What is Fertility Awareness?

Fertility Awareness is a natural method of tracking your menstrual cycle to understand when you are fertile and when you are not. By observing your body's biomarkers—such as basal body temperature (BBT) and cervical mucus—you can accurately identify your fertile window. This window is the combination of the sperm's lifespan in cervical mucus and the egg's viability.

With this information, you can make informed decisions about intimacy based on your pregnancy intentions. For those who want to avoid pregnancy, avoiding unprotected sex during the fertile window is key. On the other hand, knowing your fertile days can help you conceive if that’s your goal.

How Does Fertility Awareness Work as Birth Control?

Unlike hormonal birth control or barrier methods, Fertility Awareness requires active participation and a commitment to understanding your cycle. It’s not a set-it-and-forget-it method; you and your partner need to learn how the method works and consistently apply its rules to be effective.

Fertility Awareness is more than just birth control—it’s a tool for understanding your reproductive health and gaining insights into your overall well-being. The knowledge you gain from tracking your cycle can provide benefits throughout your life, from improving body literacy to helping with family planning.

Getting Started with Fertility Charting

How to Set Up Your Fertility Awareness Chart

To start charting, you first need to choose a method that works best for you. Some people prefer a digital approach, using apps like Read Your Body, while others opt for paper charts. Regardless of your choice, your chart should include space to record your basal body temperature (BBT), cervical mucus observations, cycle days, and calendar dates. Additionally, you should be able to mark key indicators like your coverline, peak day, and temperature shift. You can find printable charts in my shop or use an app like Read Your Body for convenience.

When to Start Charting Your Cycle

You can begin charting at any point if you are off hormonal birth control. Day 1 of your cycle is marked by the first day of full menstrual flow—requiring a pad, tampon, or menstrual cup. Consistent charting starts with daily observations, so make it a habit to check in with your body each day.

Understanding Basal Body Temperature (BBT)

Using a Basal Body Thermometer, which measures to two decimal places, take your temperature every morning before getting out of bed, ideally at the same time each day after at least three hours of continuous sleep. This will give you a precise BBT reading, which is crucial for identifying ovulation and confirming your fertile window.

The Importance of Cervical Mucus in Fertility Awareness

Cervical mucus is a key fertility sign that changes throughout your cycle. Different Fertility Awareness methods categorize cervical mucus differently, but a common approach is to distinguish between ‘dry,’ ‘non-peak,’ and ‘peak’ mucus. Understanding these categories helps you determine your fertile window more accurately.

Understanding Different Fertility Awareness Methods

Symptothermal Methods like Sensiplan, Symptopro, Serena, NFPTA or the method from Taking Charge of Your Fertility use cervical mucus and basal body temperature as the primary fertility biomarkers, however some methods include optional cervical position checks. These methods may include a calculation rule (like the Doering rule) to open the fertile window and some will rely on only cervical mucus to open the fertile window.

There are more self-teaching resources available for symptothermal methods and they have the added benefit of cross-checking cervical mucus with basal body temperature to determine whether ovulation has happened. Symptothermal methods may not have as robust of a protocol for long cycles or postpartum, because temperature can only confirm ovulation after it has already happened.

Cervical Mucus Only Methods like the Billings Ovulation Method, Creighton or Justisse use very specific categories of cervical mucus to open and close the fertile window. Methods like Justisse are cervical mucus only with an optional BBT observation.

You might want to use a cervical mucus only method if taking your temperature each day is not something that is available for you. Cervical mucus only methods like Billings have really strong protocols for postpartum or long cycles. These methods rely on close instructor support to clarify observations to ensure you’re charting correctly.

Methods like Justisse and Creighton rely heavily on wiping as a way to check for mucus and have very specific categories to chart mucus in. Whereas Billings relies more on sensation with the appearance of mucus being secondary.

Symptohormonal Methods include FEMM, Marquette and Boston Cross Check. These methods use a combination of hormone urine tests or a hormone monitor to test LH and sometimes estrogen in conjunction with cervical mucus. Some symptohormonal methods like Boston Cross Check also incorporate basal body temperature in the protocol.

Some people like the objective element of hormone testing, but in certain reproductive scenarios, LH tests might be a less trustworthy fertility biomarker.

Methods that use the Clearblue fertility monitor, like Marquette, are popular for postpartum charting.

Common Misconceptions About Fertility Awareness

"Fertility Awareness is Only for Avoiding Pregnancy"

While Fertility Awareness is an effective method for preventing pregnancy, it is also incredibly useful for those trying to conceive. By identifying your fertile window, you can time intercourse more effectively to increase the chances of conception.

"You Need Perfect Cycles to Use Fertility Awareness"

Even if you have irregular cycles, Fertility Awareness can still be effective. The key is to understand the signs of ovulation specific to your body. Many people with irregular cycles use Fertility Awareness successfully by learning to observe their unique patterns.

Best Practices for Effective Fertility Awareness

Be Consistent with Your Observations

Consistency is crucial in Fertility Awareness. Regularly tracking your basal body temperature and cervical mucus will give you a clearer picture of your cycle patterns, making it easier to identify your fertile and non-fertile days.

Use the Right Tools for Accurate Charting

Invest in a good basal body thermometer and consider using an app to simplify tracking and interpretation. Remember, tools are there to assist you, but your understanding of the data is what makes Fertility Awareness effective.

Educate Yourself Continually

While the basics of Fertility Awareness can be learned relatively quickly, there’s always more to know. Join communities, take courses, and stay updated with the latest research to make the most out of your Fertility Awareness journey.