I've been using/learning about fertility awareness methods in the early 1990's. I charted and used a speculum faithfully for four years, after a lifestyle change and move I desided not to use the speculum anymore, actually I wore it out and I never bothered to pull out a replacement. After four years of observing my cervical fluids and charting I felt comfortable enough to go it on my own. I took my time learning during those four years of using a speculum, I examined my cervical fluids and took lots of notes. With four years of personal history I was well equipped to determine my range of fertility, and have not been using my speculum for the past 4-5 years. I am very familiar with my fertile mucus/cervical fluids (same thing) and can easily recongize the changes. I alway make sure to keep any sperm away from my vaginal area well in advance of any signs of fertility. The secret to success is keeping sperm out of the vagina until ovulation/fertility has passed for that cycle. I still keep notes on my c alender so that I can keep track of what is going on in my cycle. Learning to tell when I'm fertile has been one of the best things I have done for myself. I encourage all women to do the same.

When learning you should include one of two methods to confirm the passage of ovulation; a basal thermometer to measure waking body temperature, or a plastic speculum to observe the changes in the cervix signifying the passage of fertility and ovulation for that cycle. With using either of these two tools and keeping sperm out of the vagina before fertility/ovulation, pregnancy can be avoided successfully. During the first few months it is a good idea to use a barrier method of contraception every time sex play occurs, this will give you some time to get a feel for what is going on. If your cycles are regular it will be easier to identify fertilty, and with in 3 or 4 cycles you should beable to tell with some confidence when you are fertile. Just don't get over confident!! Our cycles can vary in the lengh of days, so take your time, and don't have unprotected sex unless you are absolutely certain ovulation has passed and you are not fertile. The safest time to have unprotected sex is just before menstruati on begins.

Please also keep in mind, that unless both you and your partner have a clean bill of health from the doctor, condoms should be used to protect from diseases. Even if you both are virgins there are diseases that are aquired in ways other than sex, and can be passed to another person through sexual contact.

It takes time and energy on your part of learn when you are fertile, but it can be done and really isn't hard to do. When you are first learning fertility awareness it is very easy to make a mistake and if you do, the result is likely to be pregnancy.

Now that I'm an experienced user of FAM, I have devised a formula that works very well for me - I have not had any unplanned pregnancies in more than 5 years. And I did get pregnant while learning FAMethods, so I urge everyone who tries these methods to BE CAREFUL!! Having a sensitive partner really helps while learning. Charting your cycle is a very important part of FAMethods, finding out what is normal for you is the key.

And most importantly, use a method that tells you for certain that ovulation has occurred. I recommend one or both of these methods - a basal thermometer (remember - no warning of approaching ovulation, only tells you when it has happened) or a plastic speculum. If you use one or both of these, as long as you keep sperm out of the vagina long before ovulation happens and confirm the passage of ovulation/fertility for that cycle, unwanted pregnancy should not be an issue. But you must be positive that ovulation occurred, and that you are no longer fertile for that cycle.

As you learn, please take advantage of the resources I've made available.