Fertility Awareness myths that we really need to leave in 2021

As 2021 draws to a close I want to put pen to paper (figuratively, of course) and set the record straight myth busting the top 10 myths I hear all the time about Fertility Awareness.

So without further ado, these are the 10 myths that we really, really need to leave in 2021.

1. Fertility Awareness is only for those with regular cycles

   Wrong, wrong, wrong. It doesn’t matter if you have PCOS, Endometriosis, Hypothalamic Amenorrhea or just occasional irregular cycles. Fertility Awareness can (and does) work!

   I argue that Fertility Awareness can be more powerful for those with irregular cycles, because you get real time insight into your hormones (without invasive blood tests) and you know exactly where you are in your cycle and whether or not you’ve ovulated. This is really valuable information to have, especially if you’re proactively working on improving your symptoms and getting healthier overall.

2. Fertility Awareness can not be used as contraception

   I honestly laugh out loud when I read/hear this myth - because it’s a lie.

   This may be news to some - but women and people that menstruate are only able to fall pregnant for about a week (6-7 days) each cycle. It doesn’t matter if you have a 20 or 200 day cycle, there’s only 6-7 days where you can fall pregnant. Fertility Awareness works by helping the user determine which days they are fertile. Then the individual can make an informed decision about their actions when they know they can fall pregnant.

3. ALL methods have an efficacy rate above 99%

   Not all methods are created equally and not all methods are studied correctly.

   From the outset I want to note that there are no current studies on the efficacy of self-teaching Fertility Awareness. So while it’s common knowledge that Sensiplan has a 99.6% efficacy rate - that only applies when the method is learnt with an educator - not from learning with the method manual.

   The Billings Ovulation Method and Sensiplan are two methods with a very high efficacy (over 99%) that have been independently studied by researchers that are not affiliated with the method. Natural Cycles and Daysy quote high efficacy rates - but the rates they quote are from consumer surveys by the companies, not scientific studies.

   The amounts that efficacy rates matter really depends on your intention. If you’re really avoiding pregnancy then it matters a lot more than if you’re charting for health or if you want to conceive.

   My advice, do lots of research and ask questions! If you’re looking at working with an educator find out what method they’re certified in (note - because there’s no governing body keeping an eye on FAM educators there are people claiming to be educators, but have no formal certification or training, so due diligence on your part is required!)

4. Tracking Basal Body Temperature is enough to use as contraception

   Offft, this one is really incorrect - but some folks have been lead to believe it is the truth.

   To clarify, basal body temperature is used to confirm that ovulation has occurred. It plays no part in letting us know when ovulation is approaching. Further to that - ovulation is a variable hormonal event that responds to external and internal stressors (travel, illness, excessive exercise, under eating). To reiterate - your body temperature can not tell you when you’re going to ovulate.

   What does tell you that ovulation is approaching? Cervical mucus.

   Your basal body temperature information is useless without cervical mucus observations if you’re trying to avoid pregnancy.

5. Cervical mucus is really difficult to understand/interpret

   Lies, lies, lies.

   This particular gem is really popular with GP’s/PCP’s that tell you Fertility Awareness is an irresponsible choice for contraception or by companies that sell expensive thermometers that claim their algorithms can tell you when you’re fertile.

   I have news for you. Cervical mucus isn’t like reading Hieroglyphs (which to me seems super complex). It can actually be tremendously straight forward. People benefit from you not understanding your body, so they’re motivated to lie and say it’s really hard.

   In my own personal experience and after working with lots of clients I can tell you that most people pick it up within 2 weeks, and are fully literate in understanding their cervical mucus patterns within about 1.5 cycles.

   Postpartum, Peri-menopause and PCOS cervical mucus charting can be a little bit trickier to understand due to hormonal changes and imbalances - and this is where the help of an educator that specialises in that area is so valuable.

6. Ovulation can be predicted

   Ovulation is a variable hormonal event that is very sensitive to internal and external stressors. Sometimes you won’t even be aware of the stressors - it could be something insignificant (to you) or something really exciting like traveling - but to your body there’s something not quite right and your brain signals that right now is not a great time to conceive.

   By practicing Fertility Awareness we can narrow down our fertile window and we can confirm when ovulation has occurred - but we still don’t know the exact day of ovulation. The only thing that can do that is a very well timed ultrasound. So ANYTHING that claims to predict the day of ovulation is utter waffle.

7. All bleeding is menstruation

   Menstruation is defined as bleeding that occurres 11-16 days after ovulation. Ovulation must have occurred for bleeding to be menstruation. But there are 3 other types of bleeding that can present exactly like menstruation.

   • Breakthrough bleeding - the result of high levels of estrogen before ovulation

   • Withdrawal bleeding - the result of declining levels of estrogen when ovulation has not occurred (follicle has started to develop but it hasn’t fully developed and starts to breakdown)

   • Implantation bleeding - the result of conception occurring and the ovum implants into the endometrium.

8. “Feeling” ovulation is a reliable indicator that ovulation has occurred

   Ovulation pain or mittelschmerz is a tertiary indication of ovulation. Because for some people it’ll happen sometimes, others will never experience it, sometimes it happens before or after ovulation - there’s just not enough consistency for it to be a reliable indication of ovulation.

   Cervical mucus and basal body temperature are primary, urinary hormone testing and cervical position are secondary, and then things like ovulation pain, tender breasts, mood swings and appetite are tertiary signs.

9. The Pill can regulate/heal/treat your cycles

   Don’t get me wrong. The Pill is a brilliant little medication for preventing pregnancy and I am by no means anti-hormonal contraception. But the Pill does not, can not regulate or treat hormonal imbalances. If anything it can make them so much worse because the Pill works by totally shutting down your natural hormone production and stops ovulation. If your hormones where imbalanced before going on the Pill, there’s a really high chance they will be even more imbalanced after being on the Pill.

10. Women and people who menstruate can get pregnant 365 days a year

    This is true….for men and penis owners. But women and people who menstruate are only able to get pregnancy for 6-7 days a CYCLE! Not a lot.

There you have it - the 10 myths I really think we need to leave in 2021! Let me know over on my instagram account @knowhq if you think I’ve left any out!