Two nights ago I attended a dear friend of mine’s bridal shower. My friend is very kind, intelligent and simply abeautifulwoman. I am so pleased that she found someone to love and to partner with on the journey of life.
This book changed my life. Literally. And I have told countless friend after friend of its benefits – I call it FAMgelizing. FAM = Fertility Awareness Method, and that is what this book teaches.
FAM is not your grandmother’s rythmn method… because it actually works.
Matt and I effectively and naturally prevented conception using this method. We also have since used it to conceive.
Reading this book was like turning on a light in my mind, allowing me to see and understand the inner-workings of my body. God didn’t make my body to be a mystery, but instead I have come to see that it is beautifully and intelligently designed.
FAM is also highly beneficial for all women who want to educate themselves about their bodies. Even if you have no interest in using the method for avoiding or achieving pregnancy, it is an empowering means of taking control of your gynecological health.
The Fertility Awareness Method is NOT the Rhythm Method. The Rhythm Method is nothing more than an obsolete, ineffective guessing game that uses past cycles to predict future fertility. The Fertility Awareness Method, on the other hand, is a scientifically-validated, effective, and natural method that involves charting three primary fertility signs on a daily basis, so that a woman’s fertility can be accurately determined.
The three primary fertility signs are waking temperature, cervical fluid, and cervical position. The method is based upon the functioning of estrogen, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, and the corpus luteum. Unlike the Rhythm Method, whose contraceptive effectiveness cannot be taken seriously, the Fertility Awareness Method, when used properly, is 98% effective.
This isn’t a post about how to chart, or how to avoid or conceive children. I am writing this post to tell you the pros and cons of the fertility awareness methodso you can see if it your cup of tea.
FAM PROS
You will know when to expect your periodwithin a day or two, even if you are “irregular”.
You will know if you are pregnant without taking a home pregnancy test.
You will be able to arrive at an extremely accurate due date and can tell your midwife or doctor your estimated due date instead of the other way around.
It is easier to avoid an unnecessary induction for being “over due” when you are 100% certain of your estimated due date as opposed to a pregnancy dating wheel choosing your fate (which can be off quite a bit).
You will become aware of infertility issues quickly instead of just waiting it out for the first year, as most doctors recommend.
You have the opportunity to self-treat infertility issues before seeing a specialist.
FAM is all natural which means there are no synthetic hormones wreaking havoc on the body.
You will never wonder if FAM caused an abortion (because it can’t) unlike the pill and how it was designed (abortifacient).
When used correctly, FAM is just as effective as the birth control pill.
FAM won’t effect your milk supply or get into your baby’s system as the pill does.
There is hardly a cost to this method. No prescriptions, refills, or need to see a doctor for permission.
You can start and stop FAM as you wish, without waiting for it to “get out of your system”.
You will never be that person who didn’t know they were pregnant.
FAM CONS
You will never be that person who didn’t know they were pregnant (sometimes it’s nice to be surprised).
There is atendencyto become obsessive with charting, especially when trying to conceive (TTC). There is a thing as knowing too muchand it if you let it, it can become stressful.
FAM is as effective as the method of birth control (abstinence, condoms,withdrawal, prayer, spermicide) you use during your fertile phase. If you arelackadaisical during your fertile phase, a surprise baby is more likely.
Sticking to a regular wake-up time is necessary to have an accurate and interpret-able chart. If you have a baby or a toddler that wakes you up periodically throughout the night, your wake up times and temperatures may vary, which will skew your chart.
This method may be not besuitablefor certain religious or spiritual convictions. Even if this method is not used for TTA (trying to avoid), I still think parts of this method may be helpful for dating and planning purposes.
FAM is ingrained in my mind, and it’s something that I cannot forget. Sometimes, I am envious of women who find out they are pregnant a month or two into pregnancy because a surprise is nice and it almost seems as if it makes the pregnancy shorter.
When I became pregnant with Gabriel I knew. Exactly. What. Was. Going. On.
So, would you be interested in using FAM? Do you already use FAM?
Risks. The rhythm method is an inexpensive and safe way to help you chart your fertility — the time of month when you're most likely to be able to get pregnant. Using the rhythm method as a form of birth control doesn't pose any direct risks. However, it's considered one of the least effective forms of birth control.
This form of birth control involves tracking your menstrual cycle on a calendar to predict ovulation. You use this information to identify when you're most fertile. When you're fertile, you avoid sexual activity or use other types of birth control at that time of your cycle.
The best way to use FAMs is to combine the temperature, cervical mucus, and calendar methods. Each of these methods relies on different signs to predict your fertile days, so using them together gives you the best picture of your fertility and makes FAMs more accurate.
The main disadvantage of the rhythm method is that it is not always reliable, especially for people who have variable menstrual cycles or ovulation days.
Fertility Awareness-based Methods (FAMs) (sometimes known as natural family planning or the rhythm method) are a way of finding out the days you are most likely to get pregnant and then not having sex on those days. It means paying close attention to your menstrual cycle to track when your body releases an egg.
How effective are fertility awareness methods? FAMs are about 77-98% effective: that means 2-23 out of 100 couples who use FAMs will get pregnant each year, depending on which method(s) are used. If you use multiple FAMs together, they work even better.
Coitus interruptus, also known as withdrawal, is a traditional family planning method in which the man completely removes his penis from the vagin*, and away from the external genitalia of the female partner before he ejacul*tes.
It is not recommended to use ovulation tests or fertility monitors as a means of tracking your ovulation in order to avoid pregnancy. Ovulation tests only identify the LH surge up to 24 to 48 hours before ovulation, and sperm can survive in the body up to 3 to 5 days.
Avoid unprotected sex during the fertile window. Check cervical mucus secretions at least twice a day. Take and chart temperature every morning before getting out of bed to identify postovulatory increase in temperature. Avoid sex from start of menstruation until three days after seeing temperature rise.
Hyperovulation-stimulating foods: There are a few foods that naturally increase the rate of ovulation and stimulate ovaries to release multiple eggs. Such hyperovulation stimulating foods include cassava (an African wild yam or sweet potato), tofu, soy isoflavones, whole grains, and whole wheat.
Spermicides come in many different forms: gels, creams, foams, films or suppositories. It contains a special chemical that impairs sperm and stops it from reaching an egg. Spermicides need to be placed in your vagin* up to 30 minutes before sex to be effective.
You take your temperature in the morning and examine your cervical mucus at night to work out when it's safe to have sex. You can also watch for various symptoms that show you are ovulating. These include some pain like period pain, spotting and tender breasts.
Alleviate stress and anxiety. Increase social skills and sense of connection (when in group settings). Boost production of the brain's “happiness chemicals.” Decrease stress.
Although it is not very reliable, it still accounts for a significant reduction in fertility. After parturition, when the women are lactating intensely, they do not undergo the menstrual cycle so the chances of conception are almost nil.
A woman is most fertile during ovulation. For a woman with 28 to 30 days menstrual cycle, ovulation takes place during the 10th to the 14th day. But there are still chances to of getting pregnant till the 21st day. So days 1 to 7 and 14 days before your periods are considered to be safe days.
What we do know is that withdrawal works about 78% of the time overall. But the odds of pregnancy are always higher during the 5 days leading up to, and during, ovulation — these are called fertile days. If no sem*n gets on your vulva or in your vagin*, pregnancy can't happen — whether or not you're ovulating.
The study found that women who had cycles of 26 days or fewer had reduced chances of becoming pregnant, or fecundability. The average cycle length among participants was 29 days.
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Introduction: My name is Lilliana Bartoletti, I am a adventurous, pleasant, shiny, beautiful, handsome, zealous, tasty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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