Exploring Fertility Awareness Practices Among Women Seeking Pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: To explore use of fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) and factors that influence their use.

Design: Secondary data analysis of the National Survey of Family Growth, 2015 to 2017.

Setting: Surveys were conducted in the homes of a national sample of women in the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States.

Participants: A subset of women (N = 423) ages 19 to 49 years who sought advice about becoming pregnant.

Intervention/measurements: Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were used to describe sample characteristics and to examine predictors for FABM use.

Results: The sample was primarily married (70%), non-Hispanic women age 35 years or older (M = 37.4 years, SD = 7.3). Most were college educated (n = 253, 74.4%), were employed (n = 317, 74.9%), and had health insurance (n = 392, 92.7%). Only 113 women (27%) used one of three FABMs. The most frequent FABM was calendar rhythm (n = 103, 24.6%). Few used temperature/cervical mucus (n = 33, 7.9%) or Standard Days/Cycle Beads (n = 25, 6%). Catholic religion and age were not significant factors in FABM use. There was no significant difference among women with and without college degrees in FABM use: χ²(1, N = 423) = .27, p = .60. The model containing all predictors was not statistically significant: χ²(6, N = 423) = 5.686, p < .459; this indicates that the model was unable to distinguish differences in predictors between respondents who had or had not used an FABM. The model explained 1.7% (Cox and Snell R²) and 2.5% (Nagelkerke R²) of the variance in FABM use.

Conclusion: The most effective FABM (temperature/cervical mucus) was used infrequently among women who sought advice to achieve pregnancy. Although the effects were insignificant in predicting which women used an FABM, descriptive findings on FABM use were clinically informative. Considering the cost, emotional strain, and potential complications of infertility treatment, clinicians should consider initially recommending a fertility awareness-based method to women seeking advice about achieving pregnancy.

Keywords: female; fertility; fertility awareness–based methods; infertility; pregnancy.