What is Fertility Awareness anyway?
You might have heard whispers about it, women who track their cycles to avoid/achieve pregnancy. When someone discovers the witchcraft of confirming when they have ovulated and knowing the rest of their cycle is a free for all in the no condom department. It gets a bit of bad rep sometimes, but what Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) is not:
The rhythm method. The rhythm method is an outdated science assuming all women have a 28 day cycle and therefore must ovulate on day 14. False.
The pull out method. No, no, no. Pre cum has sperm. Gurl, no.
Using an app to track ovulation. Absolutely not. The apps use algorithms to guess the average of your cycle. They don’t know you had the flu last cycle or had huge work stress- both things that can affect when you ovulate.. Absolutely distrust ANY app that says “expected ovulation day” when you don’t input any biomarkers yourself. I’ve been using Clue so long I saw them transition from “ovulation day” to “possible ovulation” after lawsuits. Apps aren’t in your body.
So what is FAM?
Learning to interpret your unique body signals to confirm ovulation. Now these aren’t abstract readings on your body that you need a degree to figure out. All you need is a little education and more than anything, a little curiosity to get down and dirty with your cycle. Frankly, it’s your body and being body literate is all the rage (again!) now.
So what are the biomarkers we can track?
Libido, cervical mucus, basal body temperature and cervical position.
Tell me more!
Libido shifts throughout your cycle. As much as we’d like to deny it, the biological prerogative for being horny is sex… to conceive. So the time of the month when you can conceive, your libido is likely to be peaking. While right before your period when you can’t conceive, those horny hormones aren’t really about.
That wet feeling you get in your underwear sometimes- seeing any creamy, sticky or gummy stuff? You probably know it as discharge. And while we do produce discharge, what you’re noticing more is cervical mucus. Without deep diving in this limited space, that stuff is essential for sperm to reach the egg, so it’s a big factor in identifying ovulation and it only occurs in a particular time frame.
Tracking basal body temperature is a way you can confirm after the fact, that ovulation has occurred. A lot goes on after you ovulate and one of the results is a slightly raised basal body temperature.
Have you ever felt your cervix? It’s a knobby, fleshy cutie a few cm’s up inside your vagina. Being the gatekeeper to your womb, she actually moves around during your cycle, essentially opening up shop and closing shop ie the ability for sperm to enter your womb.
Why would I want to start FAM?
You want to take control of your body, maybe you want to feel empowered in your contraceptive choice and not be reliant on hormonal methods. Maybe barrier methods all cycle long exhaust you. Because you’ve heard women are only fertile 5-6 days a month and you’ve gone WTF why have I been on the pill for 8 straight years? Or maybe there’s a whisper from your body that it’s time to understand your body more.
FAM isn’t just for those who want to conceive.
Why not the Pill or IUD?
Each to their own here, I’m trying to be less vocal about my dislike of the pill.
But if you’ve made it this far, you’re probably a bit curious.
FAM isn’t altering your hormones in any way shape or form (the Pill). You’re not putting a foreign object (IUD) into the wondrously sensitive area that is your womb space.
Women who understand their bodies are much more in tune with their emotions, their needs and their desires. I think women who are body literate are the most powerful, grounded, in their power, women. Confidence comes with body literacy and it’s my passion that all women are confident in themselves and their abilities. This isn’t some new fad that comes and goes, women should all be able to understand their cycle and the ebbs and flow that go with it.. It’s intrinsic knowledge that’s just been a bit forgotten over the years.
