Fertility awareness is experiential learning about cyclic fertility. This awareness, used as a family planning method, differs from contraception because it does not isolate the procreative capacity out of either partner. The acceptability and effect of teaching fertility awareness on teen sexual activity and decision making was tested in a multisite pilot program which taught fertility awareness via the prospective marker of the cervical mucus (ovulation method of natural family planning). Two hundred U.S. and 35 Guatemalan volunteer women aged 15-17 years in a structured one year curriculum, monitored cycle charting and explored the implications of experiencing one's signs of fertility. Control subjects were recruited from general population and from family planning clinics.Nine percent of the U.S. study group were sexually active prior to entry. By cycle 12, half had discontinued activity. Conception rate was 0.0044. The continuation rate dropped from 90% at cycle 7 to 71% at cycle 8 due to scheduling constraints for 2 classes and to 57% at cycle 12. Post-program followup of the early leavers showed only one third the expected rate of onset of sexual activity and pregnancy.Parent involvement correlated positively with postponement and/or discontinuation of sexual activity. Reported movement away from peer group pressure appeared 3 months after entry.

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