body literacy... cycle charting… fertility awareness... what does it all mean?

Body literacy is found at the intersection of scientific and experiential knowledge of the body’s physiological processes, especially related to our sexual/reproductive organs and the hormonal dance that drives the ovulation/menstrual cycle. Fertility awareness refers to the specific implementation of body literacy in our pursuit of reproductive and sexual autonomy through a collection of practices that help us come to understand the menstrual cycle, confirm ovulation, and gain an awareness of our reproductive health.

When we use the principles of fertility awareness as a daily practice, either to avoid or to achieve pregnancy, it is known as the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM). By charting our fertility signs—waking body temperature, cervical mucus observations, and cervical feel & position—every day, we can know at all times whether unprotected intercourse or insemination could result in pregnancy, allowing us to base our activities on our desired outcome.

As a method of contraception, FAM is moderately to highly effective, depending on the specifics of the method and how strictly guidelines are adhered to. At its best, effectiveness rates are comparable to hormonal birth control, though these rates are more likely to be achieved after learning from a trained and certified educator.