Charting to avoid - does it work?

[button-nose]

Hi! I've done loads of research into family planning over the last few years. my GP is adamant that it's a really stupid option, but the statistics of it are amazing - I guess I'm just wondering if anybody has had any 'accidental' miracles while trying out this method?

I absolutely detest hormones, but I'm currently on the combi pill and have been for 6 months. I got on so badly with Paragard so that's not an option. I hate being so out of sync with my body. My bf and I were using condoms for a long time, but then I accidentally thought I'd got pregnant (although it turned out to be a blighted ovum somewhat sadly although also somewhat luckily), so we got a bit nervous which lead to Paragard for 18 months and now I'm on the pill which makes me irritable and unpleasant to be around.

I would love to try a natural alternative, but a baby really ought not to happen for the next two years when our lives will be a bit more stable financially. I guess I'm just worried because I've had the fear of god put into me by my GP who in no uncertain terms told me it was the stupidest thing he's ever heard in all his years of being a doctor - even though I pointed out to him that on the family planning leaflet he gave me it was listed as a viable option.

I went to an NFP specialist and they were really positive about it's effectiveness and were the first ever people to support me in my distaste for hormonal contraception and suggested I attend their classes which I will do...I guess I just wanted to hear some real peoples stories on it and hear your perspectives.





 

[HulaJenn]

We have been CTA since May 2009 successfully. I think as long as you abide by all the rules and do your research then it can definitely be as effective as any other hormonal method! Come check out the resources in the "Charting To Avoid - January" Thread.

[mariacm]

Yes, it is as effective as the pill when done correctly.  Take the class so you learn it well.  Docs do not learn NFP in school, all they learn is that the old "rhythm" method is highly ineffective - true, but NFP today is nothing like the rhythm method was way back when.  By the way, the SymptoThermal NFP method has been around for decades, lots of scientific research behind it to make the rules, and lots of research since then to get the statistics.

We've used NFP successfully for about 2 years total (and charted to conceive in between).  My philosophy: Why override nature with additional synthetic hormones when you can instead simply understand when you're fertile and when you're not and act accordingly?

[cvanlieder]

Definitely did NOT work for us.

[starbuckmom]

Worked for us!  We avoided till we decided it was time to try for our first.  It worked between our older ds and the twins too.  The twins are 2 and so far, no pregnancy! 

[dancingnancy97]

The pill made me almost impossible to live with for the first year of my marriage.  When a friend told me about NFP, it sounded like a good idea.  I used it for the two years in between our two children, and it worked for us.  I've also used it to get pregnant on the first try both times.  With that being said, I tend to err on the side of caution when calculating my fertile time and allow a pretty wide window.  We use condoms during that time.  At least if you use NFP with condoms, you have a better idea of how much of a chance you're taking when you use the condom.  :-)  Have you read Taking Charge of Your Fertility?  It's such a great read and should give you some good defense to the naysayers.

[Mosaic]

I second TCOYF. I've charted now for almost 11 years, with NO accidents and only 2 very intentional babies in there. I never took a class, but TCOYF plus these forums were all I have ever needed! And yes, we do FAM (use condoms during fertile times), and had great success both before TTCing and in between our children.

Works great!!

[button-nose]

thanks so much for the advice guys - most of my friends think I'm crazy. Everyone just seems to get put on the pill these days, without a second thought. I also agree with dancingnancy, I feel awful because I'm pretty much impossible to be around right now. My BF is very sympathetic, but I feel like an out of control hormonal teenager! My libido is either on mega power drive, or I won't want to have sex for weeks because I'm all emotional and bloated.

cvanleider, I'm interested to hear why it didn't work for you, if you wouldn't mind sharing?

Have decided to come off the pill this month, and then I'm going to be abroad for two and a bit months for a work placement, without my boyfriend, so I'll get the chance to reconfigure my cycle a bit. Does anyone have any experience in coming off the pill and going onto NFP? BF is excited, he's a very sciencey/biology kind of person so he's enjoying doing lots of research, lol.

Have ordered the books! 

 

[dancingnancy97]

Another book I can recommend is Fertility, Cycles, and Nutrition by Marilyn Shannon.  It teaches about how nutrition affects our cycles.  So if you have an irregular cycle that is hard to chart, sometimes you can make it regular through nutrition.  She also suggests some supplements to help your body recover from being on the pill.  I was able to get it at the library and flip through it.  I liked it so much, I bought my own copy and still use it sometimes just as a basis nutrition reference.  :-)

[2lilsweetfoxes]

It worked for me for 5 years...then, one month, looking back at my chart, I had the temperature rise, waited 2-3 days before having sex, believing I was "safe", then still ended up pregnant.  What I think happened is that I had a low-grade fever, mistook that for the rise, then I ovulated while I had a fever.  (My normal body temp is 97.5 pre-O and 99.0 post-O; and I rarely run fevers over 99.0)

So, now DH does not trust it and since we can't handle another baby at the moment, I'm on Implanon (and BCP to control the irregular bleeding).  But, when the implanon comes out, I think I'd like to go back to charting.