Sex & Romance
LindsMullinix
member
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Anyone gone from hormonal BC to NFP for avoiding conception?
I'm considering going off hormonal birth control and using natural family planning - (charting) to avoid conception - does anyone on here have experience with this? How was the transition? and would you recommend it?
I'm going to pick up TCOYF tomorrow and read up on it before jumping in, but I thought I'd ask for others perspectives/experience. Thanks!
-Linds
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Re: Anyone gone from hormonal BC to NFP for avoiding conception?
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I've been off BC for five years, without incident.
We take it very seriously, and when in doubt, we abstain.
TCOYF is an excellent resource.
We have been doing NFP for ~7 cycles, so far so good. You can buy a basal thermometer at Walgreens. There are websites that help you keep track of temps, mucus, etc.
I've posted in an earlier thread about the ClearBlue Easy Fertility monitor. I'd definitely consider looking into getting one. It tests LH and Estrogen surges in your urine each month to tell you when your chance of conception "low" , "High", and "peak." Fairly foolproof. You abstain during high and peak times. If you don't want to abstain, use a condom.
Hope this helps
I have had an irregular cycle for years so condoms have always been our BC of choice. Now, I have become a vegetarian and my cycles run like clock work! But, I always want sex more during that window of ovulation time so we just stick to the condoms. I would be very fearful of trying to do any family planning to avoid pregnancy as it would come out to pregnancy.
But, go with the other ladies suggestions. Sounds like an effective way if you know more about it!
This is NOT an effective method of birth control. When fertile cervical mucus is present, sperm can survive for days and wait for ovulation. The monitor can only predict ovulation a day or so in advance, however. This is very helpful if you're trying to get pregnant, but it means that you'll receive the "warning" too late to actually prevent pregnancy.
This is why it's so important to observe and record your primary fertility signs - cervical mucus and temperature - to accurately predict and confirm ovulation. If only it were so easy
When used in conjunction with FAM/NFP, the CBEFM can play a useful role in confirming ovulation. But it should never be used to predict ovulation for avoidance purposes.
I'm in the same boat. I just took my last bcp last night and am so excited to start this! As for a thermometer, I just picked a digital one up at Walgreens. From what I read, the thermometer really doesn't matter so long as it works.
Right, I use it in conjunction with regular charting. Just like temping is not going to tell you anything except that you have already ovulated. Or relying only on cervical mucus because that is a subjective measure.
I came off BCPs in September and have been charting since October. BF and I do not use this yet though and are still using condoms/barrier methods until we both feel comfortable. I feel pretty comfortable at this point, it's pretty cool getting to know my body in this way.
I bought my BBT thermometer at Target.
Glad to hear it. Since your post didn't mention any of this, it appeared as if you were recommending the monitor as a form of birth control.
Make sure your thermometer is a Basal Body Temp thermometer...I've been told a normal digital one isn't quite consistent enough to measure a temp like you would need to for NFP.
DH and I have used NFP since we got married, and I started charting about a year ago. I love not having to put chemicals in my body, and it's helped my migraines too b/c I'm not on hormonal birth control. We abstain during fertile periods because of our beliefs, but we get to show each other how we care in other ways (cooking dinner, just being thoughtful, etc). It's great for our relationship. I'm confident I won't get pregnant until I plan to, as long as we follow the rules!
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I've been using NFP since I got married 9 months ago and have been without incident so far! I'm very happy with it. I wasn't switching over from hormonal birth control, though - I understand that makes things a bit more tricky and having guidance might be helpful. I got in touch with a NFP instructor through my church and it was very useful to meet with her and have someone to answer my questions. If you're looking for instruction and help from a NFP-trained instructor, you could check out the "Couple to Couple League" (http://www.ccli.org/) or call a local church (the Catholic Church advocates NFP, so they would definitely have resources for you - other churches may as well) for contact info. We went the church route because it was much less expensive (both charge for materials) and convenient for our schedule.
And while the NFP instructors may be affiliated with the church, they are more than happy to help you even if you aren't a member, so don't let that stop you if it is something you are considering.