Natural family planning/fertility awareness methods or NFP/FAM involve tracking the female cycle's fertile and infertile phases to either prevent or achieve pregnancies. These methods can be highly effective, have few to no health risks, are eco-friendly and inexpensive, foster male-female cooperation and familiarize women with their own bodies. They are also suitable for people with religious beliefs against "artificial" birth control. To successfully practice any method or methods of NFP/FAM, you need thorough preparation.
Reading Materials
Well before undertaking NFP/FAM, read authoritative websites such as those in the References list, as well as books that they recommend. Although you can often still learn from materials you disagree with on some points, decide whether the NFP or FAM philosophy is closer to your own values. They use most of the same techniques.
However, NFP advocates are often Catholics who oppose "artificial" birth control, consider heterosexual marriage the right context for NFP practice and advise couples to prevent pregnancy through nongenital expressions of love during the fertile time. FAM advocates recommend complete abstinence, nonpenetrative sex or barrier methods like condoms. They often present FAM as one among many contraceptive options for anyone who chooses it.
Learn something about each modern NFP/FAM method. Standard Days or CycleBeads uses a cycle calendar to identify the fertile and infertile phases far more accurately than the outdated rhythm method. The TwoDay, Creighton and Ovulation, or Billings, methods primarily observe cervical secretions. The Basal Body Temperature method or BBT monitors shifts in daily temperature. The symptothermal method combines BBT and Ovulation techniques. The Lactational Amenorrhea Method or LAM is based on breastfeeding's fertility-suppressing effect.
Instruction and Counselling
It is highly recommended that you seek out experienced, qualified instructors and counselors of your chosen NFP/FAM method or methods. The websites of several organizations can help you locate in-person classes or counseling services, often in a number of countries and sometimes in languages other than English. If these services are not available in your area, most of these organizations will work with you over the Internet or by phone.
Billings LIFE, the Creighton Model and Family of the Americas all focus on cervical mucus observation and the Couple to Couple League on the symptothermal method. TeenSTAR International teaches adolescent women fertility tracking as part of its sex education curriculum.
The CycleBeads website has a directory of providers familiar with this method. The Fertility Awareness Network offers an information packet to help you locate either FAM or NFP teachers. Fertility UK works with the British National Health Service. For LAM instruction, contact one of the above groups or the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action.
Supplies
Necessary supplies will vary somewhat according to your chosen NFP/FAM method or methods. In general, monthly fertility tracking charts---whether hand-recorded or computerized---are essential. The Standard Days Method is most easily carried out using CycleBeads, a color-coded visual aid. A special basal body thermometer is necessary to observe temperature patterns throughout the cycle. Whatever you need, have it in place beforehand so your practice of NFP/FAM will go smoothly as possible.
