[ihugtrees]

I have known a few people in my life who just tried to be 'careful' to prevent pregnancy...IE, not DTD when they ovulated or close to ovulating without a condom. I really want something more surefire then 'trying' not to after this baby! I want kids close together, but I also want to be sure that I can breastfeed until at least a year, if not two years!

Can anyone tell me, if I am really diligent about doing all I am supposed to, that the FAM really works? Any testimonials? Anyone who's done everything according to the book and still gotten pregnant? It almost seems irrational to me that that could happen, because your body is supposed to work a certain way... but I just need some reassurance.

 

[peridot83]

We've been doing FAM for about 2 years and it has been very effective. After about 6 months I realized I was spot on with ovulating on day 14 so I stopped temping and just went by the calendar and CM. We only use withdrawal during fertile times and we have been completely sucessful. I've never been pregnant but I know for sure that I ovulate like clock work. I love FAM, good luck!

 

[kalamos23]

We used FAM for 17 months with no pg. got pg the first month we tried and since I have gotten my first PPAF at 3 months have been practicing withdrawal and FAM again. I will say - if you use withdrawal, your DH should be confident and pullout early and never DTD twice in a row without peeing in between.

 

[Mosaic]

I've used FAM successfully for 9 years - no accidental pregnancies, and one intentional pregnancy on our 4th cycle trying. We have been diligent about our charting and use condoms for backup during fertile times, and we have never had an "oops." I have very regular 31-33 day cycles with predictable LPs and good CM patterns, so after all of this time I have adopted some of the TCOYF for more advanced charters (which are less stringent overall) and still have had no oops.

 

[BarefootScientist]

Yes, FAM works. If you are diligent in following the rules, the effectiveness can be about 98%. The problem is when you are NOT diligent in following the rules.

That can bite you in the butt.

I have used FAM to avoid since May 2005 and yes, I do have one precious little "accident." But he was completely the result of user failure and not the fault of the method at all.

Bottom line: follow the rules and it is very effective. Don't follow the rules, and it is also very effective...in getting you pregnant.

 

[Juliacat]

If you read the TCOYF book, internalize all of the rules, and follow them to the letter, FAM is very effective. "Trying not to do it" is BS. If you're not taking your temperature every morning and checking cervical fluid, as well as following all of the rules in the book, you're going to get pregnant.

I'm pregnant with an FAM baby, but I broke the First Five Days rule.

 

[JamieCatheryn]

It kept us from conceiving for 1 year, then the first month we stopped avoiding conception, we conceived. If you're diligent you will know when conception is a real possibility and when it's not.

 

[Mama2Xander]

Yes it is very effective (98-99%) when used correctly. You have to be very diligent and observe/chart every day and every cycle, and pay attention to the rules.

Also, it's important to keep in mind that if you use a barrier method during your fertile phase, the overall efficacy can only be as good as the barrier method's efficacy rate - many of which are surprisingly low. In other words, if you are using FAM, and decide to DTD with a condom or diaphragm during your fertile phase, and get pregnant, that is a condom/diaphragm failure, not a FAM failure. The efficacy rates of FAM are assuming that you abstain during the fertile phase.

 

[momof2boyz1gal]

I got off BC and my husband and I started the FAM. My husband and I were very careful. Before he even came close he would withdraw and finish other ways. We went above and beyond the call of duty. Within 2 or 3 months of using this method we got pregnant with our little girl. Also remember the guy may leak throughout depending how sexually aroused he gets and you can get pregnant.

 

[Virginia884]

Quote:

Originally Posted by momof2boyz1gal I got off BC and my husband and I started the FAM. My husband and I were very careful. Before he even came close he would withdraw and finish other ways. We went above and beyond the call of duty. Within 2 or 3 months of using this method we got pregnant with our little girl. Also remember the guy may leak throughout depending how sexually aroused he gets and you can get pregnant.

Were you BDing during your fertile times? As someone else said around here recently... a pregnancy from withdrawl during fertile times is a withdrawl baby, not a FAM baby. That's a risk some of us take.

Oh, and Welcome! I see this is post #1!

 

[sarahope]

Yes FAM is amazing. I love it, love love love not having to be dependent on artificial birth control. Like everyone said though, you have to follow the rules. But if you do, your body will tell you everything you need to know. I learned from TCOYF; it's an incredible resource.
Most people use FAM obviously to avoid pregnancy, as do I. But when I was trying to conceive DS, it was amazingly helpful as well because I'm not ultrafertile (don't have great CM) and so pinpointing the exact window -literally within a 12-24 hour timeframe- for trying made all the difference.

 

[momof2boyz1gal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Virginia884 Were you BDing during your fertile times? As someone else said around here recently... a pregnancy from withdrawl during fertile times is a withdrawl baby, not a FAM baby. That's a risk some of us take. Oh, and Welcome! I see this is post #1!

Yes we were but he pulled out way before we even felt the feeling, at least 10 mins, and we finished other ways. I still got pregnant because some guys leak the whole time from beginning, middle, and end if you let it get that far.

 

[flapjack]

http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/flapjack2147

And yes, sticky is my base infertile pattern.

If you're looking to space kids, go for it. If you're done, don't. That's my advice.

 

[BarefootScientist]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flapjack http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/flapjack2147 And yes, sticky is my base infertile pattern. If you're looking to space kids, go for it. If you're done, don't. That's my advice.

Holy crap! Is that your chart for your current pregnancy? Did you DTD the morning of the third day after temp shift?

 

[HotJabanero]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarefootScientist Yes, FAM works. If you are diligent in following the rules, the effectiveness can be about 98%. The problem is when you are NOT diligent in following the rules. That can bite you in the butt.

Exactly this I find it very effective when we are really not ready for a baby but the minute I/dh get a little lazy..... I still plan to use it because really our pregnancies weren't surprises.

I forgot to add the time lines we have used it successfully. 21 months after #2, 21 months after #3 and 27 months after #4 so I consider it pretty darn effective. I don't count any of the times pre kids or after my first as I did not have a clear understanding of the entire concept so first two were great/wonderful surprises.

Oh and on the withdrawal note there are certain rules that make it more effective like *only* ejaculating every third day, this would include nocturnal emissions and masturbation which some people don't think about, in conjunction with pulling out in good time. Sperm can live for a bit in the pre ejaculate so *only* every third day. This may not work for some men but can work great for others.

 

[flapjack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarefootScientist Holy crap! Is that your chart for your current pregnancy? Did you DTD the morning of the third day after temp shift?

No, 3am the morning following: the new day starts with me sticking the thermometer in my mouth.

Baby is an anarchist

 

[BarefootScientist]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flapjack No, 3am the morning following: the new day starts with me sticking the thermometer in my mouth. Baby is an anarchist

LOL, I guess...you're saying the sperm lived for 10 days??!?!! That's...incredible.

 

[annie2186]

holy cow!

I always wondered why - if you followed the rules of NFP/FAM to the letter - it was only 98.whatever (or whatever it is) I guess you are one of the people who creates stats like that!!

Baby REALLY wanted to be here

 

[rsps]

It's worked for us for the past 8 years, and I second (or third) everyone's advice.

 

[Herculesmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarefootScientist LOL, I guess...you're saying the sperm lived for 10 days??!?!! That's...incredible.

Yeah she's not the only one who's had that happen....my ds absolutely positively could not have been conceived after March 14 (we broke up the day after we DTD and never DTD after that) yet my "conception date" was April 15 and ds was born on Jan 12 2009. Pretty crazy huh?