I wanted to write this today because I think there is a big misconception when people hear about charting or Fertility Awareness. There’s this assumption that it all means the same thing, when in fact there are quite a few methods within the umbrella of FAM.

Today I’m going to share 8 different methods, as shown in Taking Charge of Your Fertility, the fertility signs used within that method as well as the effectiveness. All of this will hopefully show you that there are a lot of options (good and bad) within Fertility Awareness based methods. And you can see why lumping all of these together as FAM will give you inaccurate results for “effectiveness”.

Sympto-Thermal Method (STM) FAM/NFP

Fertility Signs Used: Cervical fluid and waking temperature (option to chart cervical position as well).

Effectiveness: This is considered the most comprehensive and reliable method because the two signs must corroborate each other before you’re considered safe (it’s the method taught in TCOYF and what I teach in Chart Your Cycle). It’s on par with the effectiveness of the Pill.

A method where two of three signs are observed, in addition to optional secondary signs.

BBT Method (Basal Body Temperature)

Fertility Signs Used: Waking Temperature

Effectiveness: very effective but only after ovulation

The days before ovulation aren’t safe for unprotected sex because the rise in temp only indicates you’re safe after ovulation. But it is an option for those that can’t rely on their cervical fluid patterns.

Justisse Method

Fertility Signs Used: Cervical fluid (option of waking temp or cervical position)

Effectiveness: just like with Creighton and Billings (below) it’s effective because it uses fluid, but unlike those other two you have the option to chart your waking temp and cervical position which can make it as effective as the sympto-thermal method.

It’s similar to Creighton model since it uses almost the same descriptions of fluid. It also provides holistic health-care support to women having different types of hormonal problems.

Creighton Model System (CrMS)

Fertility Signs Used: Cervical fluid

Effectiveness: quite effective like Billings because cervical fluid is most important sign to observe when charting to avoid pregnancy, but you don’t get temp shift to confirm ovulation.

It’s also called fertility care system. It’s similar to billings but uses extremely precise and standardized description of fluid.

Billings Ovulation Method

Fertility Signs Used: Cervical fluid

Effectiveness: quite effective because fluid is most important sign to check when avoiding pregnancy naturally, but you don’t have the added benefit of a temp shift to confirm ovulation so it’s not as effective as STM.

The classic and first method in which only fluid is observed.

Two-Day Method

Fertility Signs Used: Cervical fluid

Effectiveness: You don’t have the benefit of temp shift to confirm ovulation since rules aren’t as strict as other methods that observe fluid it may not be as effective

It’s a simplified version of Billings Ovulation Method. It asks whether you observed a secretion the day before or that day. If it’s yes to either you’re considered fertile. It doesn’t differentiate between types of fluid so it’s easy to apply.

Cycle Beads

Fertility Signs Used: None

Effectiveness: same as Standard Days Method (below)

Cycle beads are simple braclet of beads that can be used with the Standard Days Method. But it’s easy to get confused with what day you're on because there are no dates on the beads. Because of this, an actual calendar would be more effective to use with Standard Days.

Standard Days Method

Fertility Signs Used: None

Effectiveness: It can be effective for those with consistent cycle lengths, but like the Rhythm Method (below) it doesn’t involve charting fertility signs day to day so it doesn’t account for an abnormal ovulation. It’s only recommended for women who are spacing their kids or would be OK with surprise pregnancy.

It’s similar to the rhythm method and couples avoid unprotected sex during presumed fertile phases of days 8-19 if she has consistent cycles between 26-32 days.

Rhythm Method

Fertility Signs Used: None

Effectiveness: It’s unreliable because it doesn’t involve observing any fertility signs day to day, so it doesn’t take into account an abnormal ovulation.

It’s an out of date method that uses past cycle lengths to predict future fertile phases. Not recommended.

I hope you can see from this that there is an array of options for charting. And that methods like the Rhythm Method is very different from the Sympto-Thermal Method.

What’s your preferred method?