How to Choose a Fertility Awareness Method and Start Learning NFP
Maybe you’re wanting an alternative to hormonal birth control. Maybe you are engaged and are required to take an NFP course for marriage prep. Or maybe you’re wanting to start trying to conceive.
No matter your reasons for considering fertility awareness methods—or FAMs—of family planning, sometimes women can feel overwhelmed when trying to learn more. Here is my recommendation on steps to take when deciding to learn NFP:
Learn about your menstrual cycles. While most NFP classes, regardless of the method, will review the processes of ovulation and menstruation, having a better understanding of how your body works will help set you up for success from the start. There are many resources, but even a simple article like this one from the Cleveland Clinic is a good start. I learned so much from the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. I would, however, caution against learning how to chart your cycles solely from a book. It’s important to have a certified instructor where you can ask questions about your unique cycles.
Think about what biomarkers you would want to observe. This can be based on factors like convenience, cost, and your fertile patterns.
Basal body temperature— A BBT thermometer is inexpensive. Some women prefer to use a wearable device (like Tempdrop) for convenience, which can be expensive.
Cervical mucus and sensation— Women can add this observation into their daily routines when using the bathroom. For some women, observing cervical mucus can be difficult during a period of transition or when taking certain medications (like antihistamines).
Cervix— Checking your cervix for firmness, height, openness, and wetness is typically an optional observation.
Hormone Tests— These can be costly as you may need to rebuy test strips, but the results are often straightforward.
Research different NFP methods. The biggest difference between methods are the biomarkers that are observed. See my blog post HERE for the differences between methods. If you are Catholic and are needing to take an NFP course to fulfill pre-cana requirements, visit the USCCB website for methods that meet the USCCB’s standards for diocesan ministry (SymptoPro, the program I teach, meets these requirements). FAbM Base also provides a thorough overview of the different methods as well as what materials are needed.
Attend an Intro to NFP session or schedule a consultation with an instructor. This is like dipping a toe in before diving into the water. Get a feel for what the instructor is like, as well as core tenets of the NFP program. See my services page for information on upcoming intro sessions.
Sign up for a live class led by a certified instructor. Once you’ve decided on a method, I encourage you to enroll in a virtual or in-person course. It is vital to learn from a certified instructor, as you can feel confident that the instructor has been properly trained. In my experience, having an instructor and attending a live class provides so much value, as you can receive personalized guidance. Enroll in a SymptoPro course here.
Please note this resource is for informational purposes only. Content is deemed from reliable sources but may be subject to errors and omissions.