Fertility Awareness Method Pros and Cons
Today I wanted to share about the pros and cons of the Fertility Awareness Method. I know it’s not for everyone. I know there is a lot of misleading information online – espeically if you’re using google. So I wanted to be realistic and break it down for you.
So lets start with the pros.
1. Easy to learn with an instructor
With an instructor – the method can be 99.6% effective. The numbers for self-teaching are more in the 80-somethin-%. I’m not only saying this because I’m on the road to becoming an instructor but during my own journey I thought I could do it myself and quickly learned that there is SO much information and different methods out there that you just need help narrowing down which method to use. You can’t use them all!
2. Can identify reproductive health issues
By charting (not just tracking) your cycles, you gain valuable information into your health. You will know when something isn’t right. You will start to understand how different things affect your cycles and when to seek help.
3. Supports body literacy
Like the one above, you start to understand and connect with your body like you have never done before. You understand the natural flow of energy and when you may be more productive than other times.
4. Reliable method of birth control
It has a 99.6% efficacy rate with perfect use. That is right next to the efficacy rate of the pill, IUD and patch.
5. Feel empowered and informed
It’s so empowering to really know what’s going on with your body. Knowing which hormone is dominant and which phase you’re in. You also learn about all those things you wish you would have learned at school.
So now the cons.
1. Can take time to learn
It’s not an overnight solution. It does take time and at least 3 months to really see the patterns of your cycle and understand your own mucus production.
2. Misinformation online and from doctors
If you google the Fertility Awareness method – you will see that google says it is ineffective iwth only a 70-something-% efficacy rate. This isn’t very accurate. Those could be the numbers if you’re just using it as the rhythm/calendar method. Use website such as: FEMM, Symptopro, Justisse, and the NHS just recognised it as a reliable form of birth control.
3. Not for everyone
Let’s be realistic. It’s not for everyone. Some of you are completely content with the form of birth control that you are using. Maybe you don’t have any side effects from the pill. Maybe you just hate your period and are happier to not have one. That is your choise. I just want to inform women about all the possibilities and information that we should have received when we were made to take a form of birth control.
4. Requires some abstinence
I’m not going to sugar-coat it. It does require you to adjust your secual habits during the fertile window. This means, you and your partner can be a little more creative during this time. Maybe explore the world of toys or imagination. But the main thing is that it’s important to not mix sperm with cervical mucus in the vagina.
5. Does not protect against STIs/STDs
I don’t recommend using FAM for one-night-stands. Use it with a partner that you trust and have openly talking about FAM with. Additionally, there’s no harm in both of you getting tested before having unprotected sex.
Now that you have the pros and cons list I still believe that the pros outweigh the cons. Learning about FAM was a game-changer for me. I hope it does the same for you.
Let me know if you have any questions! Happy to answer them.