The Billings method is a form ofnatural birth controlthat’s also referred to as the Billings ovulation method, ovulation method, or cervical mucus method. This method of contraception is a type of fertility awareness method (FAM) birth control in which individuals learn how to recognize their ownfertilitypatterns, so they can choose when to avoid sexual contact (to prevent pregnancy) or have sexual contact (in the attempt to conceive).
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How It Works
The Billings ovulation method is based on your close assessment of your cervical mucus. Generally speaking, over the course of each menstrual cycle, cervical mucus changes in predictable ways. Usually, cervical mucus becomes clear and elastic about six days prior to ovulation, due to the influence of estrogen. Ovulation is likely to occur on the last day that cervical mucus has these features.
What This Method Teaches You
Four Billings Method Rules
Below is a summary of the four Billings Method rules to follow for natural conception, but anyone considering this method should refer to the actualrules, which include more detailed instruction.
As per the Billings method, there are three early day rules and the peak rule:
Couples may choose to use a barrier method, such as condoms during the fertile period.
The Billings ovulation method doesn’t require any form of rhythm counting, temperature taking,hormonal drugs, or devices. It allows couples to share in the responsibility ofnatural family planningbut requires cooperation and careful observation. It’s also sometimes chosen for religious reasons.
The method’s proponents say this natural birth control method can be used from puberty to menopause, and while breastfeeding,and for those who don’t have regular menstrual cycles.
When Can’t the Billings Method Be Used?
The Billings method cannot be used with hormonal contraception (likethe pill) because these birth control methods affect the hormones that alter natural signs of fertility, like cervical mucus. When you begin the Billings method, it is best to abstain from sexual intercourse until you learn to assess your cervical mucus characteristics because you may confuse sperm and/or seminal fluid with cervical mucus.
It is important to note that using fertility awareness to prevent pregnancy does not protect againstsexually transmitted infections (STIs), includingHIV.
It is essential that you have accurate knowledge and training of this natural birth method before relying on it to prevent pregnancy. The success of the Billings method is greatly dependent upon proper teaching, correct understanding, accurate cervical mucus observation, daily charting, mutual motivation, and cooperation between the couple.
Effectiveness
According to clinical guidelines published in 2018, the unintended pregnancy rate after a year ofperfectlyusing the Billings method varies from 0.4% to 5%. In common practice, though, it’s as high as 24%.
That’s less effective than the pill and many other commonly used methods of birth control, such asintrauterine devices (IUDs),Nexplanon implant, orDepo Provera (birth control shot).
The authors of the research suggested using the Billings method only when an unexpected pregnancy could be acceptable. They also suggest that couples who use this method should be aware of how to obtain emergency contraception.
Bottom Line
The Billings method of birth control is a type of natural family planning in which a person learns to track the changing features of their cervical mucus to predict ovulation. This and other FAM birth control can be used to help prevent pregnancy and to predict ovulation when someone wishes to conceive.
Methods such as the Billings method do not work for everyone, and their effectiveness is generally lower than any of the commonly used forms of birth control, such as the pill or an IUDs.
If it won’t feel like the end of the world if you accidentally become pregnant, a strong advantage of this type of family planning is that there are no side effects, and you can use what you’ve learned when you wish to plan rather than prevent pregnancy.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of North Carolina Medical School.Cervical mucus monitoring.Billings Life.The 4 simple rules of the Billings Ovulation Method.Fehring RJ, Schneider M, Bouchard T.Effectiveness of an Online Natural Family Planning Program for Breastfeeding Women.J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2017;46(4):e129–e137. doi:10.1016/j.jogn.2017.03.010FACTS: Fertility Appreciation Collaborative to Teach the Science.Billings Ovulation Method.Planned Parenthood.What’s the cervical mucus method of FAMs?Danis PG, Kurz SA, Covert LM.Medical Students' Knowledge of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods of Family Planning.Front Med (Lausanne). 2017;4:65. doi:10.3389/fmed.2017.00065Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Effectiveness of family planning methods.Hassoun D.Méthodes de contraception naturelle et méthodes barrières. RPC contraception CNGOF [Natural Family Planning methods and Barrier: CNGOF Contraception Guidelines].Gynecol Obstet Fertil Senol. 2018;46(12):873–882. doi:10.1016/j.gofs.2018.10.002Additional ReadingBillings Life.How Does the Billings Ovulation Method Work?
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of North Carolina Medical School.Cervical mucus monitoring.Billings Life.The 4 simple rules of the Billings Ovulation Method.Fehring RJ, Schneider M, Bouchard T.Effectiveness of an Online Natural Family Planning Program for Breastfeeding Women.J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2017;46(4):e129–e137. doi:10.1016/j.jogn.2017.03.010FACTS: Fertility Appreciation Collaborative to Teach the Science.Billings Ovulation Method.Planned Parenthood.What’s the cervical mucus method of FAMs?Danis PG, Kurz SA, Covert LM.Medical Students' Knowledge of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods of Family Planning.Front Med (Lausanne). 2017;4:65. doi:10.3389/fmed.2017.00065Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Effectiveness of family planning methods.Hassoun D.Méthodes de contraception naturelle et méthodes barrières. RPC contraception CNGOF [Natural Family Planning methods and Barrier: CNGOF Contraception Guidelines].Gynecol Obstet Fertil Senol. 2018;46(12):873–882. doi:10.1016/j.gofs.2018.10.002Additional ReadingBillings Life.How Does the Billings Ovulation Method Work?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
University of North Carolina Medical School.Cervical mucus monitoring.Billings Life.The 4 simple rules of the Billings Ovulation Method.Fehring RJ, Schneider M, Bouchard T.Effectiveness of an Online Natural Family Planning Program for Breastfeeding Women.J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2017;46(4):e129–e137. doi:10.1016/j.jogn.2017.03.010FACTS: Fertility Appreciation Collaborative to Teach the Science.Billings Ovulation Method.Planned Parenthood.What’s the cervical mucus method of FAMs?Danis PG, Kurz SA, Covert LM.Medical Students' Knowledge of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods of Family Planning.Front Med (Lausanne). 2017;4:65. doi:10.3389/fmed.2017.00065Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Effectiveness of family planning methods.Hassoun D.Méthodes de contraception naturelle et méthodes barrières. RPC contraception CNGOF [Natural Family Planning methods and Barrier: CNGOF Contraception Guidelines].Gynecol Obstet Fertil Senol. 2018;46(12):873–882. doi:10.1016/j.gofs.2018.10.002
University of North Carolina Medical School.Cervical mucus monitoring.
Billings Life.The 4 simple rules of the Billings Ovulation Method.
Fehring RJ, Schneider M, Bouchard T.Effectiveness of an Online Natural Family Planning Program for Breastfeeding Women.J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2017;46(4):e129–e137. doi:10.1016/j.jogn.2017.03.010
FACTS: Fertility Appreciation Collaborative to Teach the Science.Billings Ovulation Method.
Planned Parenthood.What’s the cervical mucus method of FAMs?
Danis PG, Kurz SA, Covert LM.Medical Students' Knowledge of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods of Family Planning.Front Med (Lausanne). 2017;4:65. doi:10.3389/fmed.2017.00065
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Effectiveness of family planning methods.
Hassoun D.Méthodes de contraception naturelle et méthodes barrières. RPC contraception CNGOF [Natural Family Planning methods and Barrier: CNGOF Contraception Guidelines].Gynecol Obstet Fertil Senol. 2018;46(12):873–882. doi:10.1016/j.gofs.2018.10.002
Billings Life.How Does the Billings Ovulation Method Work?
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