family Planning Among Perimenopause Age Women, Richard Fehring, Qiyan Mu

Richard J Fehring

Objective: To determine the efficacy of using natural family planning (NFP) methods to avoid unintended pregnancy among women of perimenopause age (i.e., age 40-55 years). Design: A secondary analysis of subset data from two prospective observational cohort studies. Setting: A university based in-person and online NFP service program. Participants: One hundred and sixty couples who used either a website or an in-person NFP service to learn how to avoid pregnancy from January 2001 to November 2012. Methods: A prospective 12-month effectiveness study among 160 women (between ages 40-55) who used NFP to avoid pregnancy. The women used either a hormonal …

Randomized Comparison Of Two Internet-Supported Fertility Awareness Based Methods Of Family Planning, Richard Fehring, Mary Schneider, Kathleen Raviele, Dana Rodriguez, Jessica Pruszynski

Richard J Fehring

Background: The aim was to compare the efficacy and acceptability of two Internet-supported fertility-awareness-based methods of family planning.

Study design: Six hundred and sixty-seven women and their male partners were randomized into either an electronic hormonal fertility monitor (EHFM) group or a cervical mucus monitoring (CMM) group. Both groups utilized a Web site with instructions, charts and support. Acceptability was assessed online at 1, 3 and 6 months. Pregnancy rates were determined by survival analysis.

Results: The EHFM participants (N=197) had a total pregnancy rate of 7 per 100 users over 12 months of use compared with 18.5 for the …