Matt and Maria have spent a significant amount of time together and have begun a
ID: 69571 • Letter: M
Question
Matt and Maria have spent a significant amount of time together and have begun a sexual relationship. They are both over 21 years old and have agreed to be in a consenting relationship. Maria utilizes the rhythm method as her preferred method of birth control. Several weeks ago she did not menstruate on the dates anticipated by her rhythm method of birth control. This week her menstruation did not occur when expected and thus she has now missed two consecutive menstrual periods. Anticipating that she might be pregnant, she immediately obtained a pregnancy test from the local pharmacy and confirmed that she is indeed pregnant. Although excited about the prospects of having a child, she reflects on her life style during the past several months and recalls with major concern that she and Matt have partied regularly and extensively, consuming significant amounts of alcohol on several occasions. Consider the following as you proceed through your research and discussion of the events now occurring in the lives of Matt and Maria.
1. What are the pros and cons of the rhythm method? How far is Maria in her pregnancy? Show how you derived your estimate
Explanation / Answer
pros - The rhythm method doesn't require a prescription
it's an all natural form of birth control and doesn't require taking synthetic hormones or inserting medical devices for pregnancy prevention.
cons - Sperm live an average of three days in the body, but for some women, sperm can live in their bodies for up to seven days. This makes it difficult to plan when it's completely safe to have sex.
Because each woman's menstrual cycle is different and factors like diet, stress and age can cause a woman's menstrual cycle to change, it can be difficult to determine the exact time a woman is fertile.
The rhythm method doesn't provide any protection against sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, chlamydia or herpes.