November 10, 2025
Letters@NYTimes
cc: Caroline Kitchener, NYT
The Association of Fertility Awareness Professionals (AFAP) wants to add its perspective to those presented in “The MAHA-Fueled Rise of Natural Family Planning,” November 9, 2025.
It is possible to learn a highly effective method of fertility awareness to prevent or achieve pregnancy and gauge overall health WITHOUT faith-based instruction.
AFAP has accredited four teacher training programs in North America, Europe, and Israel with graduates in more than a dozen countries. Our educators have demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of reproductive anatomy and physiology, the methodology of the symptothermal method of fertility awareness, and ethical, culturally sensitive teaching practices. They help clients understand their bodies and make informed choices around the full spectrum of reproductive and sexual health options, including the use of contraceptive methods other than fertility awareness.
Fertility awareness should not be used as an excuse to restrict access to comprehensive healthcare and contraceptive options. We are deeply concerned about the ways fertility awareness is misconstrued as a fringe practice and that its relevance and efficacy are understated by some medical professionals.
We strongly advocate that people assess the training, affiliations, and potential biases of the sources they consult about fertility.
Our directory lists 100 highly qualified educators worldwide. Many offer online consultations. If you seek comprehensive fertility awareness education grounded in science and outside a religious context; or if you want to accurately portray fertility awareness in media posts, find us at fertilityawarenessprofessionals.org
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
Association of Fertility Awareness Professionals
Contact:
Tamara Rubin, AFAP Media Committee