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A couple FAM/NFP Questions
Ok ladies - I've been reading TCOYF and I've decided to start practicing FAM after I finish this pack of BC pills. I'm still a little nervous and I have a few questions for those of you that are currently practicing FAM/NFP.
1) How many full cycles did you chart before beginning to rely on charting as your primary birth control method?
2) During my first cycle of charting if I've had my temperature shift and there is no cervical fluid (after the 3rd day of the shift) would you still say I'm safe to consider myself infertile? Or should I continue to use a second method of birth control for a certain number of cycles?
3) Just out of curiosity - did you start FAM/NFP after coming off of hormonal BC? And if so how long did it take for your cycles to appear "normal" again?
I realize you ladies aren't doctors so I am just asking for an educated opinion - I wont hold you responsible for any unplanned pregnancies if one should occur lol.
Thanks again!
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Re: A couple FAM/NFP Questions
Ok ladies - I've been reading TCOYF and I've decided to start practicing FAM after I finish this pack of BC pills. I'm still a little nervous and I have a few questions for those of you that are currently practicing FAM/NFP.
1) How many full cycles did you chart before beginning to rely on charting as your primary birth control method?
Linds - We charted two full cycles before the wedding. In our method of NFP they recommend you abstain for the first full cycle to "reset" your body and get a read for what your body normally does with nothing interfering. Since you are coming of the BCP, not sure if they would recommend more than one cycle or not.
For full disclosure here, H and I cannot technically say we are using NFP as family planning because I am in PT for a pelvic floor disorder. So we have not been sexually active (makes me want to scream lol). I have full confidence in my charts though that when that day (finally) arrives, we can identify our fertile phase.
2) During my first cycle of charting if I've had my temperature shift and there is no cervical fluid (after the 3rd day of the shift) would you still say I'm safe to consider myself infertile? Or should I continue to use a second method of birth control for a certain number of cycles?
Okay, the method you are using is slightly different than mine. I don't chart temps. But in Creighton, your "peak day" is the last day of observable mucus that is either clear, stretchy, or lubricative (any of those signs indicate fertility). Now there's more to it than that (for example, there's a certain method we use to observe and some women are just super mucousy so there's more to their observations etc), but just to be simple here, let's stick with that. After that peak day of fluid, you wait for a count of three days (because ovulation can occur within that window and an egg can live up to 24 hours). On the fourth day you are free to engage in genital contact at the end of the day. From there on out, have a party any time, every time until your period starts.
I hope this isn't confusing you. Catarntina may have a clearer explanation because her charting style is similar to yours. The shortest answer is: 3 days after you've "dried up" is safe for a woman who knows her body.
3) Just out of curiosity - did you start FAM/NFP after coming off of hormonal BC? And if so how long did it take for your cycles to appear "normal" again?
I have not been on hormonal BC in ten years, so I can't help there. However, I did start charting during a stressful time (two months before the wedding!). Our NFP practitioner taught us to look for signs of stress in our charts which can cause "double peak" (this is a phenomenon that occurs under acute stress).
Also, I am currently receiving injections of a hormone to fix a hormonal imbalance so my cycle is shifting. But because this is a controlled treatment and we've done 6 full cycles of charting, my charts are very easy to read even with the shifts.
I would recommend being pretty conservative for a few cycles as you get a handle on charting, your body's natural pattern, and account for the changes of coming off BCP, stress etc.
1) How many full cycles did you chart before beginning to rely on charting as your primary birth control method? I charted 4 cycles before I felt comfortable with it enough to identify different fluids and signs. The first 2 cycles were really confusing because I was coming off BCP and my fertility returned, but it was just wonky (5 day LP, temps well above 98.5... not normal).
2) During my first cycle of charting if I've had my temperature shift and there is no cervical fluid (after the 3rd day of the shift) would you still say I'm safe to consider myself infertile? Or should I continue to use a second method of birth control for a certain number of cycles? Yes, you'd be considered safe, even if it's your first cycle and you had a clear temperature shift and mucus pattern. But, go 4 days just to be sure. That's what our instructors told us to do in the learning phase. When in doubt, just go an extra day. If you're using cervix position as the optional 3rd sign to check and it's closed and hard for 3 days, you're considered safe. So if all 3 signs align after 3 days, then yes, you're safe. But if there is any doubt whatsoever, just wait a 4th day after temp shift. Heck, if it even gives peace of mind, wait a 4th day. Before ovulation, I would use condoms until you can clearly identify cervical fluid.
3) Just out of curiosity - did you start FAM/NFP after coming off of hormonal BC? And if so how long did it take for your cycles to appear "normal" again? Yes. I was on BCP. It actually took 2 cycles to normalize somewhat. My fertility returned first cycle; however, it was only 23 days long with a 5 day LP. The 2nd cycle was "normal" and has been pretty regular since then. Depending on how long you've been on BCP, it may take longer for your cycles to normalize, or fertility to even return. I was not on it for that long (< 1 year at this time; I had been on it earlier in life).
Thanks ladies - for those of you monitoring your waking temp do you take your temp the same time every day?
For example I wake up at 7:30 am during the week, and usually sleep in quite a bit on the weekend. If I wake up and take my temp at 7:30 every day (even weekends) will it matter that I am technically going back to sleep right after taking my temp on the weekend? Just curious since its referred to as "waking temp"
Thanks again!
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During the week, I take my temp at about 7:10AM every day. There are some days I have to go into work earlier, so I take it earlier as needed.
On the weekend, I sleep in till about 9:30 and I just take it at 9:30. It doesn't seem to affect it that much, maybe 1-2 tenths if at all). But my temp fluctuates 1-2 during the week anyways, so I really don't notice it. You can tell the difference between just sleeping in and true ovulation because
1.) You know when you sleep in, so you can look for differences (refer to the "rule of thumb" rule in the book if something doesn't jive right and you know you slept in that day -- you can mark "slept in" on your chart or something)
2.) You can't have ovulation without mucus leading up to it. So if there hasn't been any mucus, assume the temp spike was because of other factors (IE sleeping in, having too much to drink the night before, etc)
3.) And even if you saw a slight rise in temp from sleeping in, your temp will usually drop the next day
When you O, your temp goes up 3-5 tenths, and stays up for several days. So it's a pretty significant and obvious change -- unless you're one of the few who have a slow rising temp, but that could be caused by luteal phase deficiency.
Since I don't see much difference from sleeping in, I'm not sure if it'd be worth waking up at 7:30 to temp then go back to sleep. Our instructors told us it was just important to take after you've been asleep for longest, and take it while you were still in bed. So if you work a swing shift, just temp after you have woken up from being asleep the longest. If that makes sense?
I keep my BBT in my nightstand drawer next to my bed, so I reach over and grab it and temp while I'm still in bed. This is important -- don't temp after the shower or working out, because it will be way higher.
The biggest difference I see in temp besides ovulation comes from drinking alcohol the night before. This seems to be way more significant than sleeping in a few more hours. I'm not talking 1 drink with dinner... I'm talking getting tanked then falling asleep. So just be aware that you could see an abnormal spike in temp if you drank a lot the night before.
If temp is confusing, remember it is a secondary sign. You should always go by cervical fluid. I really only chart temp to verify I have in fact ovulated and it's not an anovulatory cycle, and because it also tells me whether I am gonna get my period that day. It's good to see if you have any sort of luteal phase deficiency, too.