Fertility Awareness Method

The fertility awareness method (FAM) is a natural method of birth control that involves charting signs of fertility on a daily basis so that you can understand your fertility patterns and know when you are fertile and able to conceive.

There are two types of approaches for FAM:

1. The sympto-thermal approach, which involves examining your cervical mucous for its colour and texture combined with taking your waking body temperature each morning with a basal thermometer.
2. The mucous approach, which involves examining your cervical mucous.

The sympto-thermal approach is considered to be the more effective of the two FAM approaches.

The fertility awareness method can be used to plan a pregnancy or to avoid one. This method requires commitment and daily monitoring of fertility patterns. If you are using FAM to avoid pregnancy, you and your partner will have to avoid having sex or use a barrier method of contraception such as a condom (male or female) on your fertile days.

FAM is sometimes confused with other natural methods of birth control such as the rhythm method and natural family planning. Natural family planning can involve either of the above mentioned approaches but it does not support the use of barrier methods for your fertile days and is typically done within a religious framework. The rhythm method (calendar method) involves a series of calculations to determine when your most fertile days are. The rhythm method is not recommended as a reliable form of birth control.

Advantages:

• 95-98% effective (perfect use). Using FAM properly requires education and practice. If you have an irregular cycle it may be more difficult to use FAM but it is still possible to use it effectively.
• The fertility awareness method requires both partners to be motivated and knowledgeable about fertility. FAM increases awareness of your body and can increase communication between you and your partner.
• The Fertility Awareness method is free and without side effects.

Disadvantages:

• FAM requires constant monitoring and record keeping, and motivated partners.
• Body disturbances (fevers, stress, or medications) may change body symptoms, throwing off established patterns
• FAM does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or HIV. 
• It can be difficult to find a trained counselor to offer you information and help with regards to using FAM.

To find a professional who can train you to use FAM properly, talk to a doctor or contact a public health clinic or a member of the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health nearest you.

Links:

Fertility UK
Justisse Healthworks for women
Sexuality and U