What is The Fertility Awareness Method? (+ Other Things You Should Know)

Disclaimer: This post is definitely not intended to teach you a Fertility Awareness Method – you should always link in with a suitably qualified teacher in your chosen method for best efficacy.

What is the Fertility Awareness Method?

‘Fertility awareness method’ (or FAM for short) is an umbrella term which covers a number of different methods. For example, you have the Rhythm or Calendar Method. This involves considering everyone to have a 28-day cycle and applying one set of rules to determine the beginning and end of the fertile time. In contrast, the Symptothermal Method is also a FAM but involves diligently tracking cervical mucus and basal body temperature every day. Rules are then applied to this data to determine the fertile window. Depending on your chosen FAM, you may track different bioindicators (other examples include cervical position, taking LH tests or using special hormone monitors).

Fertility Awareness Method Pros and Cons

Benefits

FAMs have numerous benefits which appeal to different groups of people. Here is a list of just some of the advantages I have heard:

• Hormone free way of preventing pregnancy
• Can easily switch to trying to conceive as there is no other birth control method to stop using
• Is often accepted by those with religeous beliefs who otherwise may not be able to use chemical or barrier methods of birth control
• Allows for body literacy
• It means detailed data can be collected about the menstrual cycle to discuss with medical providers if needed
• Pretty much always know when a period is due, even in times of stress
• Allows partners to be involved (for those in a heterosexual relationship) as communication is key for when intercourse is available. Can also provide a different level of intimacy and understanding of each other in same sex relationships.

Fertility Awareness Method Disadvantages

As with anything, where there are positives, there are always negatives. Here are some of the cons I am aware of:

• Can be costly to learn methods properly (e.g instructor fees)
• Can be time-consuming for those new to the method to figure out their cycle according to the method they are learning
• Some people don’t like ‘planning’ when they can and can’t have sex
• Some prefer a ‘set it and forget it’ approach to birth control that only LARCs can really provide
• FAMs can’t help in circumstances where someone would normally use birth control pills (or similar hormonal method) for relief of conditions like endometriosis (as you cannot practice a FAM while using any hormonal methods)
• FAMs are not contraceptive methods – they help the user to track their cycle so that they can make decisions on when to have intercourse. It is a behavioural approach which is reliant on how motivated you are to follow the rules

How to know which method is right for you

Choosing a FAM is a very personal decision. When I was first starting out, I read a little into each of the methods I was interested in (in my case, Symptothermal, Billings Ovulation Method -or ‘mucus only’- and Symptohormonal). From this, I was able to identify that Symptothermal was a good fit for my lifestyle. I also think it is vitally important to research scientifically backed effectiveness ratings for any methods you are considering and compare that rating with your own feelings about how strongly you wish to avoid pregnancy. For example, the Rhythm method is significantly less effective compared with a Symptothermal method so this would definitely be useful to consider.

Where can you learn a method?

Most effectiveness studies you can find online about any given FAM method are based on the user being taught by a suitably qualified instructor. You can find a someone who teaches your chosen method by linking in with the organisation the method is based with (for example, if you were interested in Couple to Couple League’s method, you could head to their website to find someone teaching it).

Besides this, many users of FAMs choose to self teach. This can be done via a book written about your chosen method or by visiting online communities. Naturally, this may lead to a lower efficacy as you will not have a qualified teacher around to ask questions or discuss anything with but it remains an option for those who cannot access lessons due to financial or other personal reasons.

Are you already a FABM user? Do you have any tips for those new to the method? Anything to add to what I’ve mentioned above? Let me know in the comments!