Description

Over 400 pages. Printed in full colour. Packed with diagrams, illlustrations and photographs of real cervical mucus.

 

CONTENTS:

• Effectiveness of the Symptothermal Method
• Reproductive anatomy
• The menstrual cycle
• The reproductive life cycle
• History and types of FABMs
• How the Symptothermal Method works
• Fertility biomarker: Cervical mucus
• Fertility biomarker: Basal body temperature
• How to close the fertile window (aka how to confirm ovulation)
• How to open the fertile window
• How to adopt a cautionary approach
• Fertility biomarker: The cervix
• Secondary fertility signs
• Fertilisation, implantation and pregnancy
• How to chart to achieve a pregnancy
• Identifying ovulation
• Luteinising hormone test kits
• Preconception health
• How to match sexual behaviour with reproductive intentions
• How to navigate the fertile window
• Information on coitus-dependent contraceptives:
  • External condoms
  • Internal condoms
  • Diaphragms + spermicide
  • Cervical caps + spermicide
  • Coitus interruptus (aka the withdrawal method)
• Personal lubricants
• Emergency contraception options
• How to navigate the doctor-patient relationship
• Special fertility circumstance: Postpartum
• Special fertility circumstance: Post-hormonal contraception
• Special fertility circumstance: Perimenopause
• Apps and devices
• Charts to photocopy for paper charting

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the course handbook to self-teach the Symptothermal Method for pregnancy prevention?

Yes, the course handbook contains absolutely every single thing that you need to know to be able to effectively self-teach the Symptothermal Method. In saying this, we do not know how safe it is to self-teach the Symptothermal Method, as this has never been studied. Jessie does not usually recommend self-teaching unless you are comfortable with this risk, and are someone who enjoys book-learning, and has at least 3 months of time to dedicate to learning the method. In addition to this, self-teaching is not recommended for special circumstances of fertility such as postpartum/perimenopause (and the Symptothermal Method is likely not the most suitable method for these two reproductive life phases). Please read more about self-teaching here to decide if you feel comfortable attempting this: Self-Teach

 

Do I have to use the course handbook if I want to self-teach the Symptothermal Method for pregnancy prevention?

No, you do not. If you visit the Self-Teach page of the website, you will find a number of other Symptothermal Method manuals that you can use to self-teach. Some of these method manuals/resources are even free, or low-cost. You do not need to spend a large amount of money to self-teach the Symptothermal Method. The Symptothermal Method is truly accessible in one way or another, regardless of financial limitations.

 

Can I use the course handbook to self-teach the Symptothermal Method to achieve pregnancy?

Yes! The course handbook is the perfect place to begin learning all about your body and how to read your fertility signals to best time sex to conceive. I absolutely recommend it as a wonderful resource for your TTC journey.

 

I am a fellow Fertility Awareness Educator, can I preorder the course handbook?

Yes! You are welcome to preorder the course handbook, and I thank you for your support as a fellow FABM educator!

However, please keep in mind that the contents (both written and visual) of the course handbook are protected under Australian copyright law, and as such cannot be directly used as a resource/teaching tool in your own courses.

 

I am a health coach / wellness coach / alternative or complementary medicine provider. Can I preorder the course handbook?

Yes! You are welcome to preorder the course handbook and I thank you for your support. Knowledge truly is power when it comes to the menstrual cycle, and I’m excited for the course handbook to open up conversations that raise awareness of the Symptothermal Method.

However, please keep in mind that if you would like to teach your clients how to use the Symptothermal Method, it is advised to undertake a certification and accreditation process with an established FABM organisation. There are many such organisations worldwide, and you can find a list of some of the main ones on the Types of FABMs page here: https://fertilitycharting.com.au/types-of-fabms/

Reading the course handbook alone is not sufficient education to attempt to teach the Symptothermal Method to others.

 

Why is the course handbook AU$120?

The course handbook is over 400 pages (over 200 of which are full colour printing). Colour printing is very expensive. In addition, I can only print small batches of course handbooks at a time. Large companies can print hundreds/thousands of books at a time and this reduces the printing costs. This is not possible for a small-scale FABM instructor, hence the price reflects this.

 

Is the course handbook hardcover or paperback?

The course handbook is paperback.

 

How much is postage?

Domestic and international shipping is calculated at checkout.

 

Who did you write the Natural Contraception and Conception course handbook for?

I primarily wrote this course handbook for myself! It contains absolutely everything that I wish I had known as a teen and young adult. This information would have revolutionised my life had I known about it earlier. I don’t want other women and/or menstruators to feel the same sense of helplessness and confusion when it comes to choosing how to prevent pregnancy. The information outlined in the course handbook is for everyone who wants to have a more intimate understanding of the cyclical nature of their bodies; in fact, we refer to this as ‘body literacy’ – understanding the language that our body speaks to us with.

 

Why did you write the Natural Contraception and Conception course handbook?

While the Symptothermal Method remains a valuable and highly effective option for natural pregnancy prevention, there continues to be a lack of appropriate resources here in Australia. It is difficult for users to find evidence-based books that outline Celsius temperature protocols, as many self-teaching resources are published exclusively for a North American audience using Fahrenheit protocols.

In addition, some existing Australian Symptothermal Method resources mix non-evidence based suggestions (such as tracking moon phases for contraception) with the Symptothermal Method. This can dilute consumer confidence and leave people feeling uncertain as to the validity and safety of the Symptothermal Method.

This course handbook is designed to provide a concise and conservative overview of the rules of the Symptothermal Method for pregnancy prevention. If the subject interests you, you will find that there is a great depth of published research and FABM books that you can dive into to learn more. This handbook is just one of many!

I hope that the Natural Contraception Online Course and Handbook fill a gap in the Australian market so that the Symptothermal Method is once again an accessible and evidence-based option for natural pregnancy prevention.

 

What is the method outlined in the course handbook?

I am certified via the Natural Family Planning Teachers’ Association of the United Kingdom (NFPTA-UK), which is the organisation that Sensiplan originally branched off of. The method outlined in the course handbook is not ‘pure’ NFPTA. Instead, it is an independently provided Symptothermal Double-Check Method.

Key instances where the protocol in the course handbook differs from pure NFPTA include but are not limited to:

Calculation rules:
NFPTA-UK utilises a First Five Day Rule, an S-21 Rule and an S-20 Rule (and unofficially offers a Minus-8 Rule styled on Döering’s research and protocols). These are incrementally offered as users move through phases (first three cycles, cycles 4-6, cycles 7-12, and cycles 13 and onward). I find the calculation rules offered through NFPTA-UK can sometimes unnecessarily confuse new charters. Instead, I offer simplified conservative calculation rules closer to those of the Sensiplan protocol. I follow NFPTA-UK protocol and recommend reserving unprotected sex to Phase 3 only during the first three menstrual cycles of learning. From the 4th menstrual cycle onward, users may choose from the First Five Day Rule or the S-20 Rule (pending certain important conditions are met). From the 13th menstrual cycle onward, users may apply the Minus 8 Rule (pending certain important conditions are met). The calculation rules in the Natural Contraception and Conception course handbook are based on historical Symptothermal Method protocols backed by modern research.

Basal body temperature
NFPTA-UK allows for adjustments of temperatures taken at different times of the morning. I do not usually teach this practice as I believe it can encourage BBT inaccuracies for new charters. NFPTA-UK does not provide an exception rule to cover fallback rises; I teach a Fallback Rise rule in accordance with historical Symptothermal Method protocols and this approach is backed by modern research on temperature monitoring. NFPTA-UK provides charts in a temperature scale of 0.05°C and require temperatures to be plotted between lines. NFPTA-UK employ a visually raised coverline and and do not provide a rounding guide for temperatures. I provide charts in a temperature scale of 0.1°C/0.2°F and temperatures can be plotted both between and on the lines. I teach a coverline that is placed on the highest of the six lows and is not visually raised. I provide a rounding guide for temperatures to be rounded to the nearest 0.05°C/0.1°F as per historical research and guidelines for BBT charting.

Cervical mucus
NFPTA-UK have a cervical mucus classification system of three tiers (any mucus seen, wet/stretchy, clear/slippery). I do not teach these cervical mucus categories. Instead, I teach students how to record (in their own words) the visual characteristics of their cervical mucus, in addition to sensations at the vulva. Charters then summarise these observations into a simple three-tier category of Dry, Non-Peak and Peak type observations. This classification system (Dry, Non-Peak and Peak) is based on historical Symptothermal Method protocols and backed by modern research. It is best suited to users in times of regular fertility and is less suited to those relying primarily on cervical mucus only in the postpartum and perimenopause.

 

I would like to purchase the course handbook; however, you do not ship to my country. Is there a way around this?

Yes, please send me an email at support@fertilitycharting.com.au. I can usually manually add your country to the shipping zone list on my website.

 

Does the course handbook include references?

No, the course handbook does not contain references. Scientific references are available on request to course participants who require them.

 

Can I find the course handbook in a library or bookshop?

No, the course handbook has not been “officially” published as a book and does not have an ISBN. An ISBN is a commercial identifier number used by publishers, booksellers, libraries, and internet retailers etc. The course handbook is usually printed in small batches to provide to my course participants. It was not initially designed as a standalone book and is being offered for sale only while I am on extended maternity leave.

 

Does the course handbook contain gendered language?

The course handbook contains predominantly gender neutral language. However, if you require completely gender neutral language you may find that some occasional passages of the book are not suitable for you.

 

Are all of the diagrams/illustrations original?

No, the course handbook includes a range of diagrams and illustrations. Many of them have been produced from scratch independently by myself (with many hours spent in Illustrator and Photoshop). Others are sourced from stock image providers. Others include a combination of independent and stock image components.

 

Why did you choose the Barbara May Foundation to donate to?

1% of each sale is donated to the Barbara May Foundation.

The Barabara May Foundation is an Australian organisation providing lifesaving maternal healthcare in Tanzania and Ethiopa.

Having now experienced pregnancy, birth and postpartum myself, this is an issue I feel strongly about.

Women in developing nations around the world suffer greatly from nutritional deficiency-related complications and lack of quality medical care.

It’s my hope that your purchase through this website can play a meaningful part in improving health outcomes for women in developing nations.

 

Have any other questions?

Please feel free to send me an email at support@fertilitycharting.com.au