Tag: Avoiding Pregnancy

Train to be a Fertility Awareness Educator

If you are passionate about Natural Fertility and have a background in health you can apply to become an educator. The next Certificate in Fertility and Reproductive Health starts in February 2027. Download the programme guide for all the details, and apply now to register your expression of interest (only 12 places available)

Train to become a Fertility Awareness Educator

If you are passionate about Natural Fertility and have a background in health you can apply to become an educator. The next Certificate in Fertility and Reproductive Health starts in February 2027. Download the programme guide for all the details, and apply now to register your expression of interest (only 12 places available).

What is the Fertility Awareness training like?

There are 3 main components to the course:

  1. The theory – Delivered online via moodle, and split into two semesters. Expect to spend about 5 or so hours a week on the theory.
  2. The Practicums – Each semester ends with an in person practicum where you will get to put your theory into practice and meet the other trainees, your Course Facilitators and the Clinical Supervisor.
  3. Supervised Practice – An assessment of your practice with your first client for each category.

While most of the theory is self guided, there are 2-3 online meetings each semester to go over some of the content.

Who is Fertility Awareness Training for?

Becoming a Fertility Awareness Educator is a great addition to your current practice. We have a number of Nurses, Midwives, and Natural Health Practitioners currently Accredited with us who find that this training complements their work, and provides extra support to their female patients.

About the Fertility Awareness Training Programme

The NFNZ Certificate in Fertility and Reproductive Health is taught over 1 year, and will qualify you to teach:

  • The Sympto-Thermal Method (STM) for avoiding conception
  • Fertility Awareness for those trying to conceive
  • GP’s, Nurses and Midwives through Continued Medical Education (CME)
  • Community education

Once you have completed the certificate, you will be invited to become a member, and recognised as a NFNZ Accredited Educator.

You will also have the opportunity to further your fertility awareness education with the diploma, which is taught over 6 months, and will qualify you to teach:

  • Advanced guidelines for STM, including for Peri-menopause
  • The lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) & fertility while breastfeeding

NFNZ supports its Accredited Educators through continued access to senior educators, monthly educator online meetings for chart discussion, facebook group for general discussion, and a number of grants.

Please note that we will only be training up to 12 students in 2027, so don’t delay in applying to secure your place on the course.

Next Course starts February 2027

Apply Now

Recent Posts

  • Train to be a Fertility Awareness Educator
    If you are passionate about Natural Fertility and have a background in health you can apply to become an educator. The next Certificate in Fertility and Reproductive Health starts in February 2027. Download the programme guide for all the details, and apply now to register your expression of interest (only 12 places available)
  • Fertility Awareness Educators
    Find a Fertility Awareness Educator
    Learning the sympto-thermal method is an empowering practice, a skill that will support you through every phase of your reproductive life. You can trust that your NFNZ educator has had robust training, and the support behind them to ensure you are in the best hands.
  • Perimenopause and fertility
    Navigating Peri-menopause with Fertility Awareness
    The years leading up to menopause are known as Peri-menopause. During these years, the ovaries start winding down, with menopause being confirm once its been a full year since the last period. Peri-menopause can last anywhere from 4-10 years, and begin earlier for some women, sometimes as early as the mid to late 30’s.
  • Breastfeeding and fertility
    Does Breastfeeding work as a Contraceptive?
    Whether breastfeeding can work as a contraceptive to prevent pregnancy is probably one of the biggest missunderstandings when it comes to Fertility Awareness. The answer is…

Find a Fertility Awareness Educator

Learning the sympto-thermal method is an empowering practice, a skill that will support you through every phase of your reproductive life. You can trust that your NFNZ educator has had robust training, and the support behind them to ensure you are in the best hands.

Find a Fertility Awareness Educator

Learning the sympto-thermal method is an empowering practice, a skill that will support you through every phase of your reproductive life. You can trust that your NFNZ educator has had robust training, and the support behind them to ensure you are in the best hands.

How to choose a Fertility Educator

It is important to work with an Accredited Fertility Educator. What does that mean? An Accredited Educator has not only completed their Fertility Awareness Training, but they have also remained connected to Natural Fertility NZ and have access to:

  • Mentorship from our senior educators
  • The latest advice and resources
  • Audits – which ensure that our educators are operating to the highest clinical standards
  • Funding
  • Read Your Body App templates

The risks involved in learning from a non accredited educator can include an unplanned pregnancy – we take unplanned pregnancies very seriously at Natural Fertility NZ.

We have Fertility Educators all over the country, and one now based in Australia. In the Educator Directory. You are able to toggle between locations, and also specify the type of appointment for example: avoiding conception, trying to conceive, breastfeeding.

Each Accredited Educator has a profile with contact details. Get in contact with them directly to find out more about what they offer, and the costs associated with booking with them.

What are the Appointments like?

Depending on the Fertility Educator that you book with, you may be given the option to meet in person at their clinic or in your home, online using zoom, or over the phone. If you are meeting online or over the phone, your educator will make sure you receive all the information you need before hand.

You will receive an in depth guide to use as you are learning the Sympto-thermal Method, and some paper charts to get your started. The Read Your Body App is a handy resource to use after you have learnt how to interpret your signs of fertility.

The Sympto-thermal Method is taught over 3 appointments, this gives you the chance to use your own charts to learn. Sometimes further appointments are needed, but most of those who learn the method are confident after the 3 appointments.

How much does it cost to learn Fertility Awareness?

NFNZ Fertility Educators operate independantly, so the cost can vary depending on their other qualifications. The range can differ from $200 – $350 for a full set of 3 appointments, resources and ongoing support.

Is there any Funding Available?

Yes, we have a limited amount of $100 grants each year to go towards your appointments with your chosen educator. Simply ask them about funding before you book your appointment.

Unsure if Fertility Awareness is right for you?

If you are unsure if Fertility Awareness will suit you and your current fertility situation or goals, then please reach out to the educator that resonates most with you. All of our Accredited Educators are more than happy to answer your questions, and to provide advice on your next steps.

Current NFNZ Fertility Awareness Educators

Find an Educator

Recent Posts

  • Train to be a Fertility Awareness Educator
    If you are passionate about Natural Fertility and have a background in health you can apply to become an educator. The next Certificate in Fertility and Reproductive Health starts in February 2027. Download the programme guide for all the details, and apply now to register your expression of interest (only 12 places available)
  • Fertility Awareness Educators
    Find a Fertility Awareness Educator
    Learning the sympto-thermal method is an empowering practice, a skill that will support you through every phase of your reproductive life. You can trust that your NFNZ educator has had robust training, and the support behind them to ensure you are in the best hands.
  • Perimenopause and fertility
    Navigating Peri-menopause with Fertility Awareness
    The years leading up to menopause are known as Peri-menopause. During these years, the ovaries start winding down, with menopause being confirm once its been a full year since the last period. Peri-menopause can last anywhere from 4-10 years, and begin earlier for some women, sometimes as early as the mid to late 30’s.
  • Breastfeeding and fertility
    Does Breastfeeding work as a Contraceptive?
    Whether breastfeeding can work as a contraceptive to prevent pregnancy is probably one of the biggest missunderstandings when it comes to Fertility Awareness. The answer is…

Navigating Peri-menopause with Fertility Awareness

The years leading up to menopause are known as Peri-menopause. During these years, the ovaries start winding down, with menopause being confirm once its been a full year since the last period. Peri-menopause can last anywhere from 4-10 years, and begin earlier for some women, sometimes as early as the mid to late 30’s.

Navigating Peri-menopause with Fertility Awareness

The years leading up to menopause are known as Peri-menopause. During these years, the ovaries start winding down, with menopause being confirm once its been a full year since the last period. Peri-menopause can last anywhere from 4-10 years, and begin earlier for some women, sometimes as early as the mid to late 30’s.

Although Peri-menopause is a universal experience that all affects all women, many find that it creeps up on them, and can only identify the initial subtle shifts in hindsight. These initial changes in hormones can impact certain women more than others, with many reporting that ‘the wheels fell off’ at some point in their early 40’s.

The standard of care from health professionals has had an interesting history, especially when it comes to hormone replacement therapy. This highlights the need for further research, so that future generations can approach this time of life with more awareness, and be better equipped to navigate life during this time.

Lets look at how Fertility Awareness can help you navigate this time of life.

Different Phases of Peri-menopause

Practicing Fertility Awareness will enable you to identify certain changes to your menstrual cycle, of which there are 3 major shifts:

Phase 1

The first identifiable change is that your menstrual cycle will get shorter than what your normal is. For example, if you normally have 30 day cycles, you may start noticing 26 day cycles every now and then, which will start occuring more frequently over time.

Technically, your period is not arriving early… it is arriving on time. What is happening, is that you are now ovulating much earlier every cycle.

Phase 2

The second shift happens as the ovaries are no longer responding to the signals from the brain. Your cycles begin getting longer, and further apart. You may start noticing cycles where you do not ovulate at all.

Phase 3

This is the final phase and consists of the 12 months leading up to the one day that is known as ‘Menopause’. During this year, the ovaries do not ovulate at all, and there is no period.

As mentioned earlier, there does seem to be an earlier phase for some women, which can impact energy, resilience, and emotions – but as yet, there is no clear standard of practice. Many women can identify with this phase in hindsight, or after a few years of noticing these changes. These hormonal changes can show up years before any changes to the menstrual cycle.

Fluctuating Hormones

The fluctuation of hormones during Peri-menopause leads to many changes in your body – which can impact on all areas of your life. The main hormones concerned are estrogen, and progesterone. Estrogen increases leading up to ovulation. Progesterone is produced afer ovulation and drops off at the end of the menstrual cycle.

In phase one, estrogen is fluctuating and surging a little too much (which leads to early ovulation). In phase two, she can fluctuate a lot, but is generally in decline. Progesterone is still doing her thing every time you ovulate – however declining egg quality can impact on progesterone production as Peri-menopause progresses.

After menopause, both estrogen and progesterone are produced in small amounts by the adrenal glands – but not for reproductive purposes.

Because your hormones are fluctuating so much during Peri-menopause, blood tests can be unreliable for diagnosis. However a substantial increase in Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) can be a clear indication that you are entering the final stages of Peri-Menopause. FSH is the hormone produced by your brain that tells the ovaries to ovulate – as the ovaries stop responding, your brain will send out more and more FSH in the hopes that they wake up. This is what can lead to very high estrogen in one cycle, and very low in another.

A note on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

HRT is entering a new era, with research indicating that it can be beneficial to support women through the changes in Peri-menopause. There are generally 2 protocols for HRT – cyclical and continuous:

  • Cyclical is where you are on estrogen (patches or gel) for the whole cycle, and then take progesterone capsules for 12 days out of every cycle. If you are still getting your period regularly, this is most likely what you will be on.
  • Continuous is when you are using both estrogen and progesterone every day. This is more common in the later stages of Peri-menopause, when your cycles are far apart and more upredicatable.

You can use Fertility Awareness while on cyclical HRT, to time it with your natural cycle.

How to track your cycle during Peri-menopause

By learning Fertility Awareness, you can monitor your declining fertility and accurately predict when your period will arrive. Fertility charting will show if you are still releasing eggs (ovulating) and reassure you that you are not pregnant.

It can be a very trying time for some, as these hormonal changes impact on almost every area of your life. Symptoms can vary from woman to woman, and may show up before there are any changes your period. They can include irregular bleeding, hot flushes, night sweats, skin changes and itching, vaginal dryness, urinary symptoms, osteoporosis, loss of libido, breast tenderness, tiredness, weight changes, forgetfulness, brainfog, depression and anxiety.

With more understanding of what is happening, you can meet the challenge of the peri-menopausal phase and reduce stress and uncertainty. NFNZ Educators can provide advice on how to navigate this transition, improving your quality of life during this time.

Find an Educator

Recent Posts

  • Train to be a Fertility Awareness Educator
    If you are passionate about Natural Fertility and have a background in health you can apply to become an educator. The next Certificate in Fertility and Reproductive Health starts in February 2027. Download the programme guide for all the details, and apply now to register your expression of interest (only 12 places available)
  • Fertility Awareness Educators
    Find a Fertility Awareness Educator
    Learning the sympto-thermal method is an empowering practice, a skill that will support you through every phase of your reproductive life. You can trust that your NFNZ educator has had robust training, and the support behind them to ensure you are in the best hands.
  • Perimenopause and fertility
    Navigating Peri-menopause with Fertility Awareness
    The years leading up to menopause are known as Peri-menopause. During these years, the ovaries start winding down, with menopause being confirm once its been a full year since the last period. Peri-menopause can last anywhere from 4-10 years, and begin earlier for some women, sometimes as early as the mid to late 30’s.
  • Breastfeeding and fertility
    Does Breastfeeding work as a Contraceptive?
    Whether breastfeeding can work as a contraceptive to prevent pregnancy is probably one of the biggest missunderstandings when it comes to Fertility Awareness. The answer is…

Does Breastfeeding work as a Contraceptive?

Whether breastfeeding can work as a contraceptive to prevent pregnancy is probably one of the biggest missunderstandings when it comes to Fertility Awareness. The answer is…

Does Breastfeeding work as a Contraceptive?

Whether breastfeeding can work as a contraceptive to prevent pregnancy is probably one of the biggest misunderstandings when it comes to Fertility Awareness. The answer is yes – but! There are very specific guidelines to be followed, which most women are not aware of when they start their breastfeeding journey. If you do not follow these, then breastfeeding will not prevent pregnancy.

How can Breastfeeding prevent pregnancy?

When you are breastfeeding, your body produces the hormone Prolactin. Prolactin shuts off the communication between your brain and your ovaries – which interferes with ovulation. However the lines of communication can be reopened anytime there is a change in the way that you are breastfeeding.

In order to use breastfeeding to delay your return to fertility, you must learn about Fertility Awareness, and understand what is meant by ‘exclusive breastfeeding’, what can wake up the ovaries, and also what signs of fertility to look out for on a day to day basis.

Methods of Fertility Awareness when Breastfeeding

Natural Fertility NZ teaches 2 methods:

Lactational Amenorrhoea Method

The Lactational Amenorrhoea Method (LAM) is the method that can be used from birth up until when your baby is 6 months old. It relies on you exclusively breastfeeding, and not having had any bleeding from 8 weeks after birth. It is important to get support from a Fertility Educator when practicing this method, so that you understand full what ‘exclusive breastfeeding’ means in the context of Fertility Awareness AND what to do if you experience any bleeding before those 6 months are up.

Breastfeeding Charting

Breastfeeding Charting is the method that you switch to at 6 months, or if you no longer meet the criteria for LAM. It is a time of transition for your body, and so extra care needs to be taken.  You will learn how to record your signs of fertility, and details of your baby’s feeding and sleeping patterns. You’ll then learn how to interpret the information in relation to your fertility. 

Once your fertility has completely returned, you can then move onto using the Sympto-thermal Method. Some women are able to delay the full return of their fertility for many months using this method. 

How do I learn about my Fertility while Breastfeeding?

Choose your Fertility Educator, and organise your first appointment. You will meet with your Educator 3 times, and have regular check-ins with them; 

  1. Preferably before you have your baby, to understand what your goals are, choose the right method, and to make sure you are equipped with the information you need to support both breastfeeding, and what you need to do to delay your return to fertility.
  2. Your second appointment will be after you have given birth, at this appointment your Educator will ensure that you still meet the criteria for your chosen method. 

Between this appointment and the next, your Educator will reach out periodically so that you can update them on your breastfeeding.

  1. The third appointment will happen when you are ready to transition to Breastfeeding Charting – this will either be when your baby is 6 months old, or earlier if you no longer meet the criteria for LAM.

Although breastfeeding can delay the return of your fertility – for some women it does not delay it for very long, so it is vital that you know what to look out for, so that you do not risk an unplanned pregnancy.

Find an Educator

Read Lena’s Fertility Story

After using the Sympto-thermal Method for around 6 years to avoid pregnancy, the time came to start trying for a baby. After giving birth, I then started using the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) of Natural Fertility Awareness. This is a separate method that supports breastfeeding in the first 6 months after birth, and tracks your return to fertility during the breastfeeding stage. Read More…

Recent Posts

  • Train to be a Fertility Awareness Educator
    If you are passionate about Natural Fertility and have a background in health you can apply to become an educator. The next Certificate in Fertility and Reproductive Health starts in February 2027. Download the programme guide for all the details, and apply now to register your expression of interest (only 12 places available)
  • Fertility Awareness Educators
    Find a Fertility Awareness Educator
    Learning the sympto-thermal method is an empowering practice, a skill that will support you through every phase of your reproductive life. You can trust that your NFNZ educator has had robust training, and the support behind them to ensure you are in the best hands.
  • Perimenopause and fertility
    Navigating Peri-menopause with Fertility Awareness
    The years leading up to menopause are known as Peri-menopause. During these years, the ovaries start winding down, with menopause being confirm once its been a full year since the last period. Peri-menopause can last anywhere from 4-10 years, and begin earlier for some women, sometimes as early as the mid to late 30’s.
  • Breastfeeding and fertility
    Does Breastfeeding work as a Contraceptive?
    Whether breastfeeding can work as a contraceptive to prevent pregnancy is probably one of the biggest missunderstandings when it comes to Fertility Awareness. The answer is…

Fertility Awareness 101

You may have heard of Fertility Awareness at some point (sometimes referred to as Natural Family Planning), and wondered – what is Fertility Awareness? how exactly does it work? which method should I use? Is it trustworthy? Our mission is to help you understand it, so that you can make an informed decision about whether it is right for you.

Fertility Awareness 101

You may have heard of Fertility Awareness at some point (sometimes referred to as Natural Family Planning), and wondered – what is Fertility Awareness? how exactly does it work? which method should I use? Is it trustworthy? Our mission is to help you understand it, so that you can make an informed decision about whether it is right for you.

What is Fertility Awareness?

Fertility Awareness can be summarised as:

‘Being aware of your own signs of fertility, so that you know when your fertility starts and ends each cycle’

Being aware of your own signs of fertility throughout your life can tell you:

  • The start and end of your fertility each cycle
  • Whether you are ovulating or not, and when
  • When to expect your next period
  • Whether your fertility is returning after stopping hormonal birth control, or breastfeeding
  • If you are pregnant (without the need for multiple pregnancy tests)
  • If your menstrual cycle is changing due to peri-menopause
  • What hormones may be impacting on your fertility and health

Fertility Awareness is a body awareness skill that can support you from puberty, right up until menopause. Natural Fertility NZ (NFNZ) trains Educators to teach Fertility Awareness to individuals and couples.

How does Fertility Awareness work?

Practicing Fertility Awareness involves learning to recognise and record your signs of fertility on a chart, and then interpreting that information to work out where you are in your cycle. Your motivation, and goals will change throughout your reproductive life, whether you are wanting to conceive, avoid conception, or just track your fertility – therefore you need a trustworthy method of Fertility Awareness that can meet you where you are at, and be modified for your different life stages.

Which method/s does NFNZ teach?

NFNZ teaches the Sympto-thermal Method (STM) for both avoiding conception, and to those trying to conceive. The method incorporates cervical mucus, vaginal sensation, and basal body temperature. We also teach you how to check your cervix (especially helpful if you are not noticing much cervical mucus) – but this is entirely optional. The Sympto-thermal Method as taught by NFNZ also uses some key indicators to ‘double check’ – this provides an extra layer of assurance when using the method to avoid pregnancy.

We also teach the Lactational Amennorhoa Method and Breastfeeding Charting to those who have just given birth, and are breastfeeding.

Can I trust the Sympto-thermal Method as a contraceptive?

The Sympto-thermal Method is supported by international research and proven to be at least 98% effective by the World Health Organisation, as long as it is taught by an Accredited Fertility Educator, and practised consistently and correctly. The latest research from Germany shows an improved efficacy of 99.4% (Petra Frank-Hermann 2007).

In 2020, the Ministry of Health (now Health NZ), published their New Zealand Aotearoa’s guidance on contraception, which was an in-depth review on the current contraceptive options available and in use in New Zealand, along with recommendations. The main takeaways for the Sympto-thermal Method (STM) were:

The STM is much more effective at preventing a pregnancy than other forms of Fertility Awareness. With correct and consistent use, there is less than 1 pregnancy for every 100 individuals using the method over the course of a year. Combining fertility signs (like cervical mucus, sensation, and basal body temperature) is much more effective than relying on only one sign of fertility. It is important to learn how to use the STM from a trained Fertility Educator for the best effectiveness rate

Practicing Fertility Awareness Safely

When choosing a method of Fertility Awareness, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Firstly, you want to make sure that the method you choose has been proven to correctly identify your unique fertile window in every cycle. Not every method is the same, and some can be quite complicated. It is also vital that you understand that there is a lot of misinformation out there, especially if you wanting to avoid getting pregnant.

You can read more about other methods, and how they work here.

Secondly, you still need to keep both yourself, and your partner safe from sexually transmitted infections (STI’s), so using a barrier method (like a condom) still has a very important role to play until you have both been tested.

Why should I use Fertility Awareness?

There are many reasons why Fertility Awareness may be the right choice for you, some of them are:

  • You want to use a method that aligns with your beliefs or faith
  • You can not use hormonal contraception due to health reasons
  • You have stopped using hormonal contraception, and you want to track your return to fertility in preparation for getting pregnant
  • You are wanting to get pregnant – Fertility Awareness can shorten the time to conception
  • You want to understand your body better

If you are unsure, or just want to have a chat to find out more, reach out to your local Fertility Educator:

Find an Educator

Recent Posts

Apps, Devices and Tech for Fertility Awareness

Many apps, devices, and various tech available for tracking fertility, it is important to know a couple of things before choosing to use one

Apps, Devices and Tech for Fertility Awareness

Many apps, devices, and various tech are available for tracking fertility, it is important to know a couple of things before choosing to use one. What are you using Fertility Awareness for? Are you trying to conceive, wanting to avoid conception, or just wanting to track your cycles? 

Which thermometer works for Fertility Awareness?

The basic tech needed to practice the Sympto-thermal Method (STM) is a basal body temperature thermometer – with so many thermometers available, which one is best?

At Natural Fertility NZ, we want to make learning the Sympto-thermal Method as accessible as possible, and so recommend a simple oral thermometer that reads to the 10th degree (for example 36.3 or 36.8).

Some things to consider when choosing a thermometer:

  • We have found through testing that the quick read thermometers are less precise, as they are designed to quickly check for a fever, look for one that has a 60 second read time
  • A thermometer with a flexible tip is more comfortable to use
  • Thermometers advertised as ‘fertility’ or ‘ovulation’ thermometers read to the 100th degree (36.34 or 36.82) are generally more expensive, however they usually have the flexible tip, and a longer read time.

The paper charts we use are at intervals to the 10th degree, so if you do use a thermometer that reads to the 100th degree, you’ll just need to do some rounding.

Wearable thermometers

A new way to take your basal body temperature is using a wearable device that measures your temperature at a set time while you are sleeping. The one that a number of our educators have trialled with their clients and found to be suitable is the Tempdrop. Other devices such as the wearable ring tend to average out your temperature, which makes them unsuitable at this stage to use with the Sympto-thermal Method.

The Tempdrop is a good option if you are a shift worker, or have variable wake times, it also syncs to the Read Your Body App –  which is the only app we endorse and recommend (see below).

Apps and Devices

In general it is best not to put your trust in an external app or device that automatically works out when you are fertile, and when you are not. What are you wanting to use an app for?

  1. If you are trying to get pregnant, you may miss your most fertile days, and won’t have the data to detect any hormonal imbalances
  2. If you are wanting to avoid conception, they won’t be able to accurately detect when your fertility starts and ends every cycle, leaving you at risk for an unplanned pregnancy.
  3. If you are just wanting something to track your cycles, or it is for a teen, they will not provide any certainty around when periods are due (especially if cycles are irregular)

How do these apps track fertility?

  • Most apps will only consider one biological sign to determine the fertile window, and that is the Basal Body Temperature, therefore they fall into the category of ‘Temperature only’ Methods.
  • Others are based on standard calculations, like the ‘calendar method’ and assume that you have a 28 cycle and ovulate on day 14.
  • Some include an option to input cervical mucus using a ‘drop down box’ which means that the information is not personalised, and can be misinterpreted.
  • Very few include Vaginal Sensation.
  • Algorithms and calculations are used, many are self-learning – so they become more accurate as time goes on…. Usually 12 cycles!

With these factors in mind, it is extremely risky to trust any app, device or tech that does all the work for you – especially if you are wanting to avoid getting pregnant. You must have an understanding of your unique fertility first, so that you can ‘override’ any false and misleading calculations.

Read Your Body App for Fertility Awareness

The app that we recommend is Read Your Body (RYB). NFNZ has worked with RYB to create a customised template that lines up with our paper charts. This app is a data recording tool – it does not make any calculations about your fertility for you, which makes it the safest fertility awareness app available. You can customise the app based on your fertility goals, and keep a backup of your data on your own device.

Once you have learnt how to recognise, record and interpret your signs of fertility, your NFNZ Accredited Educator can show you how to use the Read Your Body App instead of the paper charts. Using the Read Your Body App, you will be able to record your signs of fertility, and then apply the guidelines as per the Sympto-thermal Method to suite your fertility goals.

Learning the method using the paper chart is important for a few reasons, it helps your educator to teach you the method, and it ensures that you fully understand your own unique signs of fertility.

Read your body app for fertility awareness

When joining Read Your Body, your educator can give you 3 months free access when using the NFNZ Read Your Body Template. The ongoing monthly subscription for the app is very minimal making it more accessible.

Read Your Body is a privacy focused not-for-profit App, run by a team of dedicated Fertility Awareness advocates.

Find an Educator

Recent Articles

Practicing Fertility Awareness Safely

Practicing fertility awareness safely is important for your health and wellbeing (especially if you are not wanting to get pregnant).

Practicing Fertility Awareness Safely

As we have covered over the last 5 articles, Fertility Awareness can be used to manage your fertility right throughout your reproductive life. Practicing fertility awareness safely is important for your health and wellbeing (especially if you are not wanting to get pregnant).

Choosing an effective method of Fertility Awareness

The first step to practicing Fertility Awareness safely is choosing a method that is evidence based and effective. Both the Sympto-thermal Method (STM) and the Lactational Amenorrhoea Method (LAM) are backed by research, and can be trusted as a viable alternative to hormonal contraception.

Aotearoa New Zealand’s guidance on Contraception Consultation Paper June 2020 rated the STM as having a 99% efficacy. They recommended that:

  • The STM is much more effective at preventing a pregnancy than other forms of Fertility Awareness. With correct and consistent use, there is less that 1 pregnancy for every 100 individuals using the method over the course of a year.
  • Combining fertility signs (like cervical mucus, sensation, and basal body temperature) is much more effective than relying on only one sign of fertility.
  • It is important to learn how to use the STM from a trained Fertility Educator for the best effectiveness rate.

The STM is endorsed by the World Health Organisation, and state the effectiveness of the STM is 99%.  Pregnancy rate is 2 pregnancies per 100 women per year.

Petra Frank-Herrmann’s research states that the reliability of the STM is 99.4%, with 1.8 per 100 women having an unintended pregnancy.

Learn from an NFNZ Accredited Fertility Educator

One of the key components to practicing Fertility Awareness safely is learning a reliable method like the STM from an Accredited Fertility Educator. An educator will be able to provide standardised teaching and ongoing support.

We encourage both partners to be present while learning Fertility Awareness, this allows for a shared approach when it comes to making choices around unprotected sex during the cycle, and fosters understanding between both partners.

Find an Educator

Safer Sex – STI’s and Contraception

Even if you use Fertility Awareness, practicing safe sex is still important:

  • Discuss safer sex with your partner, whether that is protection from infections, or preventing pregnancy
  • For protection against sexually transmissible infections (STI’s), always use a barrier – like a condom, until you have both been tested for STI’s

While learning the Sympto-thermal Method:

  • It is important that you either abstain or use a condom – this is until you understand how to apply the method
  • Sperm can be present in pre-ejaculate, therefore DO NOT use the ‘withdrawal’ or ‘pull out’ method, as it is likely to result in a pregnancy
  • You are not safe to use the method until your Educator has checked that you are able to confidently recognise, record, and interpret your fertility.

Unplanned Pregnancies

We take unplanned pregnancies very seriously at Natural Fertility NZ, so we take extra care when teaching to explain the risk, and also have a process to review these if they occur in order to find the cause. Unplanned pregnancies are normally traced back to intercourse that occurred during the fertile window, or insufficient recording of signs of fertility – which increases the risk. When a cause can be found, it can provide the couple with reassurance if they are wanting to continue using the method at a later date.

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Recent Articles

Fertility Awareness when Breastfeeding

Are you looking to delay your return to fertility after giving birth? NFNZ Educators teach 2 methods of Fertility Awareness to women who plan to breastfeed. You will learn how your particular breastfeeding pattern impacts on your fertility and they will help you to decide the best contraceptive method for you.

Fertility Awareness when Breastfeeding

Are you looking to delay your return to fertility after giving birth? NFNZ Educators teach 2 methods of Fertility Awareness to women who plan to breastfeed. You will learn how your particular breastfeeding pattern impacts on your fertility and they will help you to decide the best contraceptive method for you.

Both methods are:

  • 98% effective when taught by an accredited NFNZ educator (similar to the mini-pill)
  • Evidence based, endorsed by the World Health Organisation, Health NZ
  • Drug free – they do not interfere with your milk production

It’s important to get the right information early on, so get in touch with an Educator to work out what method will suit you best.

Delay your Return to Fertility while Breastfeeding

The hormones involved in breastfeeding interfere with the hormonal communication between your brain and ovaries – which means that they are not receiving the messages to mature follicles in preparation for ovulation. The hormonal interplay is very sensitive, so any sudden changes to your breastfeeding pattern can wake up your ovaries, and begin the process of your fertility returning.

Many women have heard that all they need to do is breastfeed and they wont get pregnant – this is misinformation, and unfortunately has led to many surprise pregnancies! These stories also do not give Fertility Awareness while breastfeeding a very good reputation.

In order to use breastfeeding to delay your return to fertility, you must learn about Fertility Awareness, and understand what is meant by ‘exclusive breastfeeding’, what can wake up the ovaries, and also what signs of fertility to look out for on a day to day basis.

What is the Lactational Amenorrhoea Method (LAM)

The Lactational Amenorrhoea Method (LAM) is the method that can be used from birth up until when your baby is 6 months old. 

It relies on you exclusively breastfeeding, and not having had any bleeding from 8 weeks after birth. It is important to get support from a Fertility Educator when practicing this method, as not all women will reach the 6 month mark without their fertility returning somewhat.

What is Breastfeeding Charting?

Breastfeeding Charting is the method that you switch to at 6 months, or if you no longer meet the criteria for LAM. It is a time of transition for your body, and so extra care needs to be taken.  You will learn how to record your signs of fertility, and details of your baby’s feeding and sleeping patterns. You’ll then learn how to interpret the information in relation to your fertility. 

Once your fertility has completely returned, you can then move onto using the Sympto-thermal Method. Some women are able to delay the full return of their fertility for many months using this method. 

Help! Breastfeeding is stopping me from getting pregnant!

Some women’s bodies respond in such a way to breastfeeding, that fertility can be delayed for an extended time. If you find yourself still nursing a young one and your fertility hasn’t returned, but you are wanting to try for another baby – contact your local Educator, and they can refer you to an Educator with experience in this area.

I have already had my baby, can I still learn?

Yes, the best thing to do is contact a Fertility Educator, and have a chat with them about your situation. As each situation is different, they will be able to give you some personalised advice about your next steps

How can I learn LAM and or Breastfeeding Charting?

Choose your Fertility Educator, and organise your first appointment. You will meet with your Educator 3 times, and have regular check-ins with them; 

  1. Preferably before you have your baby, to understand what your goals are, choose the right method, and to make sure you are equipped with the information you need to support both breastfeeding, and what you need to do to delay your return to fertility.
  2. Your second appointment will be after you have given birth, at this appointment your Educator will ensure that you still meet the criteria for your chosen method. 

Between this appointment and the next, your Educator will reach out periodically so that you can update them on your breastfeeding.

  1. The third appointment will happen when you are ready to transition to Breastfeeding Charting – this will either be when your baby is 6 months old, or earlier if you no longer meet the criteria for LAM.

Although breastfeeding can delay the return of your fertility – for some women it does not delay it for very long, so it is vital that you know what to look out for, so that you do not risk an unplanned pregnancy.

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Lena’s Story

Natural Fertility NZ’s president, Lena Wells, has recorded her own fertility journey from learning the Sympto-thermal Method to avoid conception, to planning her pregnancies, and using both LAM and Breastfeeding Charting after giving birth. Read her story here.

Recent Articles

How to use the Sympto-thermal Method to avoid pregnancy

The Sympto-thermal Method uses cervical mucus, vaginal sensation, and basal body temperature to work out when you are fertile

How to use the Sympto-thermal Method to avoid pregnancy

The Sympto-thermal Method is the Fertility Awareness based method that Natural Fertility NZ Educators teach. The method incorporates cervical mucus, vaginal sensation, and basal body temperature. We also teach how to check your cervix (especially helpful if you are not noticing much cervical mucus) – but this is an optional check. The Sympto-thermal Method as taught by NFNZ also uses some key indicators to ‘double check’ – this provides an extra layer of assurance when using the method to avoid pregnancy.

Is the Sympto-thermal Method Reliable?

The Sympto-thermal Method is supported by international research and proven to be at least 98% effective by the World Health Organisation, as long as it is taught by an Accredited Fertility Educator, and practised consistently and correctly. The latest research from Germany shows an improved efficacy of 99.4% (Petra Frank-Hermann 2007).

In 2020, the Ministry of Health (now Health NZ), published their New Zealand Aotearoa’s guidance on contraception, which was an in-depth review on the current contraceptive options available and in use in New Zealand, along with recommendations. The main takeaways for the Sympto-thermal Method (STM) were:

The STM is much more effective at preventing a pregnancy than other forms of Fertility Awareness. With correct and consistent use, there is less than 1 pregnancy for every 100 individuals using the method over the course of a year. Combining fertility signs (like cervical mucus, sensation, and basal body temperature) is much more effective than relying on only one sign of fertility. It is important to learn how to use the STM from a trained Fertility Educator for the best effectiveness rate

Who can use the Sympto-thermal Method?

The Sympto-thermal Method is suitable for any woman or couple who are:

  • Wanting to understand their fertility
  • Wanting to use a hormonal free method to avoid getting pregnant
  • Not able to use hormonal contraception due to health reasons
  • Wanting to plan for a baby

Can I use the Sympto-thermal Method with irregular cycles?

You can still learn and use the Sympto-thermal Method if you have irregular cycles, whether that is due to a hormonal imbalance, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), or during Peri-menopause.

By learning to recognise and record your signs of fertility, you will be able to:

  • Identify ovulation with confidence
  • Work out how long each phase of your cycle is
  • Know when to expect your next period – rather than being taken by surprise

And if working with a health practitioner, this information might help to identify the hormonal imbalance.

What if I am still on hormonal contraception?

Hormonal contraception works in various ways to interfere with ovulation, and cervical mucus production – so while it is still in your system, you will not be able to rely on your signs of fertility.
Before stopping your pill, you can still start the process, reach out to your local Educator and they can advise you on next steps, and might be able to time your first appointment to suit.

If you are on long acting forms, like the Depo-provera, it can sometimes take a little longer for fertility return, however if you learn how to recognise and record your fertility, you will be able to  watch your fertility return on your fertility chart.

What is the process to learn the Sympto-thermal Method?

Once you have decided to learn the method, choose your educator and make an appointment. 

  1. At the first appointment, you will learn how to recognise and record your signs of fertility on a paper chart.
  2. Your second appointment is about learning to interpret what you have recorded on your chart
  3. The third appointment is about making sure you understand how to interpret your chart.

Over the course of 3 appointments you will also learn about male and female anatomy and combined fertility, how to check your cervix, and also answering any questions you may have. Once you have a good understanding of your own signs of fertility, you can start using the Read Your Body App.

Are you wanting to learn more? Ask one of our Educators

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What is Fertility Awareness?

Fertility Awareness in a nutshell is:
‘Being aware of your own signs of fertility, so that you know when your fertility starts and ends each cycle’

What is Fertility Awareness?

Fertility Awareness in a nutshell is:

‘Being aware of your own signs of fertility, so that you know when your fertility starts and ends each cycle’

Your signs of fertility, like cervical mucus, and your basal body temperature (temperature taken at rest) can help you to identify ovulation, the length of the 2nd half of your cycle – and can pinpoint when you’re due for your next period.

Fertility Awareness is not just about making babies, in fact many of those who have learnt from our Fertility Educators, use it to avoid getting pregnant! It is also a vital part of a young woman’s toolkit – once learnt, it can support you from puberty, right up until menopause.

Fertility Awareness is also known as Natural Family Planning, and there are many practices and methods that fall under this umbrella.

At Natural Fertility NZ, we teach the Sympto-thermal Method for those wanting to avoid conception naturally and a variation for those wanting to conceive. The Sympto-thermal Method is over 98% effective for avoiding pregnancy when taught by an Accredited Educator.

We also teach the Lactational Amenorrhea Method & Breastfeeding Charting for those who are about to give birth or breastfeeding.

Both of these methods are evidence based, and endorsed by Health NZ, and the World Health Organisation.

Not all Fertility Awareness Methods are equal

One of the biggest misconceptions about Fertility Awareness based methods, is that when it comes to Avoiding Pregnancy they are all on the same level in terms of evidence and efficacy. Nothing could be further from the truth! 

Everyone has a story of a friend or relative that ‘used Natural Family Planning and got pregnant’ which of course is not the best advertising for us as an organisation. 

There are many ‘methods’ that come under the umbrella of Natural Family Planning, so let’s dive a little deeper, and find out what makes the Sympto-thermal Method a little different. Later this week we will focus on Fertility while Breastfeeding.

Signs of Fertility vs Calculations and Algorithms

One of the biggest differences between the various practices and methods is whether they rely on your own signs of fertility, or whether a calculation (or algorithm) is used to work out when your fertile window is.

Your body is unique, and unfortunately basing your contraceptive decisions on a calculation is not the safest way to avoid getting pregnant. While it may have worked for someone you know, the fact is that they have just been lucky. We take unplanned pregnancies very seriously at NFNZ, so any method or practice that increases your risk is not something we recommend.

Some examples of methods that rely on calculations and algorithms are:

  • The Calendar method
  • The Standard Days method
  • Cycle Beads
  • Any App that uses algorithms based on your cycle length

The calculations are sometimes based on a 28 day cycle, or assume that you ovulate exactly 14 days prior to your period starting. In terms of some apps, like Natural Cycles, the algorithms are not meant to be relied on until they have 12 cycles of your data – so how safe are you in those first 12 months? Not only that, but during times of stress and illness, your fertility changes, and this can not be detected by a calculation or algorithm.

A word on the ‘Withdrawal’ or ‘Pull out Method’

There is also a popular practice called ‘withdrawal’ or the ‘pull out method’ which falls into its own category of risk. It involves the male partner pulling out during intercourse so that they do not ejaculate in the vagina. There are 2 big issues with this practice, firstly, studies have shown live sperm inside pre-ejaculate, and secondly, it relies on the male partner pulling out in time!

What are the Signs of Fertility?

The signs of fertility present differently in each woman, and can vary from cycle to cycle. They include the observation and recording of:

  • Cervical Mucus & Sensation
  • Basal Body Temperature

Recording this information helps you to interpret what is going on in your body, and along with the solid guidelines of the Sympto-thermal Method, it can enable you to avoid pregnancy naturally.

There are some methods that rely solely on one sign of fertility, like mucus or temperature only. If you have irregular cycles, a hormonal imbalance or condition like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), your mucus patterns will not tell you if you have ovulated. Temperature only methods can only confirm that you have ovulated, but not the end of your fertility, so not so great for avoiding conception or when you are trying to conceive. Although tracking temperature only can be helpful when trying to time some blood tests.

Separating Fact from Fiction

There is an over abundance of information available online and in various books, that can turn learning Fertility Awareness into a difficult to navigate process. At NFNZ we teach using your own cycles, and have a simple easy to follow process that takes the guesswork out for you. You will also be able to have complete confidence in the method, which takes away any stress associated with an unplanned pregnancy.

In the next Article, we will look more into how you can use the Sympto-thermal Method to Avoid Pregnancy….

Are you wanting to learn more? Ask one of our Educators

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Lena’s Natural Fertility Journey

When I was young, I began taking the oral contraceptive pill. No matter which one I tried, I always ended up feeling a little flat with mood changes and experienced weight gain. Over 5 years I tried several different combined oral contraceptive pills and a mini pill – but none of them worked for me.

Lena’s Natural Fertility Journey

My introduction to Fertility Awareness

When I was young, I began taking the oral contraceptive pill. No matter which one I tried, I always ended up feeling a little flat with mood changes and experienced weight gain. Over 5 years I tried several different combined oral contraceptive pills and a mini pill – but none of them worked for me.

My experience with the pill had left me feeling defeated, and I needed to find a solution that worked well with my body. At that time I was studying a Bachelor in Applied Health, majoring in Natural  Medicine. Late one night while studying for tests, I found myself distracted and googling Natural Fertility. My eldest sister had recently been taught the Sympto-thermal Method by a North Island Educator and I was intrigued to know more. Incidentally my other older sister was going through the process of trying to conceive around this time – so family planning in general was a hot topic amongst my sisters and I.

I was curious about my own natural cycle and fertility, as I was in a long-term relationship and wanted children in the future. As a student practitioner, I was seeing a lot of patients who were having difficulty conceiving and had very little understanding of their fertility, so I was determined to explore this more for both myself, and for those who I was working with in clinic.

I stumbled upon Natural Fertility NZ’s website late one night and sent them an enquiry. At that time they didn’t have any educators in Southland, and asked if I would be interested in a scholarship to train with them to become a Natural Fertility Educator myself. Without any hesitation, I accepted, and studied under a wonderful team of clinical supervisors.

How I learnt the Sympto-thermal Method

After accepting my scholarship, I completed my training to become a Fertility Educator over about 12 months and became a fully fledged Accredited Educator. I was able to put into practice the Sympto-thermal Method as I was learning it, which resulted in a deep understanding of the method and the realities of learning and practicing it successfully. It was amazing to be able to sit down and look at my cycle from start to finish, see if and when I ovulated, how my cervical mucus changed from infertile to fertile and then back to infertile and calculate how long my luteal length was. I found the whole process both empowering and fascinating.

It was not always easy, especially at the start when it was new and I was still learning. It took time to get the hang of interpreting my cycle and determination to make sure I recorded all of the necessary information. Once I had recorded and interpreted a few cycles, it got really easy and I happily used this method to avoid pregnancy for many of my early fertile years.

The knowledge the method has given me has also helped me to monitor my overall health, as things like stress impact on my signs of fertility and I notice changes like breast tenderness, pms etc that was unusual for me. During times of significant stress in my life such as when my father was passing away from cancer, I noticed ovulation shifted, which was due to the severe stress that disrupted my nutrition and sleep. 

There is another little perk to practicing Fertility Awareness throughout my reproductive years, and that is – I know what to look out for as I transition through peri-menopause. While each woman will have their own experience, knowing what my normal is, and being in tune with my signs of fertility, I will be able to navigate the changes with confidence.

How Fertility Awareness helped me to get pregnant, and supported breastfeeding

After using the Sympto-thermal Method for around 6 years to avoid pregnancy, the time came to start trying for a baby. We appreciated that we had all this fertility knowledge to tap into and could flip the method to time baby making sex during our most fertile time. This resulted in a gorgeous, big, bouncy baby girl who was nearly 10 pounds and cute as a button. Although I failed to crack the maths on when she would be due, and her original due date was Christmas Day! Luckily she stayed in there a fair bit longer and we made it into January. 

After giving birth, I then started using the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) of Natural Fertility Awareness. This is a separate method that supports breastfeeding in the first 6 months after birth, and tracks your return to fertility during the breastfeeding stage. My cycle returned very quickly, even while breastfeeding fully and on demand – so for me the LAM method was quite a brief period of time! 

I am so grateful to have had a thorough understanding of how breastfeeding impacts on fertility, as I was able to detect my return to fertility and take the necessary precautions to avoid getting pregnant. Once my cycles had returned I went back to practicing the Symtpo-thermal Method until we had baby #2 (slightly smaller thank goodness!). Then once again I utilized LAM, and then went back to the Sympto-thermal Method once my fertility had returned.

Our reproductive cycle is a significant factor for a large portion of our lives, and to have the tools to navigate it with confidence has been such a pleasure and something I am really grateful for. 

~ Lena Wells, President of Natural Fertility NZ

Learn Fertility Awareness with Lena:

Contact: (03) 214 0350
Email: windsorpractitioner@gmail.com
Website: http://www.windsorhealth.co.nz