This is your call to a new wave of sexual liberation, one in which sex exclusively for pleasure is no longer compromised by the addition of unnecessary hormones. One in which a woman shares the responsibility of pregnancy prevention with her partner, and plays an active role in her own healthcare practices through the act of body literacy. This practice is an act of love for yourself. It is an act of care for your body. It is a radical step forward for women of all walks of life.
Fertility Awareness
This is your call to a new wave of sexual liberation, one in which sex exclusively for pleasure is no longer compromised by the addition of unnecessary hormones. One in which a woman shares the responsibility of pregnancy prevention with her partner, and plays an active role in her own healthcare practices through the act of body literacy. This practice is an act of love for yourself. It is an act of care for your body. It is a radical step forward for women of all walks of life.
Fertility Awareness
Fertility Awareness-Based Methods (FABMs) is the umbrella term, underneath which falls all of the methods that you may have heard of, from apps like Natural Cycles to FSH and LH testing strips like ClearBlue Fertility Monitor. There are FABMs that involve observing your cervical fluid only, like the Billings Method. Other methods involve calculations only, like the outdated Rhythm Method.
FAM, however, refers to a sympto-thermal method which uses cervical fluid observation (sympto) and daily waking temperatures (thermal) to determine fertility on a DAILY BASIS, so the user can make an informed decision about whether or not to have unprotected sex on any given day.
What is fertility awareness (FA)?
The method is described in incredible detail in Toni Weschler’s book Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Her method is what most people are referring to when they are talking about FAM. Other sympto-thermal methods are Justisse, The Well (Cycle Mapping), and Sensiplan (which has an option to add a calculation).
If you’re interested in FAM, I recommend beginning with Toni Weshler’s book. Other great recommendations are: Garden of Fertility by Katie Singer, and Your Fertility Signs by Merryl Winstein. An introduction for younger girls includes: Cycle Savvy, by Toni Weschler, and Your Moontime Magic, by Maureen Theresa Smith.
Fertility Awareness-Based Methods (FABMs) is the umbrella term, underneath which falls all of the methods that you may have heard of, from apps like Natural Cycles to FSH and LH testing strips like ClearBlue Fertility Monitor. There are FABMs that involve observing your cervical fluid only, like the Billings Method. Other methods involve calculations only, like the outdated Rhythm Method.
FAM, however, refers to a sympto-thermal method which uses cervical fluid observation (sympto) and daily waking temperatures (thermal) to determine fertility on a DAILY BASIS, so the user can make an informed decision about whether or not to have unprotected sex on any given day.
What is fertility awareness (FA)?
The method is described in incredible detail in Toni Weschler’s book Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Her method is what most people are referring to when they are talking about FAM. Other sympto-thermal methods are Justisse, The Well (Cycle Mapping), and Sensiplan (which has an option to add a calculation).
If you’re interested in FAM, I recommend beginning with Toni Weshler’s book. Other great recommendations are: Garden of Fertility by Katie Singer, and Your Fertility Signs by Merryl Winstein. An introduction for younger girls includes: Cycle Savvy, by Toni Weschler, and Your Moontime Magic, by Maureen Theresa Smith.
What can you do with FAM?
Well, FAM users have several options! If you’re trying to avoid pregnancy and don’t want to use synthetic hormones to do it, enter FAM for 100% non-hormonal birth control. If you want to conceive and don’t know where to begin, again, enter FAM for conception. Finally, if you want to reconnect to the wisdom of your body, align yourself with the cycles of your hormones, and/or gauge your endocrine and overall health, enter FAM for wellness.
Can anyone use FAM?
Yes! Anyone can use FAM. You can still use FAM if you have PCOS, irregular cycles, are just ditching hormonal birth control (HBC), are entering perimenopause, or if you are postpartum. Because FAM is about using biodata to gauge your fertility on a DAILY BASIS, anyone can use it. We aren’t trying to predict anything. Forget everything you’ve learned about predicting your future cycles based on your previous ones!
Is FAM accessible? What financial commitment is involved?
FAM is accessible for most people, yes. The most affordable option is to pick up a used copy of Taking Charge of Your Fertility and learn Toni’s method from the book. We are talking a commitment of maybe $10 and some time and effort on your part. To level up your practice, you might consider working with a certified fertility awareness educator (FAE). A certified FAE will have graduated from an Association of Fertility Awareness Professionals (AFAP) accredited training program, and will teach group classes, one-on-ones, and/or offer recorded lectures for your to learn along with. Although you will pay your FAE per session or per class, the investment will be well worth it as you will get a more hands-on education.
What programs are accredited by the AFAP?
There are only a few, but they include: Justisse, The Well School of Body Literacy, and Eden Fertilité (in French).
What is the advantage of using a sympto-thermal method, like Cycle Mapping or Taking Charge of Your Fertility?
There are so many great benefits to using a sympto-thermal method! Firstly, it’s super accessible for most people. Once you know how to use the method, it is practically free to print off charts to track your fertility signs. Secondly, using a sympto-thermal method can give you plenty peace of mind if you are avoiding pregnancy – there are concrete rules to follow to properly avoid getting pregnant, and there is a sure-fire way to confirm that ovulation as occurred. Thirdly, getting to know your fertility signs is an excellent way to build connection to your body and its cycles. It creates a deeper sense of intimacy with your body, spirit, and menstrual cycle – oftentimes resulting in a greater appreciation for menstrual periods, big feelings, and aches and pains. Some users even result in relief from aches and pains after tuning into their cycles. Finally, data from your charts can give you hard evidence to present to your doctor if you feel like something is “wrong.” We can often HELP our practitioners help us when we can show them the data, which makes for a quicker diagnosis and a much more efficient and effective care plan!
Is FAM effective as a contraceptive? Does it work?
The Guttmacher Institute reports that with perfect use, studies show that sympto-thermal FAMs like Sensiplan are about 99.6% effective, and with typical use they are about 97% effective – that’s more effective than using a condom. Again, don’t rely on the outdated Rhythm Method.
Can I use an app to help track my data? Do FAEs work with apps?
Yes, typically they do! We often recommend that you can use an app like Read Your Body, which offers a free trial for 30 days. After that, it is either $2.69 per month, or about $21.00 for the year. Read Your Body will NEVER sell your personal health data, but be careful...because other apps will. A certified FAE will be able to work with you if you choose to use an app like RYB. In fact, RYB even has a template to use charts from The Well School of Body Literacy!
Fertility Awareness FAQs
I am currently teaching puberty and menstrual cycle classes for teens and adults; and intro to perimenopause classes.
These classes are geared towards girls and women, and also to all people with female reproductive organs.
Please feel free to contact me if you have a small group and are interested in hosting a class, or if you are looking for a class happening near you.
Stayed tuned, as class schedules will be posted to my website as they become available.
Current Offerings
I am currently teaching puberty and menstrual cycle classes for teens and adults; and intro to perimenopause classes.
These classes are geared towards girls and women, and also to all people with female reproductive organs.
Please feel free to contact me if you have a small group and are interested in hosting a class, or if you are looking for a class happening near you.
Stayed tuned, as class schedules will be posted to my website and Instagram account as they become available.
Current Offerings
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- 6-Week Body Literacy Class Series - learn to chart your cycle
- 1:1 fertility awareness education. Sessions are for individuals or couples. Initial sessions are a minimum of 2 hours in length.
- Initial sessions account for an in-depth discussion about your cycle history and sexual health timeline, as well as time to learn the method.
- Documents and resources will be provided to you.
- It is recommended to purchase additional hours of follow-up accountability and consulting.
- Hours can be scheduled in 1-hour blocks, and used on a monthly basis to check in on your progress. Meaning, 6 additional hours = 6 additional months of support.
- Virtual sessions and in-person sessions are available.
- I will be offering my clients 3-months of free access to Read Your Body App.
Future Offerings
- 6-Week Body Literacy Class Series - learn to chart your cycle
- 1:1 fertility awareness education. Sessions are for individuals or couples.
- Initial sessions are a minimum of 2 hours in length.
- Initial sessions account for an in-depth discussion about your cycle history and sexual health timeline, as well as time to learn the method.
- Documents and resources will be provided to you.
- It is recommended to purchase additional hours of follow-up accountability and consulting.
- Hours can be scheduled in 1-hour blocks, and used on a monthly basis to check in on your progress. Meaning, 6 additional hours = 6 additional months of support.
- Virtual and in-person sessions are available.
- I will be offering my clients 3-months of free access to Read Your Body App. Click below for more information about RYB!
Future Offerings
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