Fertility Awareness: Understanding Natural Family Planning

Highlights

• Fertility awareness (also known as natural family planning) helps identify the days during your menstrual cycle that you are most fertile and can get pregnant.
• Fertility awareness can be used as a method to avoid pregnancy (contraception), or to try and conceive.
• There are different ways to practice fertility awareness, including the symptothermal method, ovulation method, calendar method, cervical mucus or Billings method.
• Fertility awareness is not recommended if you recently stopped hormonal birth control, have irregular periods or are nearing menopause.

In This Article

• Fertility Awareness Overview
• Suitability of Fertility Awareness
• Advantages of Fertility Awareness as Contraception
• Disadvantages of Fertility Awareness as Contraception
• Types of Fertility Awareness Methods
• Tools and Assistance

Fertility Awareness Overview

Fertility awareness refers to a set of techniques used to track and understand the various phases of your menstrual cycle, enabling you to identify the most fertile days during which conception is most likely. These methods can be used to either avoid pregnancy (as a form of contraception) or to help you conceive by timing intercourse with your fertile days.

The underlying principle of fertility awareness is that sperm can survive for up to five days within the female reproductive system, while an egg can only survive for 12 to 24 hours after ovulation. This means that the days leading up to ovulation, along with the day of ovulation itself, are the most fertile. By tracking specific bodily signs, such as temperature changes or cervical mucus consistency, you can better predict these windows of fertility.

While fertility awareness can be highly effective for some, its success largely depends on proper tracking, commitment, and the ability to abstain from sexual intercourse or use alternative contraceptive methods during the fertile period.

Suitability of Fertility Awareness

Fertility awareness may not be suitable for everyone, particularly in certain situations. It is not recommended if:

• You have recently stopped using hormonal contraception, as your cycle may take time to normalize and show clear patterns.
• You have irregular menstrual cycles, making it more difficult to predict ovulation with accuracy.
• You are approaching menopause, as hormonal fluctuations can make it harder to track fertility signs.
• Your partner is not supportive of using fertility awareness as a method of contraception or conception.

Before deciding to use fertility awareness, it’s important to assess whether it aligns with your reproductive goals and whether you can consistently track the necessary physical changes throughout your cycle.

Advantages of Fertility Awareness as Contraception

There are several advantages to using fertility awareness as a form of contraception:

Natural and Free

Fertility awareness is a natural method that doesn’t require the use of artificial hormones or devices. Since it doesn’t involve any chemicals or medications, it is free from the side effects that other contraceptive methods might cause.

Increased Knowledge of Your Body

Using fertility awareness provides an opportunity to become more in tune with your body. By tracking your cycle, you may gain valuable insights into your menstrual health, which could be beneficial for both contraception and fertility planning.

No Cost

Once you have learned how to track your fertility signs, fertility awareness is essentially free. There are no costs for prescriptions, medical devices, or frequent visits to the doctor.

Reliability with Correct Use

When followed correctly, fertility awareness can be a reliable form of contraception. The effectiveness increases when combined with other methods, such as using condoms during fertile windows or abstaining from sex during ovulation.

Cultural or Religious Compatibility

For individuals who cannot or choose not to use hormonal or barrier methods of contraception for cultural or religious reasons, fertility awareness offers an acceptable alternative.

Disadvantages of Fertility Awareness as Contraception

Despite its advantages, fertility awareness comes with several limitations:

No Protection Against STIs

Fertility awareness does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you choose to rely on fertility awareness for contraception, you may still need to use condoms to prevent the transmission of STIs.

Increased Risk of Pregnancy

If used alone, fertility awareness is generally less effective than other methods of contraception, especially for those who are still learning how to track their fertility signs accurately. There’s a higher likelihood of pregnancy if there’s any error in tracking or if you have unprotected sex during the fertile window.

Learning Curve

Fertility awareness can take 3 to 6 cycles to learn and implement effectively. During this time, you may need to practice tracking your signs and adjusting your methods. Some individuals may find this process challenging or time-consuming.

Regular Monitoring

You need to pay close attention to daily changes in your body, such as tracking your temperature every morning at the same time and checking your cervical mucus consistency. This requires a significant level of attention to detail and consistency throughout your cycle.

Periods of Abstinence

To avoid pregnancy, you will need to abstain from sex during the fertile window. This could mean multiple days of abstinence each month, which may not be feasible for all couples.

Types of Fertility Awareness Methods

There are several different methods of fertility awareness, each of which relies on tracking a specific bodily sign. Some methods are more reliable than others, and choosing the right one for you will depend on your preferences and lifestyle.

Cervical Mucus Method

Also known as the Billings method, this approach focuses on changes in the consistency of cervical mucus throughout your menstrual cycle. The three stages of cervical mucus are:

• Post-menstruation: During the early part of the cycle, cervical mucus is typically dry or sticky.
• Pre-ovulation: As ovulation approaches, cervical mucus becomes clear, stretchy, and resembles raw egg whites.
• Post-ovulation: After ovulation, the mucus becomes thicker and cloudier again.

Tracking these changes allows you to predict ovulation, but be aware that external factors, such as sexual arousal or infections, can alter the consistency of your mucus.

Temperature Method

The temperature method involves tracking your basal body temperature (BBT) every morning before you get out of bed. After ovulation, your BBT will rise slightly, and it remains elevated until your next period. This temperature shift indicates that ovulation has occurred.

The main issue with this method is that many factors—such as illness, alcohol consumption, and stress—can affect your temperature, making it more difficult to accurately determine when you have ovulated.

Symptothermal Method

The symptothermal method combines both temperature and cervical mucus tracking. By using two or more signs, you improve the likelihood of accurately identifying your fertile window. Combining methods can help enhance the overall effectiveness of fertility awareness, as you rely on multiple indicators rather than just one.

Calendar or Rhythm Method

This method involves predicting your fertile days based on the length of your previous menstrual cycles. While it is relatively easy to use, it is less accurate than other methods, especially for people with irregular cycles.

It’s also important to note that this method does not account for cycle-to-cycle variability, which can lead to incorrect predictions of your fertile window.

Tools and Assistance

Several tools and resources can help support you in tracking and practicing fertility awareness. These tools include:

Mobile Apps for Fertility Tracking

There are a variety of apps available for fertility tracking that help monitor your cycle, track ovulation, and predict fertile days. Some apps allow you to log symptoms, such as temperature, cervical mucus changes, and mood, to provide a comprehensive view of your cycle.

Thermometers for Basal Body Temperature (BBT)

A special basal body thermometer can help you measure your body temperature accurately every morning before you get out of bed. These thermometers are more precise than regular thermometers, which is essential for detecting small changes in your temperature that indicate ovulation.

Ovulation Prediction Kits (OPKs)

Ovulation prediction kits (OPKs) can detect a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine, which occurs just before ovulation. This can help you pinpoint the exact time of ovulation.

Fertility Charts

Fertility charts are a useful tool for tracking changes in your cycle, temperature, and cervical mucus. You can use printed charts or digital tools to keep a record of your signs and identify patterns over time.

Support from Healthcare Providers

Consulting with a healthcare provider or fertility specialist can provide additional guidance on fertility awareness. They can help you assess whether fertility awareness is right for your needs and offer advice on how to use the method effectively.

Need more information?

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