Fertility Awareness Course

Fertility Awareness is an umbrella term for different methods where the goal is to identify ones fertile window based on body symptoms. We at Hormone Focus use the double-check symptothermal method: following the three main fertility sign (cervical mucus, cervical position and basal body temperature) and we use the collected information with the well established rule set to identify fertility window. Other methods for example Billings method (cervical mucus only); Doering method (Basal body temperature only); Marquette method (cervical mucus sign with LH tests); or Lactational Amenorrhea Method (Fully breastfeeding as contraception).

No, Fertility Awareness methods and Symptothermal method is not the rhythm method. With Symptothermal method you are monitoring your signs of fertility (cervical mucus, cervical position and basal body temperature), collecting all the information to a chart and using it to understand the cycle, identify when are you fertile and how your hormones are working. Symptothermal method has a well established rule set meanwhile allows you to understand your individual body.

There is no 100% safe contraception (except complete avoidance of intercourse), but the symptothermal method is considered as safe contraception: 99.6% safety with correct use and 98% as it used commonly.
Here is a list from WHO with the effectiveness of all ways contraception.

Charting is useful for 3 main goal:
- Avoiding pregnancy. Symptothermal method an be used for contraception: identifying your fertility window allows you to understand when do you need to use contraception (e.g. barrier methods or avoidance) and when will you not get pregnant from unprotected intercourse.
- Conceiving. Identifying your fertile window with symptothermal method and understanding when are you fertile allows you to time intercourse and helps to reach your goal and conceive.
- Monitoring health. As a magnifying glass the symptothermal method is a tool to understand your hormonal health, to be able to see how your body works and gives you chance to identify if something is out of balance.

Symptothermal method is a great too to understand fertility general, and understand your individual fertility. It is a magnifying glass to be able to see how the hormonal system is working and do we have a healthy cycle to be able to become pregnant? Do we ovulate? Do we have long enough luteal phase for implantation? And when do we exactly ovulate? The 28 days long cycle with ovulation on the 14th day is a myth. The Basal Body Temperature drop at ovulation is a myth. But symptothermal method allows you to see the whole cycle, real time and understand the hormones in the game. Being able to see ovulation in real time gives advance for example for planning intercourse to have a better chance to reach your goal.

No, it is not a problem if you do not have regular cycles as it is not based on calendar but based on your own body. On the top of it Symptothermal method is useful to be able to see closer how and why is your cycle possibly shown irregular pattern?

We are all different and there is no contraception method what I would advice for everyone, so the symptothermal method also would not fit everyone. Symptothermal method gives you power to follow your own body and gives responsibility as well: you will be the leader of your contraception method. It requires every day 2 minutes from your life and consistency. This might sound scary but believe me, when you get used to it, it will be just a routine like tooth brushing. But if you feel you would not like to pay this attention yo your body, I recommend to use other non-invasive ways of contraception. If you feel that your lifestyle would not allow you to use Symptothermal method, but you are interested of it: write me a message and let's discuss about how could you still include it to your life and benefit from the use.

No, the only way of contraception that can protect you from STDs is the condom (or the female condom*). Fertility Awareness Methods do not provide you safety from sexually transmitted diseases.

There is a difference between charting and following your cycle. Both can be done in phone app, however it is important to note that not all applications are can be used for charting.
Charting means that you are collecting your fertility signs and the chart is a map for your fertility: if you can read you can understand your hormonal flow and fertility. Everything is based on your body and it is personal.
Following the cycle with regular apps means most of the time that you are marking the menstrual phase and the length of your period, and the different application uses this and general program to predict what happens in your body (Fun Fact: as the predictions are not based on your body it can give you totally invalid idea of your fertility or time of ovulation.)

Of course.
If you feel that reading the blog or the course introduction have not answered some questions feel free to contact me: here under this phase you can send me personal message, so we can discuss further about individual situations.