click here to download your free chart. 

These charts are are freely available to Clients of Natural Fertility NZ who have been taught the Sympto-Thermal Method of charting.  Natural Fertility NZ does not recommend the use of these charts by anyone who has not been taught by an NFNZ Accredited Fertility Educator.

Natural Fertility NZ will be starting a Fertility Educator Training course in November - applications close 30 October 2010 click here for more information.  Learning is primarily by distance education but there are two practical sessions of five days each held in Christchurch in March and June.

Fertility & Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a disease that occurs in 15-20% of all women, and in up to 50% of women who have trouble conceiving.  It is most commonly diagnosed in women aged 25-40 although symptoms usually begin in the teen years and it is often initially misdiagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome. 

So, what is Endometriosis?  Endometriosis is when tissue (cells), similar to that found in the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is found outside the uterus in places such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and bowel.  These cells respond to oestrogen (just like the endometrium in the uterus) which means they can become inflamed and bleed resulting in scarring.  This can cause problems if you are trying to conceive.

What’s the cause?  The cause is unknown in spite of many theories so research continues.  There is no cure, but endometriosis can be treated and managed. 

What are the symptoms?  Symptoms can include: painful periods, pain with ovulation, painful intercourse, pain with bowel movements, constipation, diarrhoea, difficulty conceiving, abdominal pain, lower back pain, pain before or with urination, frequent urination, sudden need to urinate, pre-menstrual symptoms, mood fluctuations and depression, tiredness fatigue, exhaustion, low energy, abnormal menstrual bleeding. 

Is it painfuf?  The amount of pain is not always related to the extent of the disease.  Some girls and women with mild endometriosis can suffer severe symptoms while others may have advanced progression of the disease but with few or no symptoms.

How is it treated?  Endometriosis treatment can involve surgical intervention (removing or releasing scar tissue), medication to reduce pain and inflammation, hormonal treatment to reduce the growth of endometrial tissue (Progestins, Mirena and the oral contraceptive pill) and management through diet and lifestyle changes, regular exercise, the reduction of stress and incorporating complementary therapies. 

 Question - I have Endometriosis and want to conceive but it just isn’t happening.  How can Natural Fertility NZ help me?

• There are many myths and misconceptions about the menstrual cycle and fertility.  Natural Fertility NZ Educators are highly trained health professionals who will help you differentiate fact from fiction.
• 
  Endometriosis can compromise fertility in some women.  By charting your menstrual cycle we can ascertain what is happening with your fertility. 
• 
  Some women with endometriosis find intercourse painful and this can be frustrating when trying to conceive as the frequency of intercourse may be reduced.  By learning about the most fertile time in your cycle, intercourse can be timed to maximize your chances of conceiving.
• 
  Recording your menstrual cycle along with endometriosis symptoms over several months provides a valuable history if a referral to a fertility specialist or gynaecologist is required.
• 
  Learning about your menstrual cycle and fertility is an empowering process.
• 
  Linking specific endometriosis symptoms to different phases of the menstrual cycle can be helpful in planning self care and the management of symptoms.

Want to find out more about Endometriosis?
Visit Endometriosis New Zealand  the Registered Charity formed to provide information, education, support and foster research on http://www.nzendo.co.nz or http://www.me.school.nz  the website specifically for girls and young women, parents and teachers to understand the condition, learn about treatment options and best practice care

click here to view  a fun, fact file of "his" and "her" fertility information particularly useful for parents when having those all-important "conversations" and answering "those" questions .  We answer many questions about fertility on our 0800 178 637 number so Kim, our Distance Service Educator, has put together a short, fun, fact file of "his" and "her" fertility facts that we hope will provide you with conversation starters and information you can share with your children.  Please feel free to download it.

We've had a really exciting couple of months at Natural Fertility NZ with new Educators gaining their accreditation, changes in clinic locations and, very sadly, three of our long-serving Educators moving on.

Welcome Catherine (Dunedin), Kirsten (Kerikeri) and Rebecca (Wellington)

Catherine Mahoney is our new Dunedin Educator and she is holding clinics (by appointment only) at 29 Cargill Street and you can contact her by calling 027 477 6026 or by email on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kirsten Johnstone has opened a new clinic in Kerikeri where she will be delighted to see you at Room One, 6 Homestead Road, Kerikeri but do contact her first for an appointment by calling  021 338 320 or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rebecca Rolfe has taken over from Mary Walburn at the Wellington Clinic which remains unchanged at Margaret Sparrow Clinic, 6th Floor, 35 Victoria Stret, Wellington.  All clinics are by appointment only and you can contact Rebecca by calling her direct on 021 125 9583 or by email on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

It was so sad to say "au revoir" to Mary Walburn, Pam Munro and Karin Martin - we refuse to say goodbye so au revoir it is - until we meet again - 

Hardly a day goes by without an article in the press about infertility.  Its affect on a couple can be devastating.  However, a low sperm count does not necessarily mean infertility or prevent achieving pregnancy.  A lower than optimum sperm count can be due to lifestyle factors which you can control.

The three biggies that affect quality sperm production are:

1. excess consumption of alcohol
2. carrying excess weight
3. using recreational drugs

Article: Added to site 10 October 2008
Breast is best is a catchy phrase and with all the adverse publicity surrounding infant formulas recently, Natural Fertility approached Louise James, Breastfeeding Advocate with Women's Action Trust, to explain just why Breast really is Best here's what she said:

A helpline offering advice for medical and health professionals on managing fertility issues was launched by Natural Fertility New Zealand on 1 June 2009.

Free advice for medical and health professionals will be available Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 2pm on (07) 867 7809 or by e-mail on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Hello to our friends in the United States of America, you make up 15% of the visitors to our website.  It is a great pleasure to have you visit us "downunder".  Your visits have steadily increased over the past twelve months and that intrigues us.  What brings you to New Zealand, we're a long way away from your home?  How can we help? Is there anything that you are particularly looking for or is there something you would like to see on our website, do let us know if there is.  We'd really like to hear what you have to say.  You can let us know by registering on our website and that will go straight through to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , our Distance Service Educator, or contact me, Catherine, by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  We're looking forward to hearing from you!

The Government has announced new funding of $164 million on an immunisation programme to fight cervical cancer, which will start in September.

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation Programme will be offered free to 17 and 18 year old women (born in 1990 and 1991) from 1 September this year and for 12 to 16 year old girls from next year.

The funding package means more than 300,000 girls and women aged 12 to 18 will be able to get the vaccine for free over the next five years. The HPV immunisation Programme will be ongoing for 12 year ole (year 8) girls and aims to reduce cervical cancer in New Zealand by protecting girls and young women against HPV infection caused by the HPV types present in the vaccine, Gardasil.  Currently, around 160 New Zealand women each year are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 60 women per year die from cervical cancer. 

In the long term, it is expected that about 30 lives a year will be saved and there will be fewer abnormal smear results.  This will mean less stress for those women who may require extra tests, diagnoses and invasive treatments and it will also free up valuable health sector resources.

Maori and Pacific women have higher rates of cervical cancer than other ethnic groups.  By making the vaccine free through primary care and schools the programme will aim to reduce those inequalities.

Women will still need to have regular cervical smear tests even if they have been immunised because although the vaccine protects against the most common causes of cervical cancer, it does not protect against all causes of cervical cancer. 

Source: ImmNuZ, issue no 51, June 2008

Article: Added to site 7 July 2008
Breastfeeding lowers the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, according to a recent Swedish study.  Researchers compared 136 women with rheumatoid arthritis to 544 women who were free of the disease.  Those who had breastfed for 13 months or more were half as likely to develop the disease as those who had never breastfed.  Women who had breastfed for up to 12 months were 25 per cent less likely to develop the disease, they found. (Ann Rheum Dis; 16 May online publication),

Source NZ Doctor, 18 June 2008, page 22.