The Complete Guide to Fertility Awareness

Fertility Awareness is key to understanding sexual and reproductive health at all life stages. It can be used to either plan or avoid pregnancy. Fertility Awareness Methods (FAMs) are highly effective when motivated couples are taught by trained practitioners. These methods are in demand for ecological, medical, cultural, religious and moral reasons. The ability to control fertility naturally is a lifestyle choice.

The Complete Guide to Fertility Awareness provides the science and methodology suitable for health professionals and a general audience. It covers reproductive physiology and the fertility indicators: temperature, cervical secretions and cycle length calculations. It explores ways to optimise conception and to manage conception delays. Case studies and self-assessment exercises are included throughout. The book addresses the scientific credibility of new technologies including fertility apps, home test kits, monitors and devices.

The Complete Guide to Fertility Awareness offers:

• evidence-based information for general practitioners, practice nurses, school nurses, midwives, sexual health doctors and nurses
• a unique perspective on subfertility for gynaecologists and fertility nurses
• an authoritative source of reference for medical, nursing and midwifery students
• a straightforward and practical reference for new and experienced FAM users
• the core text for the FertilityUK Advanced Skills Course in Fertility Awareness

Preface

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

List of figures

List of tables

Images and permissions

1. Overview of fertility awareness
2. Male fertility
3. Female fertility
4. Temperature: first indicator
5. Cervical secretions: second indicator
6. Cervix: third indicator
7. Calendar calculations: fourth indicator
8. Minor indicators of fertility
9. Home test kits and monitors
10. Combining indicators
11. Simplified methods
12. Factors affecting the menstrual cycle
13. FAMs for women of normal fertility
14. Contraception and returning fertility
15. FAMs after hormonal contraception
16. Breastfeeding, LAM and returning fertility
17. FAMs during the peri-menopause
18. Planning pregnancy
19. Conception delays and assisted fertility
20. Teaching fertility awareness

Appendix A. Normal fertility chart

Appendix B. Instructions for use

Appendix C. Planning pregnancy chart

Appendix D. Chart summary sheet

Appendix E. Autonomy checklist

Appendix F. Body mass index chart

Appendix G. Drugs which affect the menstrual cycle

Appendix H. Further reading

Bibliography

Index

Jane Knight is a fertility nurse specialist with over 30 years' experience teaching fertility awareness in both NHS and private practice. She was the UK Principal Investigator for the European multi-centre study on the probability of conception on different days of the menstrual cycle. She trains health professionals in the UK and internationally.