natural family planning method, any of several methods of conception control that do not rely on a medication or a physical device for effectiveness in avoiding pregnancy. Some of the methods are also used to pinpoint the time of ovulation to increase the chance of fertilization when artificial insemination or extraction of an oocyte for in vitro fertilization is to be performed. Kinds include basal body temperature method of family planning, ovulation method of family planning, symptothermal method of family planning.
