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Does anyone else just do the math in their head every month? I figure charting would be more reliable, but doing it in my head has always worked for me. I remember when my last period was, and just block out a week for my fertility period (five days before, the day of, and the day after). So far it's worked.
Of course, it helps that I can always feel when I'm ovulating, and I just remember from month to month.. it's always the same. Feeling ovulation doesn't cover the pre-ovulation period, of course. But like I said, it's always the same.
In any case, Andy says he'd prefer if I chart. I saw the links to the different methods, but I'm wondering what methods all you ladies use, and which has worked best for you and why. =)
I use BOM. No temping, just charting at night. Very easy and reliable. I'd be careful just blocking out space!! That's how I get pg w/ my 2nd! Plus, you're probably abstaining on some days you don't need to be.
I'm still learning myself but it has been so helpful to have an instructor and to really really learn the method.
I definitely wouldn't recommend not charting if you have serious need to avoid pregnancy at this time. What you're doing is called the Calender/Rhythm Method (calculating your fertile time based on previous cycles). If you're very regular, it can be moderately effective...but not highly effective. It doesn't take into consideration the possibility of ovulating earlier or later than usual, which is bound to happen to even the most regular women once in awhile.
We've taken the scenic route when it comes to NFP methods! I have PCOS and that makes my cycles very irregular. Thankfully, modern forms of NFP can accommodate that nicely. We learned Billings poorly and it didn't work very well. We didn't have adequate training at that time, just kind of tried to figure it out on our own. Then we learned a form of Sympto Thermal from an instructor. It worked, but it required a lot of abstinence and I wasn't sure it was all necessary. Then we learned the Creighton Model from an instructor. It was great! My suspicions were correct, we were abstaining far too much than we needed to. CrM was great for building up our confidence. Then we learned the Billings Ovulation Method properly from a teacher. We were so impressed with it, we decided to stick with it for good and I became an instructor myself. We prefer BOM over CrM because it keeps everything very simple, even when my cycles are complicated. It was also more cost effective. I've also been teaching it since 2005.
We're preventing right now because of financial issues, but neither of us would be distraught if we ended up pregnant. I think part of me is less dedicated because I do, in fact, want another baby already.
I'll look into BOM, thanks!
Last edited by IAmMomMomIAm; September 2nd, 2009 at 09:03 AM.
heh, okay. So.. after reading into BOM, I realized I've been at least partially doing it unofficially. I noticed that my discharge changes around the time of ovulation, and watch for it monthly.
Totally didn't realize it was an actual indicator.
I use BOM to avoid. I do BOM with temping for TTC.
Definitely chart - I would never remember all that in my head. My BFP chart for my son is an example of the need to chart (I barely charted at all and it was mostly just when we BD and I never considered CM). LOL
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Easter 2012 - AJ (age 5) & Katie (age 15 months) PM to see if I am available to make a siggy - decisions will be made on a case by case basis.
I did the rythum method, with a little bit of other such things at first myself. After Courtney that is. I didn't have money to pay for a teacher, I had a book, but that was it, and I didn't know you could get the payment defered or that there were online versions or anything I know now. I abstained MORE than I needed to because I wasn't as sure of myself as now. Also, I had REALLY regular cycles after Courtney, they did change, but once they would change they would be that way for 5 or 6 months, so it was easy. Thankfully I had really learned by Rock's time because I didn't have anything close to regular afterwards, and any chances I took I knew I was taking them after Rock.
