FAM.



Natural Fertility Awareness Methods



Many common contraceptives on the market work by suppressing women’s fertility, with unwanted side effects. Natural alternatives, like FAM, offer a gentler approach. FAM empowers women to understand their ovulation, providing effective protection—with a success rate of 98% in perfect use and 93% in typical use.



The ovulation cycle



Understanding ovulation helps you choose contraceptive method



A woman’s ovulation is central to keep a balanced libido, mood, sleep cycle and apetite. Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM) let women understand their cycles, giving a natural, side-effect–free contraception while supporting their ovulation and natural rhythm.


1. Ovulation





6 days per month when you can get pregnant



Fertility awareness (FAM) is a method that involves tracking the 6 days each month when a woman can get pregnant, which occurs around ovulation.


  • Your menstrual cycle (typically 28 days long) starts from the very first day when you get your period.
  • From the first day and 14 days into your cycle, you have raised levels of estrogen hormone. The other half of the cycle is dominated by the hormone progesterone.
  • Right before estrogen shifts to progesterone, in the middle of the cycle, is when ovulation happens. 6 days around this time is when women can get pregnant.
  • A sign of ovulation is when you notice clear, stretchy cervical mucus.
  • Although ovulation only lasts for one day, sperm can survive for up to 6 days before ovulation, making the woman's fertile period: six full days.


2. After ovulation





Safe to have sex



By tracking and identifying the fertile window (ovulation), you can avoid unwanted pregnancy by using a condom or by avoiding sex during your fertile days.


Certified fertility apps can help you do this. Ovy and Natural cycles are good options. These apps identify ovulation by tracking the raise of progesterone after ovulation - which makes your temperature raise slightly - and functions as a trustworthy indicator of when ovulation has taken place.


We advise against using a regular period app or tracking it yourself, as your ovulation may be irregular. You can use a certified app or take a course in FAM.



3. The cycle restarts





From ovulation to menstruation



Sometimes the menstrual cycle is irregular. Identifying ovulation can then be difficult. Sometimes, the body may even try to ovulate twice. Therefore, you need to track it over time if you want to identify your 6 fertile days, and do so with a certified and approved app. Tracking ovulation to prevent unwanted pregnancy has several benefits:

  • No visits to the gynecologist or procedures are required.
  • No side effects.
  • All you need is an app and a basal thermometer. 98% effective if the method is used correctly.

Under "Webinar" you can listen to the lecture about contraceptives.


Contraceptives webinar

Fertility Apps



There are also other similar techniques (besides Natural Cycles) called FAM, Justisse, or natural family planning, where you can take courses and learn to identify your fertile days. They work similarly to Natural Cycles with temperature tracking and menstrual cycle charting to see your individual patterns.


Often, the charting is done manually with a calendar, for example. You can also learn to identify when you are fertile by looking at fertile mucus and the position of the cervix. But it requires some learning. For some, Natural Cycles may work less effectively if they have a low body temperature and rarely reach 36.8°C or if they have irregular patterns that the algorithm has difficulty recognizing. In that case, it may be better to look into Justisse, FAM, and similar methods.



Regular period tracking apps? Regular period tracking apps? They are not reliable as contraception, unless you have taken fertility classes. Some people use period tracking apps like FLO or similar, and they can be useful, but unfortunately, these apps alone are not reliable when it comes to using them as contraception.


Natural Cycles has a built-in algorithm that calculates your fertile window for you. If you want to learn even more and identify your fertile period without the app, you can of course read more and take courses in Justisse or natural family planning.
*Our recommendation is independent (not paid).



Further reading:



Common contraceptives and comparison of methods



Whats the effects of common contraceptives on the market? Many contraceptives are associated with side-effects in the body, and you have the right to make an informed choice. Compare methods and choose what feels right for you.


Compare contraceptives

Further reading:



Hormonal balance



Many women experience PMS. Read about the hormone balance in the body and how it is connected to ovulation and the menstrual cycle.

Read more

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