Symptothermal Method: 4 Powerful Things I’ve Learned After 5 Years of the Fertility Awareness Method

As it approaches 5 years of using the symptothermal method as my chosen method of natural birth control, I’m overcome with the need to reflect and share some of the things I’ve learned and realised over the last few years. I hope that by sharing them, it’ll shed a whole new light on the topic.

What is the Symptothermal Method?

Before we go into the things I’ve learned over time, first, here’s a quick definition. The particular natural family planning method I use is known as the Symptothermal Double-Check Method and is governed by NFPTA rules. This means that I observe my cervical mucus, take a basal body temperature reading each morning and use calendar calculations to identify my fertile days as well as when ovulation occurs. Rules are applied to these observations to allow me to avoid pregnancy. The Symptothermal method is just one option under the umbrella of natural birth control choices. Other examples include the Marquette method, Creighton Model, cervical mucus methods like Billings or simpler options like the standard days method. Each option comes with it’s own set of rules, efficacy levels and pros/cons. You should always learn your chosen method under the guidance of a suitably qualified teacher for maximum effectiveness.

Now that that’s out of the way, here’s my list of things I’ve learned from using the Symothermal method:

1. I would face judgement and sometimes inappropriate comments for my decision to use natural family planning 

Birth control is a very personal choice whether you choose to use it or not as well as all of the different options available. I’m someone who has used three different types of pills in the past with little to no notice taken by those around me. However, the moment some people found out I used a fertility awareness-based method, everything changed. Some people have told me I’m just plain stupid while others have assumed that I’m on some kind of gap between hormonal birth control and transitioning into trying to conceive (spoiler, I’m not, I’m child-free by choice for now). With the greatest respect to those who continually ask me if I’m trying to get pregnant, I’d rather you didn’t ask – questioning someone about their intentions for their uterus is a bit of a raw subject for some so, as a piece of advice, don’t bring it up.  

Probably the most extreme comment I’ve received on more than one occasion is ‘this method doesn’t work, you must be infertile to not be pregnant by now’. After my explanation of how natural birth control methods work, the person usually follows up with ‘but how do you KNOW you’re fertile, have you been to the doctors?’. I find this topic to not only be extremely offensive but also totally insensitive. When is it ever appropriate to say this type of thing to someone? Unfortunately, most people don’t see why it isn’t okay to say things like this so it’s just easier for me to smile and say ‘each to their own’.  

2. Most people have said natural methods are fake or useless, even my doctor.  

I quickly learned that only a very small minority have any faith in fertility awareness-based methods. Either everyone assumes it’s some kind of witchcraft, woo woo spiritual thing or something only those who don’t mind having a child partake in. The thing is, this attitude shows a complete disregard for the number of journal articles available (my personal favourite being by Frank-Herrmann and colleagues, 2007). The symptothermal double-check method is over 99% effective with the correct training and support when learning. This usually means working with an instructor but I personally learned through extensive personal study as well as asking for support from online groups. I later worked with an instructor for clarification on particular issues and found it invaluable but this was quite a few months later. The key is staying protected until you’re confident in your observations.  

3. It has changed so much more for me than just given me birth control  

I never expected how much my mindset would change when moving to practice natural birth control. I was already a cloth pad user and maker so, given that I already had a profound respect for my period, I didn’t think much would change for me. I was wrong. The first cycle I tracked post HBC gave rise to an extremely painful ovulation, a short luteal phase (meaning I was technically unable to conceive initially, even if I’d wanted to) and a nasty period that felt like my body was purging given that I hadn’t had a period in months due to the progestin-only pill. This cycle marked a change in me that I can only describe as entering a new stage of my life. As the hormonal birth control fog lifted from my brain, it was like I could see in colour again. As an ex author, I felt a sudden need to write again – a feeling that I realised I hadn’t had since using the pill. I remember going swimming around that time and feeling nothing but ecstasy as the light shimmered through the glass walls and lit the water like something not of this earth – an image later inspiring a section of my university creative writing final assignment. Over time, this sense of clarity and renewal allowed me the space to purge some older baggage that I realised I’d never truly gotten over from my teenage years. For me, moving to observe my body rather than shutting it down with chemicals was the step I personally needed to help me to transition from the old me to someone new, a change I had so desperately needed to make.  

4. I’d never be able to ignore my body or mind again

Something quite powerful I learned about observing my body was that it gave me so much insight into the effect of my lifestyle on my health and general well-being. When using the pill, I was in a monochrome world where, day to day, nothing really changed with my mental state or within my body. The only difference was getting my withdrawal bleed every few weeks and even that was same old, same old. When I quit the pill for a fertility awareness-based method, I began to notice the effects everything had on my body, from caffeine to overstressing, it would show up somehow in me physically or in my emotional state. This awareness and idea of consequences to continuous unhealthy choices allowed me to really make some changes that, over time, have helped me to become a healthier and happier person.

In summary, I’ve really enjoyed writing this since it’s given me the opportunity to really think about how using the Symptothermal method has helped me in more ways than just being a birth control method.