Disclaimer: while this post is designed to help you to figure out which FAM instructor might be a good fit for you as well as how to find them, I do not endorse any person/method/location in particular. You should always do your own research and come to your own conclusions on who is best for you to work with.

This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute health advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding contraception and health decisions. Review the full Disclaimer for more information.

Why Work with a Fertility Awareness Method Instructor?

If you’re new to the world of fertility awareness-based methods or natural family planning, you may have seen people recommending working with an instructor to develop the deepest level of understanding and highest efficacy in your chosen method. However, not many people go into detail on how to find a suitable teacher – whether you’re looking for someone locally or a distance-learning option.

Recently, I’ve also had a few people come to me to ask if I’m teaching at the moment and the answer is unfortunately not due to several other commitments. For the moment, aside from other things going on in life, I have been devoting my time and energy to spreading the word and solid information about FAM via this blog. As an extension of that goal, I wanted to break down the important things to consider if you are currently seeking out an instructor as well as my main suggestions on how to find one.

Essential FAM Instructor Checklist: What to Consider

Here are some things I feel are important to consider when looking for a FAM instructor:

• Religious Affiliation: Are you looking for someone who is affiliated with a particular religion or would you prefer secular?
• Barrier Methods: Do you want to use barrier methods (e.g condoms or diaphragms) during your fertile window? Or will you choose to abstain? Some instructors have strong opinions on barrier use during the fertile window.
• Learning Preference: Do you prefer distance or in-person learning?
• Budget & Time Commitment: What’s your budget? How much time are you able to devote to learning? Some instructors offer a self-paced option with scheduled check-ins while others require you to book out time to meet or talk over the telephone to receive your lessons.
• Specialist Knowledge: Will you need an instructor who specialises in a particular season of life (postpartum, post-pill, perimenopausal) or knowledge of any health concerns you may have?
• FAM Method Focus: Which method are you looking to learn? If you are undecided, you may like to break it down first into mucus-only methods or whether you would like to track more bioindicators at once.
• Qualifications and Background: Do the instructors you’re considering hold any qualifications? Not all FAM instructors have been through specific training to teach a FAM so this factor may be important to you. Some also have additional qualifications or are medical doctors outside of their work with FAM.
• Experience Level: Would you prefer an instructor with many years of experience or are you ok with someone more recently coming to the field? Sometimes, prospective clients can work with teachers still in training/newly qualified for free or at a discounted rate.

Where to Find a Fertility Awareness Method Teacher

There are many places to find a prospective FAM instructor, here’s a breakdown of the main ones I’ve heard others have had success with:

1. Checking Online Directories and Databases

There are several online directories where instructors are listed. On many of these pages, you will find the instructor’s basic details such as their name, location and contact details, and any specialisms they might have (such as teaching clients with irregular cycles). Here are the main ones I’ve seen people referencing:

• Read Your Body Directory
  • URL: https://readyourbody.com/educators-directory/
  • Why it’s useful: This directory is a comprehensive, secular resource that allows you to filter educators by teaching framework (Secular, Spiritual, or Religious) and specific charting specialisms (e.g., after hormonal contraception, PCOS/irregular cycles, or postpartum). This is fantastic for aligning a potential teacher with your personal circumstances.
• Fertility UK
  • URL: https://www.fertilityuk.org/find-a-clinic
  • Why it’s useful: This is an essential UK-based resource that lists practitioners across the country and specifies who offers virtual consultations.
• Natural Family Planning Teachers Association (NFPTA)
  • URL: https://www.nfpta.org.uk/
  • Why it’s useful: Another excellent resource, the NFPTA provides information on certified teachers of the Sympto-Thermal Method.
• Natural Womanhood FAM Instructor Directory
  • URL: https://naturalwomanhood.org/find-a-fam-instructor/
  • Why it’s useful: A large, international directory that lists instructors for many specific methods, including the Billings Ovulation Method, Creighton, FEMM, and the Marquette Method.
• Fertility Charting Instructor Directory
  • URL: https://fertilitycharting.com.au/find-an-instructor/
  • Why it’s useful: This resource allows you to search by certifying organisation, specific FAM type (e.g., Symptothermal, Cervical Mucus-only), and country, which can help readers narrow down their options quickly.

2. Through Your Church or Place of Worship

If you are seeking a FAM instructor who is familiar or from the same religious background as you, you may be able to find a fertility awareness method instructor through your church or place of worship. I have heard of several couples who have found success in learning FAM through the process of marriage preparation courses or just by generally linking in with a senior member of their place of worship to see if they have any contacts.

3. Via Your Doctor or Medical Professional

Depending on where you are in the world, you may be able to be put in touch with a suitable instructor via your doctor’s office. Unfortunately, not all doctors are supportive of FAM (just my personal experience) so don’t be put off if you don’t receive the greatest reception. However, I just wanted to mention this avenue as some people have been able to find great instructors via medical professionals.

In Conclusion: My Personal Experience

I hope this helped you to understand the different ways to find a fertility awareness method instructor. Personally, I first learned the symptothermal method by reading several books but quickly became confused by my cervical fluid pattern. Given this, I chose to work with an instructor and the experience was incredible. I appreciated the clarification and having someone there to answer my questions – overall, it boosted my confidence in my use of the method.