Fertility Awareness
Body literacy is your birthright
Most of us go our entire lives regularly visiting the GP, but were never told that natural birth control exists 🤯
The Symptothermal Method (sometimes known as the Fertility Awareness Method, or “FAM”) allows us to read the signs of our body to know when we are fertile, and when we are not.
This information is life-changing for everyone who struggles witih hormonal contraception side effects! It’s also the key to an empowered TTC (“trying to conceive”) journey.
In this library you’ll find answers to common questions about natural birth control, tips on charting to conceive, and recent news articles about FAM.
PS: Add your name to the mailing list (at bottom of page) to receive regular blog posts about the menstrual cycle, your fertility and natural contraception options.
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FABM Charting for Teens
Without fail, one of the most common laments I hear is “I wish I had known about the Symptothermal Method at a much younger age – I can’t believe I only learned how my body worked in my 20s/30s/40s”. Oftentimes, the natural next iteration of this thought process is “I can’t wait to teach my…
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FABMs in the Postpartum: Latest Systematic Review
Disclaimer: I am writing this article from the depths of postpartum sleep deprivation. Please also keep in mind that I am not qualified or trained to interpret contraceptive effectiveness estimate research papers so I encourage you to read the latest systematic review for yourself to form your own opinions about FABM charting in the postpartum…
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Trying For A Baby? Why You Should Chart Your Cycles
When I first tell people that I teach clients how to chart their menstrual cycles to conceive, the initial reaction is often “Is that really necessary? Don’t people just have sex and fall pregnant and it’s as easy as that?” Unfortunately, this is a symptom of a health education system which drums into us from…
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Can the Moon Cause Random Ovulation?
Not a month goes by where I don’t get a question or a comment along the lines of “I’ve heard that you can spontaneously ovulate when the moon is in the same phase as it was when you were born… is that true?” As it seems there are a lot of people wondering the same…
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On A Budget: How To Chart With $20
There are already enough barriers out there that stand in the way of learning about our menstrual cycles – and I don’t think the cost of Fertility Awareness-Based Method (FABM) instruction should be one of them! Unfortunately though, because FABM instruction is not covered by Medicare or private health insurance here in Australia, it remains…
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Cosmopolitan Magazine: Bias Against Fertility Awareness Continues
Yesterday, Cosmopolitan published an article titled ‘Do You Know Enough About Your Body To Use Fertility Tracking Apps?’ Unfortunately, the article was packed full of misinformation and displayed an astounding lack of understanding about how Fertility Awareness-Based Methods (and our bodies) actually work. Luckily for me, I see these types of articles so frequently that…
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Postpartum Fertility: I Just Had A Baby, Now What?
UPDATE July 2022: Before deciding to rely on a Fertility Awareness-Based Method (FABM) during the postpartum, it’s important to note that a 2022 systematic review found that “the current evidence base [for the effectiveness of fertility awareness-based methods for preventing pregnancy during postpartum amenorrhea and the transition to normal menses] is very limited and of…
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An Open Letter In Response To The ABC’s Editorial On Fertility Awareness-Based Methods
Today, ABC Life published a journalism piece titled “Before You Try Fertility Awareness Methods For Contraception, Here’s What Doctors Want You To Know” which quoted statements from doctors Melissa Kang, Amanda Newman and Black along with editorial by Grace Jennings-Edquist. You can read it here. The piece concerned me on multiple levels and I felt…
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Recommended Basal Thermometers
When using the Symptothermal Method of Fertility Awareness, a basal body temperature (BBT) thermometer is required. A BBT thermometer is a highly sensitive thermometer that measures accurately to two decimal places. This is important because the changes that you are looking to identify while charting can be as small as 0.2°C. Your basal body temperature…
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The Myth of Multiple Ovulation
“Can you spontaneously ovulate at different times throughout the menstrual cycle?” It is a common question and the answer is thankfully no. Our reproductive system actively stops us from ovulating on multiple occasions within a single menstrual cycle. Ovulation is an event that occurs when a mature ovum bursts out of the follicle that houses it…
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Can Period Sex Result In Pregnancy?
It’s the age-old question that just won’t go away. From middle-aged mothers to experimenting teens, confusion reigns supreme when it comes to period sex and whether it carries a risk of pregnancy. The short answer is a resounding YES: You can become pregnant after engaging in sexual intercourse while menstruating. If you’re curious like me,…
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Benefits Of Using A Fertility Awareness Based Method
Discover the eight key benefits to the simple act of charting your menstrual cycle. Anyone who has been using a Fertility Awareness Based Method for long enough, knows that the simple practise of charting your menstrual cycle delivers boundless benefits when it comes to your health, your relationship and your lifestyle. Fertility Awareness Based Methods…
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Natural Cycles’ FDA Approval: What’s The Big Deal?
You may have heard that Natural Cycles was given the green light by the FDA last week to market itself as an official contraceptive. Natural Cycles predicts when a user can/cannot become pregnant based on that user inputting their daily basal body temperature reading. Understandably, the internet has been abuzz with proponents and sceptics alike debating…
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New Research Released On The Effectiveness Of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods
This week has been quite a momentous one in the world of Fertility Awareness Based Methods (FABM’s), with the release of a large systematic review that comprehensively critiques the quality of a huge number of FABM studies. This is significant considering the fact that reliably high efficacy rates are often the main drawcard for women…
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Natural Birth Control? Your Questions Answered
When I mention to friends, family and colleagues that I use the Symptothermal Method of Fertility Awareness as contraception (and have done so successfully for a number of years now), I typically get a blank stare, followed by a *lot* of questions! These questions normally follow a pretty predictable pattern. However, I realised that for…
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Natural Contraception: Why I Haven’t Used Birth Control In Over A Year
Ok, that’s technically not true, but hopefully the headline caught your attention. I have in fact been using birth control, but it’s a form of birth control that you may not be familiar with. I hope this article changes that, and is useful for at least one person who reads it! As of November 2016,…
