HOW TO MAKE THE RHYTHM METHOD WORK FOR YOU
Report #7238
Couples who use the rhythm method for birth control should know when they are fertile and should abstain or find alternative ways to make love for at least 16 of 28 days each month. A study from Ireland tells what they do on their off days (1).
33% avoid touching the genitals, 50% use oral sex, 50% use mutual masturbation and 20% use condoms. A significant number of the men admitted that they had to masturbate by themselves.
Another recent study shows that more than 75% of married couples do not know when a woman is fertile (2). Around the 11th day after a woman starts to menstruate an egg pops from the ovary into the uterus. Since sperm can live only up to 6 days and an egg can live only for one day, a woman is fertile for only up to 6 days a month from the fifth day after the start of menstruation to the 11th day (3). However, eggs are not released on a completely dependable timetable, so couple who want to avoid pregnancy have to have a much wider period of abstinence from the second to 18th day after the start of menstruation, and even then, it may not be completely dependable.
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D., for CBS Radio News
1) Bonnar, J.; Lamprecht, V.; Oconner, E. Alternatives to vaginal intercourse practiced
during the fertile time among calendar method users in Ireland. Advances in Contraception.
JUN-SEP 1997;13: pages 2-3 and 173-177. J Bonnar/Univ Ireland Trinity Coll/St James
Hosp/Dept Obstet & Gynecol/Trinity Ctr/Dublin 8, Ireland. 2) Blake, D.; Smith, D.; Bargiacchi, A.; France, M.; Gudex, G. Fertility awareness in
women attending a fertility clinic. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics
& Gynaecology. AUG 1997;37(3):350-352. D Blake/Natl Womens Hosp/Fertil Plus/Private
Bag 92-189/Auckland, New Zealand. 3) NEJM December 7, 1995
Reported 10/6/97; Checked 9/5/05