[wholewheatchick]

I'm on the Pill now, and don't like being on it. Mostly because of the chemicals, etc. No real side effects or anything; my body tolerates it well.

I want to do FAM, but had problems with my cycle when I tried to chart a year ago, which is why I went on the Pill in the first place. I needed the estrogen due to health issues, and getting pregnant at the time would have been a disaster. DH and I don't have any kids, and DH doesn't want us to get pregnant right now. I'm worried that my cycle will still be whacked out for a while, so, long story short, we need to use something else, too, esp. during definite fertile times.

I'm looking into a diaphragm/fem cap/cervical cap/Lea Shield, used with natural spermicide (I found a recipe on the archives here).

But how much will using a diaphragm, etc., affect my charting???? It would seem to me that keeping it in for so long, combined with a spermicide (even a natural one) would really affect CM readings...

Any advice, BTDT, thoughts???? Should I just stay on the Pill until we're really ready to get pregnant?

Thanks!

 

[JeanneCNM]

Hi Wholewheatchick,
I fit both Femcaps and diaphragms. I like them because they do not affect your cycle whatsoever. Your cycle is hormone dependent. Neither of these methods have a hormonal influence.
Jeanne Prentice, CNM

 

[wholewheatchick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeanneCNM Hi Wholewheatchick, I fit both Femcaps and diaphragms. I like them because they do not affect your cycle whatsoever. Your cycle is hormone dependent. Neither of these methods have a hormonal influence. Jeanne Prentice, CNM

Yep, that's why I want to get off the Pill and do those--no fake hormones!

:

But what I'm curious about is if the "readings" for the cervical mucus will be 100% accurate, or if I could mess it up because of the spermicide, and having to leave the femcap, etc. in for at least 8 hours after DTD. Because when I did charting before, I thought you had to check the CM everytime you went to the bathroom???? I know the temps would still be ok.