292 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
THE MUCUS METHOD
This is a variation of the counting days method. A woman finds out when she could
become pregnant by checking the mucus in her vagina every day. It works fairly well
for some couples but not for others. In general it cannot be considered a very sure
way of preventing pregnancy, but it costs nothing and has no risks other than those
that come with pregnancy itself. However, it is more difficult to do if the woman has a
vaginal infection with a lot of discharge, if her periods are not regular, or if she douches
or washes out her vagina.
Every day, except during her period, the woman should examine the mucus from
her vagina. Take a little mucus out of your vagina with a clean finger and try to make it
stretch between your thumb and forefinger, like this:
As long as the mucus is sticky like
paste—not slippery or slimy—you
probably cannot become pregnant,
and can continue to have sexual
relations.
When the mucus begins to get slippery or
slimy, like raw egg, or if it stretches between
your fingers, you may become pregnant
if you have sexual relations. So, do not
have sex when the mucus is slippery
or stretches, or until 2 days after it has
stopped being slippery or stretchy and
has become sticky again.
The mucus will usually become slippery during a few days midway between your
periods. These are the same days you would not have sex with your man if you were
using the counting days method.
To be more sure, use the mucus and counting days methods together. To be still
more sure, see below. The mucus and counting days methods do not protect against
STIs, including HIV.
Combined Methods
If you want to be more certain not to become pregnant, it often helps to use
2 methods at the same time. The counting days or mucus method combined with
the use of a condom, diaphragm, spermicide, or sponge is surer than any of these
methods alone. Likewise, if a man uses condoms and the woman a diaphragm, the
chance of pregnancy is very low.