Charting/Temping for birth control?

Have any of you guys done this (why do i feel i've asked this on here before?)

The pill is really reaking havoic on my system.  I've bid on 'taking charge of your fertility' on ebay and really would like to try it....i'd give myself a month of learning and practicing temping, then try it out.

I know people who've used it for years but there is always the fear...... (not that getting preggo would be the end of the world or anything but i'd like to plan for it)

thanks

I was too lazy to chart/temp.  Also, having a little one meant I had to get up often w/o having lain down for 3 hours straight.

So I used a kit called 'Persona'.  A pal bought it off earlypregnancy.co.uk, but fell pregnant before even unwrapping it, so I bought it off her.

Got pregnant the first month I used it!  But could easily have used it for birth control.

Thing is, temping and charting works great if you're got a regular cycle, but has definite weaknesses if you don't, so you may wish to use an alternate form of birth control for the first few months of charting. 

I chart and check mucous but don't temp.  My cycle is like clockwork but can be late if I'm stressed.  It helps that SO isn't here regularly so it's easy to figure things out without regular sex.  lol 

Taking charge of your fertility is a great, great resource.  It'll take you more than a month or two to figure things out and for your body to get used to no more BCP. 

hmmm, that's ok.  i'd do condoms for as long as it has to be!!!!


expat, is that like ovulation strips?

expat i'm looking on this site, so many different things

an ovulation saliva microscope!  what?!

ahh i'm looking at it now.

expensive refills though.  yikes!

Yeah, it ain't the cheapest.  But I only had to use it one month and it came w/two sets of refills, so I never bought any.  Some folks liked the saliva thing more. 

I liked it b/c I now know when I conceived - give or take a day or two. 

I also bought REALLY cheap pregnancy tests from that sight and got a positive the day before I was due.   

It took SIX months for me to ovulate after coming off Dianette BCPs, so don't be alarmed if it takes a bit at first to get back to normal. 

I used NFP for two years with no problems...until we got a little lazy with it and ended up with our little Miss Morgan.  It works really well, but only as well as your willpower!
But if you guys can really stick to it, it's worth it. 

well you can use back up during the fertile periods...so i can do that! lol.   

I also use NFP.. have been for almost 2 years.. have been married for one.. You learn how to  read your body after a little bit..  had major stress  a few months back  so I kept getting my period early  witbout warning..  but besides that.. It does work and is healthier for your body if you have the willpower..    good luck 

you can look on www.fertilitext.org  and there is an ovulation calendar that can estimate your fertile times  as well.   Under getting pregnant

Amy...I used to chart my temp at fertilityfriend.com. The thing I liked about it was once I moved over here and started temping in C instead of F I was able to switch that on my charts (because my fertility book was published in the US and the examples were all in F.) Check it out.

yeah, it's a great system if you are really diligent about it. the other positive is that when you are ready to have kids, you wont' have to wait to get the BCP out of your system. it's also a great way to really learn about your body - I know you get migraines... well, I soon realized that I get them when I ovulate and just before my period. In other words when the hormones go up and when they go back down!! charting helped me see this much better.

Me too balmerhon.. and my migraines mean no hormonal BC.  Charting helped when I was looking for help with my migraines because I could look back easily to see what was going on with my body.   

see that's what i'm going through-why the dr doesn't want me on it anymore.....  well i guess i'll just have to be dilligent and learn the system.  bah.

It's not that hard! It's a big book, though, so don't let yourself get overwhelmed... one thing you will need is charts which you can download for free off the net. I have a link somewhere...