The Billings ovulation method, the basic pattern of infertility or simply the Billings method, is a natural technique that aims to identify the fertile period of the woman by observing the characteristics of cervical mucus, which can be perceived right at the entrance of the vagina. . , to prevent or attempt a pregnancy.
The presence of mucus indicates hormonal changes in the woman and, depending on the characteristics, can inform the woman if there is a possibility that fertilization occurs more easily and whether or not the body is ready to receive a pregnancy. Learn more about cervical mucus and what it says.
- While the Billings method is effective and useful for reporting the days when you should or should not have sex.
- Depending on the partner’s desire.
- It is important that condoms are always used.
- Because in addition to being contraceptive.
- It protects against various infections that can be sexually transmitted.
The Billings method is based on the characteristics of cervical mucus. To do this, it is important that before being used in fact, the woman makes observations to identify how her mucus wears out during fertile and infertile periods, in addition to noticing the daily absence or presence of mucus, consistency and days in which she has sex.
During the fertile period, the woman usually feels wetter in the area of the vulva, which is the outside of the vagina, in addition to the mucus becoming thinner and lighter. Therefore, if there is sex during this period, fertilization and subsequent pregnancy are likely to occur. However, if this is not the case, there will be hormonal secretion and menstruation, starting another cycle.
Some women report that mucus from the fertile period is similar to egg white, while others report that it is more consistent. Therefore, it is important that before the method is actually applied, the woman can recognize the consistency of mucus during the menstrual cycle.
To prevent women from getting confused, when using the Billings ovulation method, hormonal medications should not be taken, spermicides, insert objects or perform internal examinations in the vagina as these can cause changes in cervical mucus, making it difficult for women to interpret.
However, more experienced women who use this method for months at a time may find it easier to identify changes in their cervical mucus that can be caused by external situations like these or even diseases.
Although many women use this method to get pregnant, it is also possible to use it to avoid pregnancy, being recommended for this purpose:
It is not recommended to have intimate contact without a condom when you feel that the vulva is naturally wet or slippery throughout the day, as these signs indicate the fertile period and there is a high chance of pregnancy. Thus, during this period sexual abstinence or condom use is recommended to avoid pregnancy.
The Billings Ovulation Method is safe, scientifically proven and recommended by the World Health Organization and, when successful, protects against unwanted pregnancies by up to 99%.
However, adolescents and women who do not pay daily attention to their menstrual cycle should opt for another method of contraception, such as the condom, IUD or contraceptive pill, for example to avoid unwanted pregnancies, because for the Billings method to be safe, they must be aware of the mucus present in the vulva every day, noticing their daily changes , which can be difficult for some women because of work, education or other occupations. Here’s how to choose the best birth control method.
The benefits of using only this method to get pregnant or not get pregnant are:
In addition, knowing the basic pattern of infertility allows to know the days when a woman can have sex without risking becoming pregnant, without having to use a contraceptive method, observing only the bodily signs daily.