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Fertility awareness is a type of natural family planning based on a woman's physical signs of ovulation, such as changes in cervical mucus consistency and basal (resting) body temperature. Keeping track of these symptoms may be helpful if a couple is trying to become pregnant or trying to avoid pregnancy.
Because intercourse before ovulation can lead to pregnancy, and ovulation does not always occur at the same time every month, fertility awareness is not the most reliable method of avoiding pregnancy.
Current as of: August 2, 2022
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Sarah Marshall MD - Family Medicine & Anne C. Poinier MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Femi Olatunbosun MB, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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