Anyone use natural family planning as a form of contraception/conception?

[scottishmum007]

Just wondering how many couples out there go by this method rather than using the Pill or barrier methods. We have been using it for about 4 years now and have a 1yo and thinking of ttc baby no2.

How sucessful have you found it if you do use it, and if you don't would you ever consider it?

According to FPA it's 99% effective if it's used correctly.

Do you mean temping?

Why are you asking btw?

I've used it on and off - I've never had any accidents and got knocked up rather promtly with both babies

I have 28 day cycles and get bad ovulation pains so I charted for a few months years ago but then realised that I really didn't need to, because I knew just when I ovulated and the charting confirmed that

me - i know exactly when i ovulate. it bloody hurts. used successfully for 7 years. no accidents.

I'm asking because it's a method that is hardly ever talked about and really we've been doing it now for quite a few years, because I'm not a great fan of the hormonal methods. Have used barrier methods rarely.
My 1yo was planned, and like you morningpaper, it happened quickly. There wasn't months of 'actively trying' like alot of couples do.
I also feel I know my body well enough to know when I'm ovulating or not, so know when to avoid sex at these times. So far it's worked. Just really interested to know other people's experiences.

Thanks for sharing!

Worked well for the last 12 years - up until 4 months ago when my cycle decided to go and do its own thing and now expecting DC4 !!

We use (eek, embarrassing) withdrawl. How do you spell that? "With drawl" sounds like I just talk to him in a bad America accent so he loses his stiffy...

Anyway, we just use that and it's been fine so far. No problems when it came to having kids, either - both times he just stopped withdrawing and I got pregnent immediately.

What is the method you use? Do you only have sex during "infertile" times? Could you give me any more info? I should be more careful now.

I've used it for years and got pregnant twice - both times I was aware it was likely or possible, and didn't avoid sex.

Bear in mind it is wise to avoid sex more than a day or two after your period, as sperm can survive up to a week, but it's less likely you'll conceive if you do it after ovulation - even a day or two after - as the egg can't survive very long at all.

I think I had sex on ovulation day both times and had two boys

I hate hormonal contraception too.

LOL at 'with drawl'

I think it's 'withdrawal' btw.

I never used temperature, just counting days. It helps if you are very regular. Got pregnant the first time we tried.

I didn't use temping either as was too wide awake most of the night with ds1 - you need to sleep regularly if you temp. Counting days and using CM as a guide was what I did. There is a lot of info on the other conception threads.

I think it's not talked about much because people think it is wildly risky and just laugh at you

I used the dates thing and got pg twice.

I use both dates and withdrawal method combined for 7 years no accidents at all.

We seem to have drifted into using counting dates or withdrawal since ds2 as the pill gives me migraines and , not to sound cocky condoms are too tight for dh.

We use this. Had a couple of near misses but on the whole it works. I also know exactly when I'm ovulating or due to ovulate.

I don't take the pill and never have so it is pretty much condoms on danger days and nothing at all other times but only works if I am regular which thankfully I have been lately

I use it for contraception and used it for conception when I got pg with dd. I know my cycle backwards, it's always obvious when I'm going to ovulate as I get a headache just before, ewcm for a couple of days and then actual ovulation is painful for a few hours. I just don't have sex when I'm fertile. No accidents and no artificial hormones. Works for us.

I never got on with the pill after DSs.

Aptly named Fleximum

Any method of contraception is risky, there's always a slight chance you become pregnant. NFP isn't any more/less risk than any other method. The only good thing about it is that it's not artificial like the Pill.
Nice to know so many others have had a good experience with NFP.