Can anyone tell me more about basal body temperature as a contraception?

[TettyLouBar]

How does it work? what are the draw backs? Any stories? I'm thinking about using it and would like to find out more...

Yes I do this. I learnt from a book called 'Taking Charge of Your Fertility' by Toni Weschler. It's quite cheap on Amazon and is also quite often in public libraries.

I really like it as a method though it's not really a method in itself - it just gives you loads of info about your likely fertility at any given time and then it's up to you how cautious or otherwise you want to be. So I do a fairly conservative version - we use no contraception at all after ovulation is confirmed or in the first five days of my cycle; between day 6 and confirmed ovulation we use condoms. There are rules for 'safe' days in that space too but I do think they're riskier so I don't use them.

Drawbacks - you have to be OK with observing your physical signs quite closely, so not at all squeamish about checking your cervical fluid / position of cervix etc; and you also need to have a relatively set routine so that you can take your waking temperature at about the same time every morning.

I've found it good for communication in the relationship; and I also like that because you know when you ovulate you know almost exactly when your period will arrive. This is a big advantage for me because my cycles vary in length quite a lot so before I charted I often used to 'expect' my period for a week or even two or more which is a nuisance and sometimes worrying.

I've done it for over four years now and kept charting while single during that time because of the period-prediction convenience. It also hasn't failed! We are beginning to think about starting a family now and it has a good reputation for helping with that too.

OP - I was thinking about starting a similar thread as DH and I are decided on using this as contraception.

kalidasa what sort of thermometer do you use? Where did you get it? I was looking in the local chemist but didn't know if I was just looking for a regular digital one, or if there was a special type.

I did it years ago and have a lovely DD2 to show for it.

OP - I have been doing a few Google searches for information on this FAM (Fertility Awareness Method) and there are good points out there - there are no chemicals or pills. But also, if you don't do it right you are dicing with the risk of pregnancy.

In my situation, both DH & I wouldn't mind another pregnancy. but if it's something you really don't want atm, then not sure if it'd be best.

Thanks Try, yeah for DH and I, we happy with our 2 DC's and dont want anymore. I'm about 99% confident I willl never change my mind and so is he. So maybe we ought to try something else...

Sorry for delayed reply. It can be very reliable but you really need to make sure you understand the method and you should buy the book mentioned. I think it's a fantastic method and I've used a version of it in the past even at times when not getting pregnant was pretty crucial (e.g. with only a fairly casual/short-term partner) but you do have to be fairly disciplined and have a good understanding of how it works.

TryLiking - an ordinary digital one is fine, though I much prefer using a F rather than C thermometer (because you end up with a finer-grained scale). You'll see people on-line charting with thermometers to two decimal places but it's not necessary (especially with an F thermometer) and is often actually unhelpful I think as it encourages you to obsess about tiny changes rather than significant ones. Most women will have a temp-shift that's perfectly clear with just an ordinary digitial thermometer from the chemist, but you do need to make sure that you use the same thermometer each time (because they all vary a bit) and that you take the temp at roughly the same time each morning, and as soon as you wake up.

I don't understand how this would work as a contraception really. presumably you take precautions until your temp rises and then you know you're safe?

(I've used it as an aid to conception).

I would say it's quite unreliable - temperature can be affected by so many things - illness, drinking, time of waking, where you're sleeping. Also it is a pain to have to wake up and remember to take it.

Plus there are some people that say you should have sex on the day of the temp rise if you want to conceive.

I would suggest using persona instead, although that has it's faults too - I have ds2 to show for that when I dtd on a red day.

You have to chart your temperature along with other things like cervical mucus, cervical position etc EVERY SINGLE DAY. You also should take your temp at the same time daily, before even getting out of bed.

FAM can be a useful method of contraception as long as you are very regimented with using it, very self-controlled (or willing to use condoms) as required, and a pregnancy wouldn't be a disaster.

Thanks, kal I got myself a thermometor in the local chemist a few days ago and am having a try with it. I'm on my period at the moment, so know I'm not going to be fertile for the next few days, but checking temp each morning to get a bit of a better understanding. Have ordered the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility off Amazon too :)

If I got pregnant DH and I would be over the moon, but we'll see how we go with this for a few months at least.

Thanks.

Beattiebow - Persona is actually quite a lot less reliable than FAM (fertility awareness method) used properly, but I agree that FAM requires a certain commitment of time and so on, not least to learn and understand the method properly in the first place. Not ideal for students with chaotic schedules, for instance. I think it's worth trying because women do vary quite a lot - for instance the book suggests that you have to be very rigid with the time of yoru temp taking to get clear charts, and obviously some women do find that even a slight lie-in/drinking alcohol the night before/an extra-warm night or whatever can muck things up. But not everyone is so sensitive. I've charted to avoid for about four years now so I am very experienced and confident with the method, and I know that I can be a bit more relaxed about the temping and still get a very clear chart. I find that as long as I haven't had an absolutely terrible night - e.g. been awake and actually up for several hours - and as long as I take wake within an hour or so of my 'usual' time, it's fine. But this is all a matter of experience obviously.

I have never checked my cervical position/consistency because I can't reliably reach the wretched thing! I just use temps and cervical fluid, and keep an eye on some secondary things like mood/appetite/libido.

The method is also v. v. useful for predicting when your period will arrive, if (like me) you are prone to irregular cycles.

Oh, one other thing - it's definitely true as sidge says that you have to be religious about charting everything to start with, but once you are more experienced (say after a year) you may be able to relax quite a lot. I often don't bother with temps for the first few days of my cycle or after ovulation is confirmed, for instance. And I don't follow the 'dry days' rule (we just use condoms) so I don't check my cf more than once a day in general. Obviously you can then be more careful if you have a funny cycle or are, e.g., very stressed/have recently miscarried/given birth etc.

Hi there, am considering this, and prepared to spend a few months charting to see how that goes before testing it [hgrin]. I am considering using an online charting site... I have looked at fertility friend, as although it is aimed at people ttc, not tntc, it seems to fulfil the same function..... has anyone used an online charting facility, and can you recommend one? Thanks for all the info you have put on this thread already- really interesting.

falas - I use fertility friend too, because it's so handy to have my charts online. But you shouldn't rely on them for chart interpretation, they do not apply the rules as described in TCOYF and their analysis of o-date in particular is very unreliable - I have seen so many misleading ones. Not such a problem for ttc (except if people stop trying too soon) but potentially disastrous obviously if you're tta! So my advice would be to use the site for the convenience of having your charts online and backed up, but do the interpretation yourself using TCOYF. (You can choose to 'override' their interpretation and draw your cover line yourself.) You might want to do some paper charts too at the very beginning while you're getting the hang of counting temps and so on.

ok that's helpful. I have lost my thermometer, so just noting signs down for the moment until i get myself a new one. I think a paper chart might be a good idea. I like the way ff puts your specifics at the bottom, but i gather this is only while you are on introductory vip membership? will look at TCOYF... sounds like it is the'bible' of FAM. wonder if things will change much when i have my copper coil removed....

bought a new thermometer...found digital one in poundland! Kali: I like the comment you made about communication... and I think its so useful all round to know what is going on in your body. I think it is easy for us to ignore subtle changes, but like the title of the book, observing them gives us an opportunity to take charge of our fertility instead of it being a problem that needs solving....whether you are ttc or not..