Fertility Awareness as a Window into your Wellbeing
For many women, the menstrual cycle is something we grew up with ignoring or managing with very little understanding of what it represents. The word fertility is often only considered to be relevant or important when wanting to conceive and something to suppress or control if not.
But fertility is not just about reproduction, it is a barometer of a woman’s health.
“A healthy menstrual cycle is a reflection of a healthy body”
Just like heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature, your menstrual cycle provides essential information about your overall health. Learning to observe and interpret your cycle is one of the most empowering skills a woman can develop.
What is Fertility Awareness?
Fertility Awareness is the practice of tracking and interpreting your body’s natural fertility signs - the changes in cervical fluid, basal body temperature (BBT) and cervical position.
These primary biomarkers are outward signs of our inward biology. By observing these patterns each and every day, you can determine when you are fertile, when you are not and how your body may be expressing any hormonal imbalances.
Fertility Awareness-Based Methods (FABMs) can be used to:
Avoid pregnancy as a natural and effective form of contraception
Support you in achieving conception when the time is right
Monitor reproductive health as an ongoing measure of wellbeing and self-awareness
Why fertility matters beyond pregnancy
Fertility is often misunderstood as only a marker of whether you can get pregnant. But the presence of ovulation and a fertile cycle are indicators of much more. They tell us that hormones are balanced, the endocrine system is functioning well, and the body has the resources it needs to support vitality.
Regular ovulation means your hormones are working in harmony, supporting not just reproduction but also bone health, cardiovascular health, mood stability, energy, and longevity.
When cycles are irregular, painful, or absent, it can be a signal that something deeper needs attention. Whether that may be thyroid imbalance, nutritional deficiencies, chronic stress, or other health conditions. In this way, fertility awareness becomes a tool for body literacy and early detection of potential concerns.
The Symptothermal Method
Among the various fertility awareness-based methods, the Symptothermal Method is one of the most widely practiced and scientifically supported. It combines the tracking and interpretation of:
Changes in cervical fluid – Throughout a woman’s cycle, the cervical fluid changes in consistency and appearance. As ovulation approaches, it becomes more clear, stretchy, and slippery - signalling peak fertility. Outside a woman’s fertile window, cervical fluid dries up, becoming more tacky - indicative that she is not fertile.
Basal body temperature (BBT) – This is your resting temperature, taken first thing each morning before getting out of bed. After ovulation has occurred, the hormone progesterone causes a noticeable rise in BBT, which will stay elevated until menstruation. Charting this shift helps confirm that ovulation has occurred.
Cervical changes – The cervix itself changes position, softness, and openness during the cycle. Around ovulation, it sits higher in the vaginal canal, becomes softer and more open. After ovulation, the cervix begins to lower, becomes firmer in texture and is closed. This is a supportive fertility sign to track but is optional, depending on your level of openness and comfort with exploring your own cervix.
When observed consistently and interpreted correctly, this method is up to 98% effective for contraception with perfect use - comparable to hormonal birth control, but entirely natural. Unlike methods that rely on predictions or apps alone, the symptothermal method is rooted in real-time body awareness, making it both highly effective and empowering when practiced correctly.
I highly recommend working with a trained practitioner (like me!) so that you can learn the method correctly and safely. I would be honoured to help you to understand and identify the nuances of your cycle, pinpoint your fertile window and reclaim the confidence that comes from true body literacy. Whether your goal is transitioning to natural contraception, conception or simply a deeper connection with your self - the fertility awareness method is a powerful and life-changing tool.
I offer 1:1 coaching containers to teach this method in a clear, grounded and practical way. I believe that every woman should have access to this education and it is something I teach with great pride and honour.
Read more about this offering here
Reclaiming Body Literacy and Connection in a Fragmented World
Fertility awareness is about being present with our experiences in a deep and connected way. Our bodies communicate to us all the time, it is our responsibility to respond and tend to ourselves. Despite living in a society that often seeks to control and medicalise women’s reproductive processes;
When we cultivate intimate knowledge of our own bodies,
When we are connected and conscious in the face of these pressures,
We reclaim direct agency and authority, a source of strength that is entirely our own.
