[Natorock]

Hello,

I've recently gone off the pill and am feeling GREAT! I don't want to go back on, however I HATE using condoms (sex isn't even enjoyable with one) and I want to stay away from inserting things into myself...ACK!

My sister told me that she thinks charting would be best for me. She has been doing it for awhile and swears by it.

I went and read up on FF and I joined. Then I realized it says that you can't use this site for pregnancy avoidance! I'm bummed...

SO my question is...has anyone used it for avoidance? Is it pretty reliable? Can I use FF website, or should I find something different?

By the way, we don't want to get pregnant right now, but if we did, we could make it work. Right now we are using the withdrawl method...and I think that is a dumb idea. DH is sceptical about charting...but I really want to try. Not only for contraceptive purposes, but also because I have a lot of nervousness about whether or not I can have babies, and how often I ovulate, and IF I even ovulate at all...Charting will answer some of these and put me at ease. Being on the pill just feeds my worries.

Thanks for any help!

[FloridaGirl]

Charting can work, if you know your body and cycles well enough. I am like clock work and have been charting since I went off Depo and got my cycles back (8 months now). I know the exact day it happens, really I think the key is predicting it the week before. 3 days before I "O" and 1 day after I totally avoid DH, which in most cases is easy to do, since I work 8-5 and he is 3-11.

It has worked for 8 months for us, but I am religous about taking my temp., and paying attention to the signs. I started using FF, now I use www.mymonthcycles.com (but you have to pay for it). The key is being comfortable with yourself and having a SO that is supportive.

I would give it 3 months of charting before you use it as a means of birth control. It can take that long to figure out your pattern.

[Natorock]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLY!!! It's much appreciated...and good to know it can be my answer...if I'm a good girl

[Gaby&Emmy'sMama]

I used it for a little while after I had my daughter, but then I was so scared of getting pregnant, I decided to go back on the pill (though I didn't want to).

NFP (charting) CAN work, but it is advisable to talk to someone who knows all about it, most cities seem to have somewehre that does a course in NFP (natural family planning). I started using NFP to GET pregnant, and it worked just fine, but it is obvioulsy a bit more important to be accurate, when you are using it to avoid pregnancy.

with RE to FF... I still used it while we were avoiding

[ShannonMVT]

I am charting right now just to see when and if I am ovulating. So far it has worked out pretty well for me. I am not using it for birth control, but in theory, I think I could. Right now DH doesn't want to take any chances, so we are using condoms. Ick.

Go check out the Natural Family Planning board...I'm sure the ladies there will have some great advice for you!

By the way, I use FF. You can use their basic service for free, but if you want more details, you have to pay. I just use the free site, and it still shows me when I ovulate.

[Pharry]

I am using my monthly cycles, just to see when I am ovulating and when AF is due

[funlabgal]

I have used charting as well as a way to avoid and achieve pregnancy. I find it super easy to do. (been charting since 2003) I'd suggest TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR FERTILITY by Toni Welscher (I think that is how you spell her name) to read as it is a great reference. Hubby is also involved in my charting as I want him to be just as aware as I am.

This method is reliable as long as you are in tune with your body. Your temperatures, cerivcal muscus and your cervical position.
Feel free to ask me any questions.

[Natorock]

Thanks all for your replys...

DH still thinks it's kinda hokey. But Ireally want to try, so he is willing to TRY for a bit.

I will read that book. Thanks for the advice!

[seattlebaby]

Charting has worked for me, very well in fact. It helps if your cycles are regular (which mine are most of the time) but whenever you are not on birth control, there is always that small chance you could get pregnant.
Keep in mind it takes the average couple 1-2 yrs to conceive, when TTC.. so if you are using more than 1 way to avoid getting pregnant, even without the pill, I'm sure you will be just fine until you are ready to TTC.
I am also a member of FF, and I enjoy the charting program there.

[Lash]

the TCOYF book is something you will hear OVER AND OVER and for a good reason. Definitly get it online and read it over and over.

Always remember though, that you could ovulate at any time, even though your cycle is regular, so you may think you aren't in the fertile window, but unless you pee on an ovulation stick everyday, and i mean literally everyday, you really dont know when you ovulated. Even if you track it every day for your life, without some type of indicator, you could be having sex and have ovulated, or about to ovulate before you should and sperm can live for 5 days.. just something that my doc told me to keep in mind

[Mjp121212]

I would also suggest the pull and pray method too along with charting...just in case.

And welcome to the board!

[Natorock]

Thanks! All your tips have been great!