Contraception - Natural family planning
Natural family planning is a way of preventing pregnancy.
The main types of natural family planning involve:
- tracking periods to see when you’re most fertile and avoiding sex or using condoms on those days (fertility awareness method).
- breastfeeding your baby for up to 6 months to delay ovulation (lactational amenorrhoea method).
- withdrawing the penis before ejaculation (sometimes called the withdrawal method) is not an effective way to avoid pregnancy and is not recommended.
Visit NHS 111 Wales for further information on natural family planning.
Page last reviewed: 5th November 2025