Using fertility awareness as contraception can feel scary if you've ever heard it fails 1 in 4 women with typical use (25%).
That figure is unhelpful as it lumps together all the different fertility awareness methods and some of them are better than others.
The failure rate mentioned in this BMJ update is more helpful because it gives a range of figures, depending on the method used. It ranges from 2% to 34% with typical use.
That figure is unhelpful as it lumps together all the different fertility awareness methods and some of them are better than others.
The failure rate mentioned in this BMJ update is more helpful because it gives a range of figures, depending on the method used. It ranges from 2% to 34% with typical use.
The review (based on work by Guttmacher) says the most effective fertility awareness method is Sensiplan, which is a more detailed version of the Fertility UK approach that I teach.
Sensiplan is great but I prefer Fertility UK as I think it's easier to use and understand - which must help improve effectiveness. It's also the approach recommended by the NHS website which says it's up to 99% effective.
Both Sensiplan and Fertility UK methods use a range of fertility indicators to confirm the fertile time, including waking temperature, cervical fluid (“mucus”) and cycle length calculations, and follow the guidelines described in this research study.
A key difference is Fertility UK uses a standard Celsius fever thermometer to measure waking temperature instead of a two decimal point thermometer (Basal Body Temperature or BBT thermometer).
Some women will be comfortable with two decimal points, especially if they're using an app to record their data, but I think shorter numbers make life easier, especially first thing in the morning.
Also you don’t need that much detail. One decimal point is enough to see the sustained temperature rise that means your fertile days are over and your green days have begun.
Two decimal points might mean you see a slight dip in your temperature around ovulation, but not everyone gets this. "Look for the rise, not the dip" as Jane Knight of Fertility UK says in her Complete Guide to Fertility Awareness.
If you want a really simple method, one that only asks you to record day one of your period, you could consider Standard Days (CycleBeads). With correct use, this has a failure rate of just 5%, which is good enough for many women.
But, unlike other methods, it requires cycle length between 26 and 32 days. and it's probably not as much hassle as you think to take your waking temperature, keep a vague eye on your fluid and do some basic sums.
In fact it can be pretty liberating - definitely worth taking that leap.
Find out if FAM is right for you here.
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Note on language: I use the term "FAM" for brevity and to indicate that I'm not a religious teacher. There are many, many fertility awareness based methods of fertility awareness out there - not just those mentioned in the BMJ update. Some are secular (like Fertility UK) and some are faith-based.
The term "natural family planning" is sometimes used instead of FAM, especially in the UK, but strictly speaking, this refers to the approach to fertility awareness that is allowed by the Catholic Church. It means you abstain during your fertile days and you're open to having a baby if you get pregnant. FAM indicates a more secular approach, which means you decide what to do at this time.
Sensiplan is great but I prefer Fertility UK as I think it's easier to use and understand - which must help improve effectiveness. It's also the approach recommended by the NHS website which says it's up to 99% effective.
Both Sensiplan and Fertility UK methods use a range of fertility indicators to confirm the fertile time, including waking temperature, cervical fluid (“mucus”) and cycle length calculations, and follow the guidelines described in this research study.
A key difference is Fertility UK uses a standard Celsius fever thermometer to measure waking temperature instead of a two decimal point thermometer (Basal Body Temperature or BBT thermometer).
Some women will be comfortable with two decimal points, especially if they're using an app to record their data, but I think shorter numbers make life easier, especially first thing in the morning.
Also you don’t need that much detail. One decimal point is enough to see the sustained temperature rise that means your fertile days are over and your green days have begun.
Two decimal points might mean you see a slight dip in your temperature around ovulation, but not everyone gets this. "Look for the rise, not the dip" as Jane Knight of Fertility UK says in her Complete Guide to Fertility Awareness.
If you want a really simple method, one that only asks you to record day one of your period, you could consider Standard Days (CycleBeads). With correct use, this has a failure rate of just 5%, which is good enough for many women.
But, unlike other methods, it requires cycle length between 26 and 32 days. and it's probably not as much hassle as you think to take your waking temperature, keep a vague eye on your fluid and do some basic sums.
In fact it can be pretty liberating - definitely worth taking that leap.
Find out if FAM is right for you here.
__
Note on language: I use the term "FAM" for brevity and to indicate that I'm not a religious teacher. There are many, many fertility awareness based methods of fertility awareness out there - not just those mentioned in the BMJ update. Some are secular (like Fertility UK) and some are faith-based.
The term "natural family planning" is sometimes used instead of FAM, especially in the UK, but strictly speaking, this refers to the approach to fertility awareness that is allowed by the Catholic Church. It means you abstain during your fertile days and you're open to having a baby if you get pregnant. FAM indicates a more secular approach, which means you decide what to do at this time.