Fertility awareness. The name itself conjures up all sorts of strange connotations. You may hear fertility and immediately jump to people trying to get pregnant and assisted reproductive technologies. Or perhaps you equate fertility awareness with the rhythm method or other outdated forms of natural birth control.

In reality, fertility awareness is now the common name specifically for the sympto-thermal method of fertility awareness, which can be quite a mouthful. This method combines at least two fertility signals (namely, temperature and cervical fluid) in order to determine your current state of fertility.

It is based on scientific facts, described below, and you do not need a regular cycle to practice it. All you need is a natural curiosity about your body and a bit of desire to avoid or achieve pregnancy (though there are those that practice it solely for more knowledge about their hormones).

So what’s the real deal with the sympto-thermal method? Many times people use the terms “natural family planning” or “fertility awareness method” to denote ANY method that encompasses periodic abstinence or use of an alternate birth control method. I have even heard of people using the term fertility awareness as synonymous with withdrawal.

This leads to most people believing that the method is ineffective, too hard to learn, difficult to practice, or only acceptable if no other method will work for you.

These assumptions can be true for many of the methods that encompass periodic abstinence. None are true in regards to the sympto-thermal method.

The pros and cons of using the sympto-thermal method of fertility awareness

In reality, the method is over 99% effective, has no side effects or health ramifications, it connects you to your sexuality and to your partner in new ways, helps you be more aware of your health as well as responsible for it, can empower you in your reproductive health and decision making, give you more understanding of and respect for your feminine nature, is environmentally friendly (no dumping hormones into waters or using disposable products), and is cost effective.

Another great benefit is that it can apply to you throughout your entire reproductive years, as you can use it to understand your hormones, avoid pregnancy, or consciously choose to conceive.

With all of these amazing extras why would anyone choose to not use this method?

Some of the less stellar components are that it requires time to learn (about 3 hours plus time for gaining experience that is best used practicing another form of birth control), it requires discipline to chart regularly, it requires consistent and correct use in order to be used effectively, it requires motivation and responsibility, and it doesn’t protect against STIs.

But really, In my experience, most people shy away from the method because the amount of power and responsibility that they are given does not seem appropriate to them on a subconscious level. They are accustomed to doctors knowing best and do not think that their body contains the information they need to avoid or achieve pregnancy, nor that they could be capable of understanding such signals.

But you can. And it’s fun!

charting your cycle

How the method actually works

So, what’s the science behind the method? Why should you trust it? Here are some facts about fertility. Keep in mind the signals that you are checking are basal body temperature and cervical fluid.

  • Sperm need cervical fluid to survive, swim, and be effectively “washed” and capable of fertilizing an egg. It can live in fertile cervical fluid for up to 5 days, but dies quickly in the natural acidic vaginal environment.
  • Cervical fluid builds up in response to estrogen, which is released by the developing sacs that hold the egg. This is happening in the days leading up to ovulation.
  • The egg can only live for 12-24 hours, and ovulation can only happen once in a cycle. If two eggs are released, the second comes within 24 hours of the first, after which ovulation is inhibited by high levels of progesterone.
  • Progesterone is released from the corpus luteum, which is what the sac that held the egg turns into after ovulation has taken place. This raises the body temperature, dries cervical fluid, and inhibits a second ovulation.

The basis of the method is a combination of male and female fertility. This includes both how long sperm can survive and how long an egg can survive, as well as knowing the window that the egg was released in.

Learning how to chart your cycles

The sympto-thermal method of fertility awareness is 1.) very unforgiving if practiced incorrectly and 2.) best learned through another person (Your experience will be unique to you, and having someone to work with you on any questions you may have while learning is priceless). It is best to look for a fertility awareness educator to teach you.

That being said, I would also recommend Taking Charge of Your Fertility as an excellent book that explains the sympto-thermal method in depth.

Do not attempt to use the method just through information that you glean online. Those who do generally are those that have unplanned pregnancies.

Even if you aren’t sure if you would like to use the method, you can gain enormous amounts learning about it, and will learn a lot about your body practicing it, even just for awareness.

So, I want to hear from you: Do you chart your cycles for natural birth control? If not, do you have fears holding you back? What are they?

About the author of this post:

hannah Hannah Ransom is a fertility awareness educator and the founder of holistic hormonal health. She's obsessed with hormonal health and sustainability. You can visit her website to learn more about fertility awareness.