Family planning allows individuals to decide when and if they wish to have children. In support of this goal, it encompasses various methods.
These methods span a broad array of options from contraceptive pills and barrier methods like condoms to implants and intrauterine devices. Surgical procedures that limit fertility also fall under this umbrella.
Then there are the non-invasive strategies — abstinence and the calendar method.
Understanding fertility can support effective decision-making when it comes to family planning.
What’s Fertility Awareness?
Fertility awareness, as it is called, is a natural method of tracking various physiological signs to identify a menstruator’s fertile window, i.e. the days in a cycle when conception is most likely to occur.
These signs include:
- A slight temperature shift in the Basal Body Temperature (BBT), or the body’s resting temperature.
- Changes to cervical mucus that occur throughout the menstrual cycle. It becomes clear and stretchy during ovulation, letting the sperm easily pass through the cervix.
How To Do It Right?
Like many family planning methods, fertility awareness isn’t foolproof. Commitment and consistency in tracking are important for it to work, which can be difficult for those with busy lifestyles.
Also, since the menstrual cycle can be impacted by stress, illness, and lifestyle changes, the presence of these factors might make the prediction of the fertile window harder.
Indeed, getting in touch with your body’s internal calendar isn’t as straightforward as many people think.
Working with a fertility awareness educator can help you address these challenges and enhance the effectiveness of this method. With their expertise, they can provide you with a personalised education that would help you:
- Use the most effective charting methods
- Troubleshoot irregularities in your cycle
- Recognize your body’s signals
Benefits of Fertility Awareness
There are several advantages to fertility awareness that make it appealing to many menstruators:
- It’s cost-effective and doesn’t have the side effects associated with hormonal contraception.
- It helps menstruators understand their bodies and reproductive health better.
- It helps in both achieving or avoiding pregnancy.
- It helps improve the connection between partners, making family planning a shared responsibility.
It is aligned with various cultural and personal beliefs about contraception and family