Want to start charting - any suggestions?

Dandylione

Hello, 

I am wanting to start seriously tracking my fertility to avoid pregnancy. Condoms and pills just don't do it for us. DH and I have agreed that without the use of condoms/pills, there is the chance of getting pregnant, and we would be okay with that. However, we are not trying for that. However, before we eliminate the use of other forms of contraception, I would like to chart for a few months to make sure I am charting properly.

Does anyone here do basal body temp charting? What type of thermometer do you use, and where do you track your information? Do you have any good resources you could recommend? Any other tips? 

Thanks for the help! 

artbyallie

Well, you can't chart on the pill since it prevents ovulation.

I'm on the pill myself so I have no personal advice to offer, but other people have suggested Taking Charge of Your Fertility as reading material.

DawnLilly

3 years we went with charting and pull and pray until we decided to get pregnant. I only charted cervical mucus and cervical position. My cycle is extremely regular, 29 days with a 13 day luteal cycle. You might find more help on babies not on the brain board for temp charting and natural family planning methods.

Dandylione

Artbyallie, thanks for the book suggestion! I am going to get it from Amazon. 

I am not on the pill. It makes me feel weird. we will use other forms of contraception until we get charting down pat. 

DawnLilly, sounds like you effectively accomplished the method we are wanting to try!

Thanks for the info!

moonprincessd

I chart! I love Ovuline! It's a website and an app, so I can easily enter my temperature in the morning since my phone is right by the bed.

I use a thermometer that I got from our church program. My husband and I took a class on NFP. It's basically a basal thermometer. 

They recommend charting at least 2: temp, mucus, cervical opening

I just do temp and mucus, since they're easier.

Also note, you have to chart for at 6 months to get an accurate idea of your cycle. Once you have that, you'll want to keep charting since it can vary based on stress/medication, etc... but you'll have a better idea of when it is safe. 

If your cycle is irregular though, it might not be as helpful...

However, we still use condoms. I've always been the paranoid type. So I need to have at least 2 forms of contraceptive and no way I'm I taking the pill or IUD. But we haven't gotten pregnant yet, so must be working! Been using both for at least 3 years now....

There is also a device that my cousin recommends, but I personally don't think it's worth the cost (it's like $400 I think). It's called the Lady Comp and it basically does all the work for you. You just take your temperature and it tells you if it's safe to have sex or not. http://raxmedical.com/

Dandylione

Awesome information! Thanks for the link! 

Lol, I think I might be on the same page as you about the price of the Lady Comp! Maybe one day in the future when $400 wouldn't be such a hit! 

I'm glad to hear the method is working for you!

mrswilkes2011

Im not familiar with charting ( what is charting by the way?, never heard of it) Have you tried the depo provera shot? Its a birth control shot you get once every three months. It works well for me, because id never remember to take the pills and we dont use protection. Some poeple dont like it because of some of the side effects like weight gain and no periods. Just thought id mention it, but good luck with the charting!

DawnLilly

Charting is based on abstaining from sex during your most fertile time. Which, is tracked by basal body temperature, cervical mucas, cervical position and a very consistly monitored cycle history. It is not for everyone. It takes a lot of work and you have to be in a position that if a mistake happens you are happy with the outcome.

Most people use charting when trying to get pregnant but some use it to avoid. Because I knew my cycle so well it only took us one month to get pregnant when we did try. Certain cultures and religions do not approve of birth control which is why charting is more oftentimes called natural family planning.

DH and I chose this method after multiple different methods of hormonal birth control had very terrible effects on me. Way past weight gain or anything like that. I thought I was clinically depressed.

Again, people make mistakes and while we have only gotten pregnant once in the last 5 years when we were trying, you have to be stable and prepared if you do get pregnant.

jjbmstinco

I chart and love it as well.  I use fertility friend. If you click on my siggy, it will take you to the link. Or you can just go to fertilityfriend.com.  One of the PP mentioned Taking Charge of your Fertility good.  Great resource to have on hand.  I still use it sometimes. I got my thermontar online.  I ordered it when I ordered Ovulation Predictor Kits.  I buy Wandfos off Amazon because they are so cheap. Along with my chart, they help me recognize when not to avoid.  We avoided for almost 3 years with this method. If we wanted to do it during the fertile time, he would just wear a condom.  

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to PM me.  TTGP and BOTB board are both good resources. 

Dandylione

Thanks JJbmstinco and Dawn Lilly! Good to know others have successfully used the method as a form of birth control. 

mrswilkes2011 - My friend told me about the depo shot, but I don't react well to hormonal birth control, which is what piqued my interest in charting.

Such good information/suggestions!