Some women are turning to the internet to school up on birth control, with the rhythm method circulating on TikTok.
However, an expert is warning that the method may not be as effective at preventing unwanted pregnancies as social media is making out.
The rhythm method, also called the calendar method or fertility awareness, is a form of natural family planning where a woman tracks her monthly menstrual cycle to determine when they are fertile and not fertile.
But a family planning expert is warning the method is not effective enough at preventing unwanted pregnancies.
"Being natural is lovely, but if we left things to nature we'd be pregnant and breastfeeding all the time," Family Planning national nurse adviser Rose Stewart told The Project.
The IUD, implant, injection and emergency contraception are the most effective forms of birth control, followed by the pill.
The only option worse then the rhythm method is the withdrawal method.
Although the rhythm method might be popular online, it's high maintenance and Stewart said it is much more complicated than it sounds.
"Young women really like methods they don't have to think about on a daily basis, and natural fertility is the opposite of that," Stewart said.
"You have to be aware of your mucus, you have to be aware of your signs of ovulation, you have to not have sex at the time that's risky, and that's probably the most difficult thing to manage."
However, Stewart acknowledged that the method can be effective for women who are trying to conceive.
"Natural fertility, or understanding your menstrual cycle, is very useful; it's a good thing to know about your body, it's really good for helping to get pregnant, if you have sex at the right time," Stewart said.
"But not so good for avoiding pregnancy."
So it seems the best advice is to seek information from your doctor, rather than the internet.
