(2) The Temperature Method - “Family planning tool”

This method monitors body temperature, which increases after ovulation.   Involves taking your basal body temperature (your temperature upon first waking) each morning with an accurate "basal" thermometer, and noting the rise in temperature that occurs after ovulation.

Being able to pinpoint the day of ovulation enables you to:

- To avoid pregnancy.   By avoiding sex for a few days before and after;

- To have a better chance of getting pregnant.   By having daily sex a few days before and after ovulation ;

Illness or lack of sleep can change your body temperature and make this method unreliable by itself.   When it is combined with the mucus method, it can be an accurate way of assessing fertility. The two methods combined can have a success rate as high as 98 percent.