Fertility awareness - meaning and definition
AlsoNFPFABMnatural family planningfertility awareness-based methodsrhythm methodcycle trackingFAMfertility awareness methodnatural birth controlperiod tracking app
Not yet reviewed by a clinician. This health entry was written from the public-health sources listed below and is general information only. It is not medical advice.
Definition
Fertility awareness is a way of preventing or planning pregnancy by tracking body signs to identify the fertile days of the menstrual cycle.
At a glance
- It involves tracking body signs to identify the fertile days of the menstrual cycle.
- Signs include cycle length, cervical mucus changes and basal body temperature.
- Combining several signs is more reliable than counting days alone.
- Everyday effectiveness is much lower than with perfect use.
- It is harder to use with irregular cycles, after childbirth or around menopause.
In detail
Users record signs such as the length of each cycle, changes in cervical mucus and basal body temperature. During the fertile window they either avoid vaginal sex or use a barrier method. Combining several signs is more reliable than counting days alone.
Taught well and followed exactly, these methods can be up to about 99% effective, but in everyday use effectiveness is much lower, and they are harder to use when cycles are irregular, after childbirth or around menopause. Learning from a trained teacher is recommended. They involve no hormones and can also help people trying to conceive.
In a sentence
- We use fertility awareness and a barrier method during the fertile window.
- She took a fertility awareness course with a trained teacher before relying on it.
Not to be confused with
- Withdrawal method
Withdrawal relies on pulling out before ejaculation, not on tracking the cycle.
Common questions
Is fertility awareness the same as the rhythm method?
The calendar or rhythm method counts days only, while modern fertility awareness combines several body signs, such as temperature and cervical mucus, which is more reliable.
Can fertility awareness help with getting pregnant?
Yes. The same tracking that identifies fertile days for avoiding pregnancy can also help people trying to conceive find the best time. A clinician, pharmacist or sexual health service can help with questions about a specific situation.