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Fertility Awareness-Based Methods
FAMs
What are fertility awareness-based methods?
Fertility awareness-based methods – shortened to FAMs and often referred to as "natural family planning" – are ways to track ovulation (the release of an egg), in order to prevent pregnancy.
How do FAMs work?
FAMs work by keeping sperm out of the vagina during the days near ovulation when a woman is most fertile (when she is more likely to become pregnant). A woman may choose to abstain during her “unsafe” days, or she may choose to use withdrawal, condoms, a diaphragm, a cap or spermicide. She may also choose to engage in other kinds of sex play instead of vaginal intercourse on her fertile days.
A woman may track her cycle by:
- Taking her temperature daily.
- Checking her cervical mucus daily.
- Recording menstrual cycles on a calendar.
- Keeping a very accurate record of when her period comes each month.
How effective is this method?
FAMs are 75-99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. It is estimated that anywhere from 12-25 out of every 100 couples who use FAMs each year will have a pregnancy if they don't always use the method correctly and consistently.
What are the advantages of using this method?
- There is very little cost involved. Calendars, thermometers and charts are easy to get.
- They are safe.
- They can be stopped easily to plan a pregnancy.
- Medication is not needed.
What are the disadvantages of using this method?
- It may be difficult to track your period because it is irregular.
- You have a sex partner that is not as committed to FAMs as you are.
- Other medications you are on may affect reading the signs used for these methods.
- You must abstain or use another method for at least 10 unsafe days during each cycle.
- Keeping a consistent record may be time-consuming and difficult to do.
- If a barrier method is not being used, FAMs do not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections.
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Female Condoms
