Rhythm method and withdrawl - did it fail you?

[USFIVE]

This has worked with us for nine years, avoiding ovulation week, withdrawing always and knicker spotting, i can ususally tell when I'm ovualting.

But even with doing all the above, have you fallen pregnant?

I'm a little worried as last period started stringy brown, one day heavy period, next day so light, next day nothing, next day light and then finished. Two days later i now have dry white discharge in pants and I am so moody that i cant stand to hear myself moan! i was sure i just had a funny period until i had a sudden memory that i had similar discharge during pregnancies so now back to wondering if i am. But the chance I am is so small as I use the above.

I'd be interested to hear what you think and if you fell pregnant this way?

[cece]

Yes I got pg using this method. Also using the calendar method. Neither seem terribly reliable.

[USFIVE]

i see!

[PickleSarnie]

It works so long as you don't go on holiday, get a wee bit drunk and forget what day of the month it is.

Twice.

[inmysparetime]

I got pregnant on day 5 of my cycle, using that method. A friend got pregnant on day 4 (she knew the exact date as she was on holiday and her PILs took the DCs out for one evening to "give them a break" - some break that turned out to be)

[coccyx]

My friend is pregnant again with this method. Very risky

[PreHeatedOven]

We used this method and I didn't get pregnant but we knew that there was a big risk of it working. So I guess it was more a case of not actively trying...not that we had enough sex anyhow

[PreHeatedOven]

of it not working

[startail]

I'm the result of my parents "rhythm method" experiments

[Methe]

I have. Twice

[surfmama]

bugger i should have tried that maybe i will next time! sorry if that is insensitive for those not wanting

[ChocolateBiscuitCake]

Yep - pregnant with dc3 here using the 'withdrawal method'!! My regular as clockwork, 29 day cycle meant I fell pregnant on day 26...

I knew I was pregnant as had heartburn about 4 days later but had to wait another 6 days or so for the test to turn positive!

[puzzletree]

No, we have successfully used the withdrawal method for years without even avoiding fertile times (when ok about an accidental pregnancy) then when we have ttc we have conceived within a couple of months every time. But at times when we have absolutely not wanted to conceive we have used condoms.

[McBaby]

Pregnant how as temperature went up so thought I had already ovulated. Turned out I just has tonsilitus, so now 10 weeks. But very happy about it now but very shocked six weeks ago!

[k4mi]

Yes, currently 39 weeks and was using withdrawal...worked for two years previously. Very regular 29 day cycle and ovulation symptoms. Am planning on the coil afterwards just as don't want (can't afford!) another one for at least 2-3 years.

[BellaCB]

Pregnant here after the withdrawal method...

However, it did work very well for us for a good 5 years. It was just that as we hit our 30s becomming pg didn't seem like the worst thing in the world and I think we unconsciously became a little bit more slapdash than before.

Having said that, the fact that like inmysparetime I fell pg on about day 5 didn't help, as we were always banking on my fertile time being mid-cycle like all the books say. Bad books!

[USFIVE]

Wow! I have always thought I was onto a good thing there and maybe we've just been very lucky. I have tried the coil and had it removed three days later because I could not stand up straight with the pain but i was bf then and i think my uterus was contracting so should maybe give it a 2nd go. Dont like the idea of the pill. DP said "snip" but its just SO final!

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

I was reading a report recently about women ovulating more than once in a cycle. Apparently it's surprisingly common and one reason for the rhythm method being unreliable.

And sperm can hang around for a surprisingly long time, so if you ovulate unexpectedly early you may get caught out for that reason.

[PamBeesly]

I use this mehtod and have done since I was 22 USFIVE I find it the most effective. I also used my knowledge of cycles when TTC and am now 34 weeks pregnant (planned!)
I think its empowering for women to trust their own bodies etc and it relies on both partners taking responsibility.
It of course, does not work for everyone.

[blueeyedmonster]

No. We have used withdrawl since having ds which was for 4 years with no form of contraception. The only time I fell pregnant is when we started ttc.

[wrinklyraisin]

I'm currently 12 dpo after using the withdrawal method several times over the New Year. Am sat here feeling a bit dizzy and heavy boobed and wondering if there was more of a deposit than a withdrawal, so to speak.

[TinkerMaloo]

yeah i have used this and it worked just fine.

its entirely my own fault for getting horny and acting on it when i knew i was ovulating lol EDD 10/09/12 :)

[PreHeatedOven]

I'm sorry wrinklyraisin I did laugh when I read "more of a deposit than a withdrawal"

[PreHeatedOven]

Sorry it sent before I finished!
Hope all is ok :)

[LeMousquetaireAnonyme]

DB and I are both results of that method, as almost everybody in the previous generation.

[Dlamis]

We've used this method successfully for 2 years using knowledge of my cycle. However we did stick to after ovulation 'activities' only. I think pre-ovulation is too risky/unpredictable. However we have only used this method as it wouldn't have been a bit deal if I did get pg as we wanted another dc, anyway, just not quite so soon ideally. I wouldn't use this method if I absolutely did not want to get pregnant. Too risky imo. We are planning to ttc next month anyway, so going from one extreme to the other!