Fertility Awareness-Based Methods

Fertility Awareness increases a woman's understanding of her body and her menstrual cycle. In ancient days, fertility awareness was paired with plants as an effective birth control method. One of the oldest know effective plants for birth control was silphium, used before 370 B.C. By the fourth century, A.D., Silphium was extinct.

Fertility-awareness methods, also known as natural family planning, "the rhythm method" or charting fertility, are used by women who are opposed to, or don't want to use, other contraceptive options. Natural family planning requires commitment, education, and practice.