Effectiveness of the Temperature Rhythm System of Contraception

Abstract

Between January 1961 and December 1965 the temperature rhythm method of contraception was taught to 441 women between 19 and 46 years of age. A total of 296 women took temperatures for 1 to 58 months during which time the average shortest cycle for the group was 25.7 days and the average longest cycle was 38.7 days. There was a total of 35 planned and 79 unplanned pregnancies among 32 and 70 women respectively. The unplanned pregnancies (32 among 30 patients) were classified or attributed to teaching errors such as lack of understanding on the patients part incorrect cycle counting and confusion in recognizing type of bleeding. 41 pregnancies among 38 women were attributed to calculated risks in which women gambled by extending safe periods. System failures accounted for 6 pregnancies. The gross pregnancy rate for the series is 19.5 per 100 years and corrected is 1.5 per 100 years. The high failure rate of 19.5 is associated with inadequate teaching and patients lack of confidence in the system. Success of this contraceptive method depends upon its ease in application and the couples motivation while considering factors such as age parity marriage duration income and educational level.