Learning the Method

How to Locate a Fertility Awareness or Natural Family Planning Teacher

Before I answer this question, let me clarify that Fertility Awareness teachers tend to have a secular, feminist orientation; teachers of Natural Family Planning tend to offer the method in a Catholic framework. The medical information offered by these groups can be identical, although the Ovulation Method involves mucus-only observations; and the Sympto-Thermal Method involves mucus, cervix changes, and waking temperature.

The FERTILITY AWARENESS NETWORK (FAN) provides a list of FA teachers in the U.S. and Canada and occasionally other countries. FAN also offers classes and consultations in New York City. Teachers of FA tend to work from a secular, feminist orientation; they teach the Sympto-thermal (mucus, temp and cervix changes) and/or the Ovulation (mucus-only) methods. For a list of teachers, send a check for $5 to FAN, PO Box 1190, New York, NY 10009. 800.597.6267; 212.475.4490; www.fertaware.com/fan_resources.html.

The BILLINGS OVULATION METHOD ASSOCIATION (BOMA) offers classes, conferences, teacher-training and research in the Ovulation Method of Natural Family Planning. While their orientation is Catholic, BOMA's classes and conferences are open to people of all faiths. BOMA-USA, PO Box 16206, St. Paul, MN 16206; 651.699.8139; www.boma-usa.org.

The COUPLE TO COUPLE LEAGUE (CCL) teaches the Sympto-Thermal Method of Natural Family Planning. The League offers classes, training, and conferences. Their materials are available in Spanish. The mission of the CCL is to promote marital chastity through th teaching of NFP in a Christian context. PO Box 111184, Cincinnati, OH 45211; 513.471.2000; www.ccli.org.

The Best Books About Fertility Awareness and Natural Family Planning

The Garden of Fertility by Katie Singer includes chapters on gauging gyn health by your fertility signals, breastfeeding and FA, common products that can be hazardous to reproductive health, and nutritional strategies and night-lighting techniques for strengthening your reproductive health. It introduces women conducting research on their own fertility charts. You can purchase the book here.

For more books on Fertility Awareness and related topics, please check out our resource section.