[Snow Mami]

I am currently on the pill and we are planning to start TTC in March as long as I get a clear Pap (had a cryo in November). I want to try charting and to get off the pill a month before TTC but I have doubts about its accuracy as a birth control method with me being a newbie. I KNOW we would not use a backup like condoms all the time, even if we say we will.

So should I come off the pill in February? Or stay on until I get a clear pap? Would charting be a good birth control method?

[sjkduke]

Honestly, if you want NO possibility of a pregnancy before your pap, then I would wait until after the pap AND the results. There are plenty of women who get pregnant off of one missed pill, so I wouldn't take that chance.

Hope it comes back normal!

[Snow Mami]

Wel I WANT to be pregnant, just my Dr said it would be better to wait. If I still have milder dysplasia I would have to waituntil the baby was born to do treament....I am so tempted to just go off the pill and see what happens. But then again....

[ShawnaCAN]

Charting as BC is highly effective (reliability is on par with most forms of the Pill, higher than barriers, and higher than IUD's) - but that effectiveness depends on proper training. Included in that proper training is 2-4 weeks of abstinence during the learning phase so you can master the ability of correctly observing your CM without seminal fluid or contraceptive chemicals present to make it confusing.

So.....to answer your questions. Yes, charting is reliable with proper training. Just winging it without any training for one month, not so reliable.

That said, the Pill can damage your fertility and that can take time to heal (especially it's effects on your cervix). For the sake of recovery, the sooner you can come off - the better!