Fertility Awareness: Why It Is Done

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Why It Is Done

Fertility awareness is done to help a woman learn when she is likely to ovulate. This information can help a woman:

• Become pregnant. Pregnancy is most likely to occur when sexual intercourse occurs close to the time of ovulation.
• Avoid pregnancy. A couple may use fertility awareness for birth control if:
  • Their religious beliefs do not allow the use of other methods of birth control.
  • They wish to use a "natural" method of birth control that does not use medicines, surgery, or other devices.
  • They are willing to pay close attention to the woman's cycle.
  • They are willing to not have sex or to use another birth control method during fertile days.
  • Preventing a sexually transmitted disease (STD) is not a concern.

To use fertility awareness as a birth control method:

• The woman should have regular menstrual cycles.
• The woman must watch her body for changes during her menstrual cycle. She must keep good records of her cycles.
• Both partners must do this method together. The couple must be willing to not have sex or to use a barrier contraceptive on days when the woman is fertile.
• The couple must be willing to have an unplanned pregnancy if this is their only method of birth control.

Last updated:	March 21, 2008
Author:	Sandy Jocoy, RN
Reviewed By:	Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine, Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC