Fertility Awareness: Side Effects, Benefits and FAQs
Side Effects
The Positive
- Doesn’t cost a thing—except for the price of a basal thermometer or CycleBeads
- No prescription necessary
- No hormones added to your body
- No worries about side effects (other than the possibility of getting pregnant)
- Helps you learn more about your body and how it works
The Negative
- Takes planning, record-keeping, and self-control
- Requires abstinence (or use of an alternate method) for at least a week per cycle
- Both partners need to participate 100%
- The Calendar Method and the Standard Days Method don’t work for women with irregular periods
- Not something you should try if you’ve just gone off a hormonal method, because the hormones affect your cycle (you’ll need to use a non-hormonal method while you’re learning to track your cycle)
- Hard to stick to the plan if you’re drunk
