Tag: Trying to Conceive

Getting pregnant using Fertility Awareness

Join the thousands of couples around the world who use Fertility Awareness to both plan, and space their babies. If you are planning on getting pregnant, or if you have already started trying, Fertility Awareness can help to shorten the time to conception, and provide some insightful information on your fertility as you embark on this exciting journey.

Getting Pregnant using Fertility Awareness

Join the thousands of couples around the world who use Fertility Awareness to both plan, and space their babies. If you are planning on getting pregnant, or if you have already started trying, Fertility Awareness can help to shorten the time to conception, and provide some insightful information on your fertility as you embark on this exciting journey.

Once you have learnt about your own unique signs of fertility, you can maximise your chances each cycle by timing your baby making sex to catch the egg. At Natural Fertility NZ, we teach couples about their ‘combined fertility’, and as such both partners are encouraged to take part in the learning process.

Our educators have extensive training in Fertility Awareness, in particular the Sympto-thermal Method. You will learn all about YOUR menstrual cycle (the 28 day cycle is a myth), including how to recognise YOUR signs of fertility, how to interpret them, and whether there might be an issue that warrants further investigation or support.

Preparing for a Healthy Pregnancy

It takes 3 months for sperm and eggs to develop and mature, so it is a good time frame to work to before actively trying to conceive. You’ll want to be taking your prenatal (at the very minimum folic acid) for 3 months before conception too. We recommend practicing Fertility Awareness as one part of your preconception journey – which should also include:

  • Visiting your GP to get some prenatal blood tests, up to date smear, and a script for prenatal supplements
  • Self care for both you and your partner – healthy diet and lifestyle

NFNZ’s Fertility Educators can support you further with making healthy changes, with a basic preconception health guide provided at the first appointment.

Learning Fertility Awareness to help me conceive

Choose your Fertility Educator, and make an appointment either in person, on the phone, or online. You will have a total of 3 appointments:

  1. At the first appointment, you will learn how to recognise and record your signs of fertility on a paper chart
  2. At the second appointment, you will learn how to identify when your fertility starts and ends on your first chart
  3. At the third appointment, you will bring your 2nd chart, and your Fertility Educator will make sure you understand how to interpret it.

You will also learn about cervical palpation (checking the cervix) which is an optional extra check, and also preconception healthcare. Natural Fertility NZ Educators can also set you up on Read Your Body App. Appointment costs do vary, however there is funding available for those eligible (just ask).

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It’s taking longer than I thought to get Pregnant

Did you know that it can take up to 12 months for the average couple in New Zealand to conceive? Knowing when you are fertile can shorten the time to conception – it could be as simple as having intercourse at the right time!

But what if you have been timing it correctly, and it is taking longer than expected? Here are the dates you need to know:

  • If you are under 35 and have been trying for 1 year, visit your GP to get a referral for further tests.
  • If you are 35 or over, only wait 6 months before visiting your GP.

Even if you are not wanting to go down the track of fertility treatment, these tests could provide some important information to support your next steps (for example blocked tubes or issues with sperm health). Make sure you organise your referral as soon as you are eligible, as there can be significant wait times for an appointment.

Our educators can provide you with guidance should you need to navigate the public health system. Another organisation, Fertility NZ is uniquely positioned to support you in all areas relating to infertility (including support groups).

To track or not to track?

That is the question that some couples find themselves asking. If you have been trying for a while, Fertility Awareness can be a huge support – but it can become a source of stress and anxiety for some.

The key thing to remember is that when tracking your signs of fertility, you are looking for the overall pattern – not an individual temperature record. Just like how its not that helpful to weigh yourself everyday on a weight loss journey, focusing on daily temperature rises and falls does not provide any useful information – only extra worry.

If you are worried about adding another thing ‘to stress about’, it might be helpful to reframe your understanding of what Fertility Awareness can offer you:

  • It can provide insightful information while you await further fertility testing
    • Some natural health practitioners can use the information on your fertility charts to support your ttc journey.
    • If you are not ovulating, then your educator can prepare a report for your GP, so that your testing can be expediated
  • Focus on the overall picture:
    • When does my fertility start? (so that I can time intercourse correctly)
    • When does my fertility end?
    • Am I ovulating?
    • Am I having sex at the right time?

This is why it is important to learn how to track your fertility for conception from an Accredited Educator – you will be able to filter out all of the misinformation, and be able to focus on what matters. Once you know how to recognise when your fertility starts and ends each cycle, you have this information for life, and later down the track, alongside some extra guidelines you can then use this method to avoid pregnancy.

Next steps…

If you want to find out more, or have a specific question about whether this is right for you, then contact your local Fertility Educator:

Find an Educator

Recent Posts

Emma and Daniels* TTC Journey

Emma and Daniel had been trying to conceive for 18 months with no success. After learning about their fertility, they realised that they were not having sex at the right time. Read on to see how long it took them to get their BFP after learning about Fertility Awareness

About Emma and Daniel*

Emma and Daniel (not their real names) first made contact with me via email. They informed me that they had been trying for a baby for eighteen months and were keen to have the support of a Natural Fertility educator to learn the symptom-thermal method in the hopes of achieving conception.

Eighteen months is a long time when you’re measuring your life in two-week increments. Waiting for that window of fertility, ovulation test strips, hoping your period doesn’t arrive. Long enough for baby showers to sting and frustration with repeating “We’ve been trying…” when friends and family asked when a baby might be on the horizon.

Emma and Daniel appeared to be the picture of health. Early thirties. Non-smokers, non-drinkers. Both were keen runners and enjoyed long walks in the weekend. Both had a diet that would impress most dietitians. They had done all the “right” things.

Their GP had completed standard preconception tests. Emma had regular cycles, around 29–30 days, and had never used hormonal contraceptives. No obvious red flags. No diagnosis.

Daniel did most of the talking at first. “We don’t know what we’re missing,” he said. “We’ve religiously tracked Emma’s cycle with an app. We’ve timed intercourse. We’ve relaxed. We’ve not relaxed…. and still nothing.”

Identifying ovulation and timing intercourse right

As an NFNZ educator, the first appointment is in depth and includes education. Understanding the physiology of the female and male reproductive system is taught and often surprises people when informed that ovulation does not always occur on Day 14 of their cycle. Most people (and apps) go by ovulation as occurring on Day 14. Emma agreed “My app always says Day 14 or 15.” However, what is misunderstood is that apps can only predict, not know for sure.

Introducing Emma and Daniel to the cornerstone of the sympto-thermal method fascinated them both. The art of observing cervical mucus and charting basal body temperature (BBT) as a window into physiology.

We talked about oestrogen rising before ovulation, stimulating fertile cervical mucus — clear, stretchy, slippery, often compared to raw egg white. We talked about progesterone rising after ovulation and an increase in resting body temperature. We discussed how ovulation can only be confirmed retrospectively by a sustained temperature shift.

Emma was perplexed “So the fertile window isn’t fixed?”

They looked at each other. Emma put her face in her hands “I usually start noticing that slippery mucus you have just described around day 17 of my cycle. But the app says I’ve already ovulated by then.”

I paused and asked “when do you usually time intercourse?”

“Days 8, 10 and 12 –  that’s what we were told the best timing for conception was” Emma replied.

There it was.

Next steps for Emma and Daniel…

We decided on a simple plan for the next few months: no drastic dietary overhauls, no ovulation strip testing. Just meticulous observation. Emma would take her temperature first thing every morning before getting out of bed, at roughly the same time, using a basal thermometer. She would record cervical mucus daily. Together, we would identify the temperature shift.

The first cycle of charting was illuminating. Ovulation had likely occurred around Day 18.

They had been stopping intercourse just as her fertile window was beginning.

The second appointment

When Emma came back in with her first chart, she stared at it as though it were a map she’d never known existed. “I’ve been ovulating almost a week later than I thought – we have been missing it.” Not because they were infertile and not due to hidden pathology. Simply put –  because prediction is not the same as observation.

Over the next two cycles, the pattern repeated. Ovulation between Day 17 and 18. A consistent, healthy luteal phase. Clear temperature shift an fertile mucus beforehand. Physiologically, everything was as it should be.

Emma and Daniel adjusted their timing. Rather than aiming for a specific calendar date, they were using signs of fertility as taught to achieve conception. Instead of guessing, they were responding. Instead of feeling betrayed, they were collaborating with the information that Emma’s body was showing.

A positive outcome – BFP!

On the third cycle of charting, Emma emailed me before our scheduled appointment.

“Can we move our session? I think I might be pregnant.”

We looked over her chart together. Her temperature had remained elevated. I encouraged her to take a pregnancy test.

Positive.

It would be tempting to frame their story as a coincidence or just good luck, or just taking the time to relax. However, the truth is quieter, and in many ways more empowering. The issue was not infertility in the clinical sense, but misaligned timing — a fertile window consistently missed because it did not conform to a textbook Day 14.

What struck me most about Emma and Daniel was not just that they conceived within three cycles of learning the sympto-thermal method. It was the transformation in their relationship to Emma’s cycle.

Emma had previously experienced her period as something that arrived, often unwelcome, marking another failed attempt. After charting, her cycle became data, feedback, communication. She could confirm ovulation rather than assume it.

Knowledge replaced guesswork.

At her twelve-week mark, she sent a photo of a small ultrasound printout. A flickering heartbeat captured in grainy black and white.

As an NFNZ Accredited educator, it is success stories, such as Emma and Daniels, which makes our role so rewarding.

Understanding your fertility can shorten the time to conception

For many couples on their conception journey, there is profound relief in discovering that nothing is fundamentally wrong. Sometimes, the missing piece is not a medication or procedure, but understanding of physiology. The menstrual cycle is not a rigid 28-day template; it is a dynamic, responsive process. Ovulation can shift with stress, travel, illness, or simply natural variation in follicular development.

It is about body literacy.

When NFNZ Accredited educators teach women and couples to recognise their own UNIQUE signs of fertility, we hand back a form of autonomy that has been largely outsourced to algorithms.

Three months after beginning charting, they conceived. Eighteen months of trying preceded that moment. Both parts of the story matter.

To end the story of Emma and Daniel on their journey through learning the sympto-thermal method, to a successful conception, I’m delighted to share that I get to walk alongside them on their journey into parenthood as their midwife as they prepare to welcome their baby any day now!

Fertility Checklist

Fertility Checklist

If you’re not sure where to start, we have you covered with our Fertility Checklist.

Posted by

Angela Ivory

Accredited with NFNZ as an educator, I am also a reg Midwife, reg Homeopath and Bach Flower Practitioner, certified HypnoBirthing and Lamaze Childbirth Educator. I’m thrilled to be able to offer Natural Fertility Education/Awareness through all stages of life; puberty to perimenopause, including LAM and Breastfeeding Charting.

If you are ready to take the next step, reach out to one of our Fertility Educators.

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Recent Articles

Preconception Care

Congratulations! You’ve decided you want to get pregnant, this choice being the first exciting step in your journey. The next step could be schooling yourself on preconception care to optimise conception and your pregnancy experience. Let me help with that side of things.

Getting ready for pregnancy

Congratulations! You’ve decided you want to get pregnant, this choice being the first exciting step in your journey. The next step could be schooling yourself on preconception care to optimise conception and your pregnancy experience. Let me help with that side of things.

So, what is preconception care and why is it important?

Preconception care is the time before pregnancy where you and your partner take extra care with your body and mind for at least 3-4months before you start trying to conceive. 3-4months is the time it takes for both sperm and eggs to fully mature, and the time in which you can have a positive effect on this process. Research shows preconception care can play a role in the health of the mother and baby. If we can influence that, surely, it’s worth putting effort into trying!

First steps before trying to get pregnant…

  • Booking an appointment with your GP and letting them know you want to get pregnant. They will request bloods to assess things like rubella immunity, and prescribe supplemental folic acid and iodine.
  • Folic acid is important to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Recommended to take 4x weeks before pregnancy and up to 12x weeks into your pregnancy.
  • Iodine is important for your baby’s brain development and growth. Taken the duration of pregnancy.
  • A cervical smear and STI check may be important if you haven’t done one before, or haven’t done one since being with your current partner. Some STIs can affect fertility.
  • Look for a Natural Fertility Educator so you may learn about your unique menstrual cycle and when is the most optimal timing to try for pregnancy. We teach you how to track your cycle using the Sympto-Thermal Method (STM). You may be surprised to learn that you actually can’t get pregnant any old day, like we believed at high school! PS: These appointments are for both you and your partner, their health is equally as important as yours when trying to conceive.
  • Once you have knowledge on your unique cycle, referrals may be necessary for further investigation. We learn a lot about your general health and importantly, your hormones, just by tracking your cycle. Fascinating stuff.

Are you ready to learn about your fertility? Find your fabulous NFNZ practitioner here.

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Things to cease before getting pregnant:

  • Smoking and vaping
  • Recreational drug use
  • The Ministry of Health NZ recommends both partners do not drink alcohol when trying to conceive. Alcohol can harm your baby and increase the risk of miscarriage. It may affect the health of sperm and quantity aswell.

Things to consider before getting pregnant:

  • Check you and your partner’s diet. Are you getting enough protein? Healthy fats? Are you eating enough for your daily energy requirements? Are you eating foods that have a negative effect on your mood and energy? Do you drink many caffeinated beverages? You can always book an appt with an allied health professional such as a nutritionist or naturopath for care in this area. If you are lacking nutrients this may undermine your fertility.
  • How is your and your partners lifestyle? Are you moving your body regularly? Are you getting adequate sleep? What are your stress levels like?
  • What is you and your partners work environment like? If you work with dangerous substances, you must ensure you are wearing the appropriate protective clothing at all times.
  • Are you or your partner taking any medications? Some medications can impact fertility.

This has been a sneak preview into what your preconception journey may look like. Hopefully it’s been a motivating read and you are excited to take ownership of this role you play. Good luck!

Fertility Checklist

Fertility Checklist

If you’re not sure where to start, we have you covered with our Fertility Checklist.

Posted by

Ashly Olsen

If you are ready to take the next step, reach out to one of our Fertility Educators.

Find an Educator

Recent Articles

Shorten the time to Conception with Fertility Awareness

Knowing when you and your partner are fertile can help you to get pregnant faster. How? Well it all comes down to having an understanding of your personal fertility:

Shorten the time to Conception with Fertility Awareness

Knowing when you and your partner are fertile can help you to get pregnant faster. How? Well it all comes down to having an understanding of your personal fertility:

  • When your fertility starts each cycle
  • When you ovulate
  • When fertility ends
  • The time from ovulation until the end of your cycle

Once you know how to identify the start and end of your fertility, there is no more guesswork! No more hard to decipher LH strips, and no more dollars spent on pregnancy tests taken too early.

After you have a few cycles worth of records, you may be able to identify an issue that could be preventing you from getting pregnant, which could mean that you get the help you need sooner.

Combined Fertility – it takes 2

Females are not fertile for their entire cycle, ‘Combined Fertility’ is what we call the time in the menstrual cycle where sexual intercourse can result in a pregnancy. Combined because it takes 2 to make a baby, and we support couples to both learn and apply this understanding to their fertility journey. This turns it into a joint process, which can help to alleviate stress.

Fertility Awareness to know when you are fertile

The perfect 28 day cycle, with ovulation at day 14 is not that common, so if you are focusing your baby making sex around this time – you could be missing the egg entirely. Fertility Awareness will help you to recognise when your fertility starts, and how to identify your peak fertile days.

The second half of your menstrual cycle (the luteal phase) is usually the same length every cycle, a normal luteal length is around 12 – 16 days. If your luteal length is shorter, and you are not breastfeeding, then you may need some extra support. If you are practicing fertility awareness, and your luteal length is 18 days or longer, this technically confirms that you are pregnant – this is the best time to go get that pregnancy test!

Get Fertility Fit

Getting healthy for pregnancy is sometimes an afterthought, or something that happens once you have found out that you’re pregnant. However there is plenty of research to show that if both partners are in good health before they start trying, falling pregnant is easier, the pregnancy has less complications, and baby is healthy and happy.

Get Fertility Fit

Learning Fertility Awareness also goes hand in hand with embarking on a preconception plan that can get you both in tip top shape for a healthy pregnancy and baby.

If you’ve just found out that you are pregnant and have not been taking folic acid, schedule an appt with your GP and / or pop into your local healthshop or pharmacy to get some to get you started.

If you’re not sure where to start, download our Fertility Checklist.

When its taking too long to get pregnant

It can take the average couple up to a year to conceive, which is sometimes a surprise for many to find out – however:

  • If you are under 35 and you haven’t conceived after 1 year of trying (or not preventing), then its time to see your GP for some extra tests.
  • If you are over 35, then its best to seek out help sooner, so make an appointment if you dont conceive in the first 6 months.

This is where fertility awareness can really support you on your fertility journey, as both you and your educator will be able to see if there is something not quite right earlier, and can make the appropriate referral. To understand the process a little better, we have outlined the basic process here.

Posted by

Chantelle Meikle

Naturopath & Fertility Educator living in Lake Taupo, New Zealand with husband, 3 cats, sheep and too many chickens.

If you are ready to take the next step, reach out to one of our Fertility Educators.

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Recent Articles

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.

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Recent Articles

Can Fertility Awareness help me to get Pregnant?

So you have decided to have a baby – this is an exciting time for you and your partner! Trying to conceive can also be extremely stressful when things don’t go the way that you planned.

Can Fertility Awareness help me to get Pregnant?

So you have decided to have a baby – this is an exciting time for you and your partner! Trying to conceive can also be extremely stressful when things don’t go the way that you planned. Fertility Awareness can help to take some of the stress out for you, by giving you a deep understanding of your fertility, and when to focus your baby making efforts each cycle.

At Natural Fertility NZ, we teach a slightly simpler version of the Sympto-thermal Method (STM) for those who are trying to conceive (TTC). Once you have learnt this, it’s easy to switch to the full STM for avoiding conception. We find that many couples start by learning the STM to avoid conception after coming off hormonal contraception – with the intention of using the method to TTC when they are ready.

Understanding your fertility can shorten the time to conception

Through the process of working with your Fertility Educator, you will be able to:

  • Begin a preconception health plan
  • Identify the start of fertility in any given cycle
  • Know the best times to have intercourse
  • Identify and confirm ovulation
  • Measure the length of your luteal phase
  • Notice if a hormonal imbalance is present

Knowledge is power, and that is especially true when on a ‘to conceive’ journey. The insight you gain through learning fertility awareness will help you to shorten how long it takes to get pregnant.

I have irregular cycles, can I still use Fertility Awareness?

The simple answer is – Yes! If you have irregular cycles, or have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), then fertility awareness can help you to conceive.

The main issue with irregular cycles when trying to conceive, is that you don’t know when you are going to ovulate each cycle, as this day will be earlier in some cycles, and later in others. 

It’s a race to catch the egg sometimes, which can leave you feeling frustrated if you have been trying for some months. It is common to rely on ovulation tests, which check for the surge in luteinising hormone just before ovulation – however there are 2 main reasons why these are not recommended:

  • Your body might gear up to ovulate more than one time each cycle, so you may think that you have ovulated and stop trying – and miss the egg!
  • They don’t give you much of a window of opportunity, which can lead to stress, and potentially leading to the sperm not being in the right place at the right time.

Ovulation strips can also become costly if you are experiencing very long cycles.

With fertility awareness you will learn how to identify the start of fertility, and also confirm once ovulation has occurred. It will give you peace of mind, knowing when to have baby making sex, and when you can take it a little easier.

Preconception Healthcare

Preconception healthcare is an important part of your journey to become a parent, it helps to prepare healthy sperm and eggs, and also to prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy.

At the very minimum, you need to be taking a folic acid supplement (which can be prescribed by your GP).

There 3 steps that you can take as part of your preconception plan:

  1. Visit your GP – they will run some prenatal blood tests, and prescribe you folic acid and iodine
  2. Self care – looking after your health by not smoking or drinking, and eating a balanced diet
  3. Learning about your fertility 

Many of NFNZ’s Fertility Educators have extensive training in natural healthcare and nutrition, they can support you further with making healthy changes, or they can refer you on.

How can I learn Fertility Awareness to help me conceive?

Choose your Fertility Educator, and make an appointment either in person, on the phone, or online. You will have a total of 3 appointments:

  1. At the first appointment, you will learn how to recognise and record your signs of fertility on a paper chart
  2. At the second appointment, you will learn how to identify when your fertility starts and ends on your first chart
  3. At the third appointment, you will bring your 2nd chart, and your Fertility Educator will make sure you understand how to interpret it.

You will also learn about cervical palpation (checking the cervix) which is an optional extra check, and also preconception healthcare.

Find an Educator

How long should it take to get pregnant?

It generally takes 6-12 months for the average kiwi couple to conceive, which is not what many people expect when they start their trying to conceive (TTC) journey.

If however you know when your fertility starts and ends each cycle, you are in a much better position for successful conception.

Infertility

While practicing fertility awareness, along with the support of your Fertility Educator, you will be able to identify if something is not quite right. A report can be prepared for your chosen Health Professional so that further investigations can be made.

  • If you are under 35 and have been trying for 1 year, visit your GP to get a referral for further tests.
  • If you are 35 or over, only wait 6 months before visiting your GP.

Whilst you will be referred to a fertility clinic, it does not mean that you have to go ahead with treatment, but you will have the benefit of getting those extra investigations done which might identify a reason for why it is taking longer for you.

If you are not eligible for a publicly funded referral, the skills that you will have learnt via Fertility Awareness will support you while you get all your other ducks in a row.

Trying to get pregnant can be a real challenge for many, in fact 1 in 4 kiwi couples will have some trouble when trying to conceive. Know that you are not alone in experiencing this (even though it may feel that way!). Fertility NZ is an organisation that offers support to those experiencing all kinds of infertility.

Can I use Fertility Awareness while Breastfeeding?

Yes you can, but not the same version that you used when trying to conceive! In the next article, we will look into how you can delay the return to fertility with breastfeeding.

Read more…

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