Fertility Awareness
vs
Pill
A side-by-side comparison of two birth control methods — efficacy, cost, how they work, and who shouldn't use them.
Side-by-side comparison
| Method | ![]() Fertility AwarenessTracking body signs like temperature and cervical mucus to identify fertile days and avoid unprotected sex then. | ![]() PillNo non-hormonal birth control pill is FDA-approved in the US. Ormeloxifene (centchroman) is approved and used in India. |
|---|---|---|
| Efficacy | Least effective see details Least effective: under 90 out of 100 people successfully prevent pregnancy per year. | Limited evidence see details Limited evidence: no verifiable efficacy data available. |
| Cost | $0–$100 /monthly Insurance: Varies | Contact provider Insurance: Varies |
| Duration | Ongoing daily tracking | Weekly pill (ongoing) |
| Reversibility | Reversible | Reversible |
| STI Protection | No | No |
| How it works | Track basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and cycle length to identify the fertile window. Avoid unprotected sex or use backup contraception on fertile days. | Ormeloxifene (centchroman) is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that prevents pregnancy by inhibiting implantation of a fertilized egg in the endometrium. It does not suppress ovulation and does not contain estrogen or progestin. It is not FDA-approved in the US. |
| Prescription | OTC No prescription / OTC | Required Prescription required |
| Available Products | 4 products | 1 product |
| Side effects | None reported |
|
| Who shouldn't use this |
|
|

