Abstract

PIP: This is a brief review of the available natural family planning methods, the rhythm, basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and symptothermal methods, for use by Italian adolescents and young women who choose to avoid artificial contraception. Data from the last AIED Report show that 50% of Italian adolescent girls aged 16-18 have had coitus, while only 3-7.3% are using contraception, and a high proportion of women having abortions are under 20. The majority of adolescents using natural family planning state that they use the rhythm method, which has a Pearl Index ranging from 14.4-47%. Consistent use of the basal body temperature method can be improved with electronic or digital thermometers which take seconds rather than minutes to use. The cervical mucus method is notoriously unreliable in the post-menarchic period, when anovulatory cycles are common. An electronic instrument is also available to facilitate its use. The symptothermal method, combining cervical mucus, basal body temperature, and other clinical signs, is more difficult to integrate for new users, and no data are available in the literature on its use by adolescents. When the wide variation in menstrual cycle lengths, ovulatory and anovulatory cycles, and the myriad psychosocial barriers to regulated sexuality, a 3-6 month training period, and a committed relationship rarely found in adolescents are considered, it is highly unlikely that any natural family planning method can be recommended to this group of women.