Natural family planning or fertility awareness methods, also called NFP/FAM, are ways to prevent and sometimes achieve pregnancy by tracking the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's monthly cycle. These methods often are portrayed as impossibly cumbersome and ineffective. While they take preparation and dedication, they can work very well, especially if you first take certain steps to simplify their use.
Calendar Rhythm
The original, scientifically based form of NFP/FAM was calendar-based rhythm, first promoted during the 1930s. The highly complex rules of calendar rhythm made it user-unfriendly and, thus, ineffective for even very diligent couples. This led to a dim popular view of NFP/FAM that continues into the early 21st century. NFP/FAM researchers and educators now consider this original form of calendar rhythm outdated. They have supplanted it with a variety of effective, evidence-based "natural" methods developed specifically with greater simplicity of use in mind.
Current Types of NFP/FAM
NFP and FAM are distinct approaches. Generally, NFP addresses religious objections to "artificial" contraception and follows abstinence during the fertile phase. FAM advocates a complete range of family planning methods and, for the fertile time, barrier methods and forms of sex other than penis-vagina. NFP and FAM do apply essentially the same techniques. With modern calendar-based methods such as cycle beads, a woman can readily track the days and likely phases of her menstrual cycle. Symptoms-based methods, such as the Two-Day, Basal Body Temperature, Billings and Symptothermal methods, depend on her daily observations of fertility and infertility symptoms, especially shifts in cervical mucus and daily waking body temperature. The Lactational Amenorrhea Method, or LAM, is based on the ability of exclusive breastfeeding to suppress ovulation.
Personal Fit and Motivation
NFP/FAM is easier to practice if you and your partner first jointly and clearly examine your motives for practicing it and whether it fits with your relationship and situation. According to "Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers," modern NFP/FAM approaches all are medically safe. But alone they cannot protect against sexually transmitted infections such as HIV. Some medical conditions and medications, such as certain anti-seizure, anti-inflammatory and psychiatric drugs, can render NFP/FAM ineffective. If you decide to go through with NFP/FAM, work with your partner to identify the most doable method or method combination.
Preparation and Learning
NFP/FAM practice is smoothest and simplest if you learn initially and keep learning from an experienced teacher. See the References for some websites and organizations dedicated to educating people about NFP/FAM. They can help you find local classes or arrange for instruction over the Internet or telephone. Obtaining any and all needed supplies before you start also will simplify your practice of NFP/FAM. These might include cycle beads, handwritten or computerized fertility tracking charts, an atlas of cervical mucus photographs, a fertility microscope or a basal body thermometer. Make sure you have extra supplies handy in case they run out or malfunction.
