It’s highly recommended to work with a qualified Fertility Awareness Educator for at least the first three cycles while learning a Fertility Awareness-Based Method (FABM). It’s important to avoid any mistakes during this time, especially if you are trying to avoid falling pregnant.

There are five main types of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods:

1. Symptothermal Methods
   * Single-check
   * Double-check
2. Cervical Mucus-Only Methods
3. Symptohormonal Methods
4. Calculothermal Methods (not recommended)
5. Calendar-only Methods (not recommended)

What do each of these five types of FABMs involve?

Symptothermal Methods: Cervical mucus and basal body temperature (BBT) observations.
Cervical Mucus-only Methods: Cervical mucus only.
Symptohormonal Methods: Cervical mucus and urinary hormone metabolite observations (usually via a device known as the Clearblue Fertility Monitor and/or luteinising hormone test strips [OPK’s]).
Calculothermal Methods: Calculations based on previous cycles or population averages, and basal body temperature observations (i.e. Natural Cycles/Daysy etc). These methods are not recommended due to their high failure rates.
Calendar-only Methods: Calculations based on previous cycles or population averages only (i.e. the Rhythm Method). These methods are not recommended due to their high failure rates.

What is the difference between single-check and double-check Symptothermal Methods if they are both checking cervical mucus and basal body temperature?

Symptothermal Single-check Methods: The fertile window is opened with cervical mucus observations. The fertile window is closed with cervical mucus and BBT observations. Not as effective as Symptothermal Double-check Methods.
Symptothermal Double-check Methods: The fertile window is opened with cervical mucus observations and calculations based on past cycle lengths or temperature shift dates. The fertile window is closed with cervical mucus and BBT observations. Symptothermal Double-check Methods are more effective than Symptothermal Single-check Methods.

Within each of the above methods, there are numerous protocols that are taught by both secular and religious organisations. Religious organisations may or may not include religious teachings on sexuality and morality. Religious methods are often referred to collectively as “Natural Family Planning” methods, or NFP (instead of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods).

Different methods are often suited to different stages of your life as you move from menarche to menopause, potentially experiencing postpartum life in-between. Different methods will also suit different lifestyles and health issues. For example, those who suffer insomnia might avoid Symptothermal Methods, and those who are in the postpartum period or who experience confusing cervical mucus patterns, might try Symptohormonal Methods.

An experienced instructor will be able to guide you toward a method most suited to your situation.

It’s very common to hear about a 99.4-99.6% effectiveness rate when learning about Fertility Awareness-Based Methods. This rate is based off a study of the Sensiplan Method. The Sensiplan Method is a Symptothermal Double-check Method and was found to be 98.2% effective with typical use, and 99.6% effective with perfect use. These rates were based on regular and ongoing contact with a qualified instructor. The self-taught method outlined in the book ‘Taking Charge of Your Fertility’ by Toni Weschler is a Single-check Method closer to 98% effective with perfect-use, as discussed by Toni in Appendix D of her book.

Nearly all of the organisations below offer variations of their core method. For example, Marquette and Boston Cross Check offer countless variations within their protocols as users can choose from rules that combine cervical mucus, temperature and hormone testing (Estrogen and LH) in different combinations. Contact the organisation you are interested in working with for more information.

Underneath these diagrams you will find a link to the instructor directory. You can also click through to visit the organisation websites directly and most will have a way for you to contact instructors on their websites. Most FABM instructors are fully equipped to teach remotely via Skype/ Google Hangouts/ Zoom etc.

This is not an exhaustive list of FABM methods/organisations:

To find out about the effectiveness rates of different Fertility Awareness-Based Methods, read this systematic review that was released in the journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology in Sep 2018: Effectiveness of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods for Pregnancy Prevention: A Systematic Review.