Any success stories using the FAM?

[stinkymalinki]

I apologise if this topic has been covered before!

I've just got my copy of the excellent book Taking Charge of your Fertility by Toni Weschler, kindly recommended to me by a fellow MNer as i have irregular cycles, and i'm curious to know if others have had any conception success stories using the FAM (fertility awareness method)?

I'm planning on starting TTC #2 in the New Year, so i'm going to start charting now to give me something to 'go by' when we actually get there!

(I never had to do any of this when conceiving DS, as he was a 'happy accident' that occurred after i came off the pill for other reasons!) Thank you.

I read TCYOF and began charting a few months ago (in my 3rd cycle now) after having a MMC in August (I fell pregnant soon after coming off pill without paying attention to cycles or ovulation or anything). It was useful because for some reason, my cycles became really irregular since the MMC - they shrank to 24 days and luteal phase only 8 days. Wouldn't have discovered this without charting. Went so see gynae and he put me on low dosage of clomifene, which is supposed to get my ovaries functioning normally and lengthen the luteal phase. I also did have all of the fertility signs, was able to tell when I am most fertile and when I ovulate, so all of that did work - but short luteal phase was my problem. Sorry not a success story, but keeping my fingers crossed that this treatment will help and at least was able to discover the problem and not just keep TTC to no avail. I was recommended the book by a friend who was TTC number 2, was TTC-ing for nearly 9 months, then read the book and got pg very soon thereafter.

I haven't really been on the TTC rollercoaster, but certainly was using it ie I was aware of fertility in the cycles before getting pregnant, both times, and the first time I knew it was ovulation day...the rest is history! It was quite strange going home that morning thinking 'I think I just conceived, or at least had a good chance of doing so' and actually then to find I was pregnant a few weeks later. Very odd!

It is useful to have the pattern in your mind whether you are ttc or not, it can be used successfully to avoid pregnancy as well, which I did for months and months in various relationships.

Brilliant book, I haven't got it but have used the software out of interest. There is a whole website with forums etc. in the states which is based around it - Ovusoft. And you can download the tools/charts etc. They are a nice bunch on there!

Thanks for the responses. I have just found their website, and i will download some charts to get me started.

I too liked the fact that it can be used as a form of natural birth control, as i don't react well to taking synthetic hormones (the Pill) and i have a latex allergy so we have to be v careful about other barrier methods.

Good luck!!