Cycle tracking is a form of fertility awareness that helps us understand the patterns of our ovulation-menstruation cycle and is based on daily hormonal changes. It requires a simple daily practice of taking your temperature and checking your vaginal secretions; some people choose to track the changes in their cervix. Forms of fertility awareness have been used by our ancestors for thousands of years to help us understand our fertility.

Fertility awareness and cycle charting is right for you if…

• You are a cycling person or the caregiver, partner, or ally of cycling people.

• And you want to understand the menstrual ovulation cycle so that you can:

  • recognize the link between cycle health and general health outcomes

  • avoid getting pregnant without taking any hormones like the pill or putting anything foreign, like an IUD, in your body and learn how to use other non-hormonal contraceptive allies

  • support egg vitality for future reproductive desires

  • get pregnant with ease, support your pre-conception health and learn your daily fertility patterns to reduce time to conceive, and support timing of intercourse, insemination, and IUI

  • discover root causes of infertility, understand your unique fertility markers prior to IUI/IVF, and explore a non-invasive alternative to IUI/IVF

  • gain support with hormonal imbalances such as irregular cycles, heavy bleeding, PMS or painful periods, PCOS, hypothyroidism, chronic yeast infections, etc. charting can help you identify the root cause and restore hormonal balance

  • support your teen, partner, or loved one in their reproductive health and wellness

I teach a symptothermal single check method with the option to use a calculation to double check. This method uses reproductive biomarkers (cervical fluid, basal body temperature, cervix position) and an optional calculation to open a persons fertile window. I was trained in this method in a 2 year program at The Well, with Sarah Bly. This program is accredited by the national Association of Fertility Awareness Professionals (AFAP).

Symptothermal cycle charting involves a daily recording of 2-3 bodily signs that change throughout a person’s cycle because of their reproductive hormones. These bodily signs are basel body temperature, fluid secretions from the vagina and cervix, and the position of the cervix (opening to the uterus). I teach a double check method that also involves a calculation that can open the fertile window.

Correct and consistent use of an STM can be as effective in preventing pregnancy as hormonal methods of contraception. Success with STMs are highly user dependent. Unlike methods such as IUDs, STM’s are affected by motivation, education, confidence, partner(s) support, and behavior during the fertile phase. The solid science of STM combined with professional instruction and personal commitment can provide a highly effective form of contraception in those for whom it is a good fit.

• 3-4 weeks to learn the method and a few cycles for you to learn own cycles’ pattern and rhythm

• If you are learning this method for contraception, it is recommended to practice for at least 3 months before using this method as your sole form of birth control / contraceptive

Cycle charting is much more affordable than regular costs of standard contraception or procedures to support fertility. The materials you need are: a NON-quick read thermometer (~$12-15), subscription to an app (Read Your Body $15/year) or monthly paper charts (cost of printing), cost of classes and support from an educator (variable costs) - that’s it for the rest of your cycling life!

• Four group or individual virtual classes

• 1 private session with me after completion of the course

• self-paced videos and a list of resources emailed to you before each class

• for birth control charters – you’ll have access to an ‘are you ready’ questionnaire that you can use to test your knowledge so you feel the utmost confident in using this method

Approximately ~4 hours of virtual class, plus ~4 hours of supplemental videos spread out over the course, with homework given after each class to support integration of the new material.

Apps that predict when you are fertile or not fertile do not take into account being human—seriously! An app simply cannot predict how your cycle will be affected by your daily life. Your cycles are impacted by stress, illness, staying up late, diet, travel, new supplements, new lovers, etc., which is why some of your cycles are longer than others (ovulation is being delayed). With cycle charting, you use real time bodily signs to make a decision about whether or not you are fertile, this is much more effective than using a predictive app.

Yes! I endorse the Read Your Body app and community. This app is not only female-led and was created by other Fertility Awareness Educators, but it provides all the most important aspects that I look for in a cycle charting app. This app offers data privacy- which is so important these days! You are inputting sensitive information into these apps, and it is imperative that they protect this. This app is inclusive to all charting goals, values, and FABMs. I have found this app to be user friendly and I provide a pre-made template you can download to your chart. This app is non-predictive, which means that you determine when you are in a fertile time of your cycle, rather than an algorithm. It also offers unique customization so that you track other important symptoms.

For those who choose to work with me, I can offer 3 months free for new users to this app.

• I will email you to schedule your discovery call, 1:1 session, or options for the intro to fertility awareness course.

• When you sign up for a course, I will email you a welcome message with further information and an intake form for you to complete before the course begins.

A sliding scale payment is an option that I offer to acknowledge the differences in financial resources that people have access to due to systems of inequality that exist within our society.

The higher dollar amount reflects the true cost of the class. The lower dollar amount offers an option for people who are struggling to maintain their needs related to housing, food, child care, and may be living paycheck to paycheck or are in significant debt. If the lowest amount would put undue financial burden on you, please contact me about scholarships and payment plans.