"We're funded by the Government and by health authorities to do this. It's been all around New Zealand except Auckland, which seems quite bizarre," says Robyn Fausett, an educator.
The group now has clinics in Remuera, New Lynn and Takapuna. Because it is heavily subsidised, couples pay only $200-$300, or about one-fifth the price of a private fertility clinic.
Mrs Fausett teaches a method which combines and refines features of scientifically based, traditional, natural family planning. "It is the practice of observing your body, understanding its changes and knowing when you are fertile or not," she explains.
It involves carefully recording or charting cervical mucus, basal body temperature and changes in the cervix. It is not dependent on the regularity of a woman's menstrual cycle. The flipside is that couples can also choose when not to conceive.
"It's at least 98 per cent effective, which is the same as the mini-pill. In fact, there's a recent German study that says it's even more effective than that," says Mrs Fausett. "Basically, we see clients for three sessions and we teach them the guidelines. Once they're used to charting, they can use the charts very accurately and know exactly when they're fertile and when they're not. And then, they have a choice."
Ms White, who is also a fertility educator, adds: "So many women do not know about their menstrual cycle. Most of my clients don't know how it works and when ovulation takes place. It's a huge learning curve for them.
"Lots of women don't know what to do if they can't conceive. They think of IVF, but they also think: 'Let's investigate and see what's happening for ourselves'."
Ms White says the chart will soon show if there is a problem. When that happens, they refer couples to their GP or other health practitioner.
The method is more effective if it is taught properly. "Although the guidelines may seem straightforward, each woman's cycle is unique and must be recorded and interpreted individually. A generic application is often misleading, although they are useful to store the information to be interpreted once the clients have learnt the method," she says.
"But this is not as easy as an app on your Iphone."
THERE'S A TRICK TO IT
If charting for conception, couples can have sex as often as they like, says Robyn Fausett. If charting for contraception, once the method is learnt and understood the choice is theirs. They can abstain or use a barrier
form of contraception when fertile.
Each woman's ``fertile'' time is unique. Couples are taught guidelines so they feel confident when they can have sex safely and when they cannot.
See
www.nestconsulting.co.nz
email:
info@nestconsulting.co.nz
