Questionmy fiance and i would like to use the calendar or rhythm method of contraception but i am confused how to do it. i have noted the dates of the start of my period for the past year, and based on that my cycle is from 27-33 days long, with most being around 30 or 31. i would like to know how i can calculate for my safe and unsafe days. thank you for your help.
AnswerCalendar or rhythm method is not longer considered very helpful. NFP has replaced it because of the accuracy and confidence it gives couples about their fertility. NFP is easy to learn and practice but you need to add to your knowledge base.
NFP is also called the Sympto-Thermal Method because you gather data from 2-3 physical symptoms that your body manifests regarding your fertility. The Thermal symptom is your Basal Body temperature. That means your temperature first thing in the morning before you get up. It takes a minute or so to stick a thermometer into your mouth and lay back until you get the reading. Then you chart that information on some graph paper. There are also several websites that will chart that information for you and help you calculate the changes.
Ovulation is the point in time when the egg is released from the ovaries and travels down to the uterus. That is when you can get pregnant. However, since sperm can live up to a week inside you, you have to be careful for about 10 days during the month.
When you ovulate, your Basal Body temperature will rise about .4 of a degree, say from 97.4 to 97.8. And then it will stay up that high until your period starts, which will generally be from 10-14 days after ovulation. That period of time is when you cannot get pregnant at all, so it's good to know when it is.
There are also two other symptoms, cervical mucus which you can check with your fingers when you go to the bathroom and cervical height and texture which you can also check with your fingers when you go to the bathroom. These will help you pinpoint the time of ovulation along with the body temperature sign.
More information and details about learning NFP can be found in books and on internet websites. I recommend this website: www.ccli.org because they taught me how to use the method and they have lots of support. There is a home course but they also have teaching couples who live in many cities around the country who can teach others in a course, so you can talk to other people while you are learning.
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/preventingpregnancy/fertilityawarenessNFP.html
This website has more information as well as information about buying a basal body temperature thermometer (which is different from a regular thermometer) and it also has a calendar but that wouldn't be as good as a graph of your symptoms.
http://www.geocities.com/palmNFP/index.html
Here is a "freeware" program that will help you track your NFP symptoms, too. I just found it on the internet so I really don't know anything about it, but it looks pretty comprehensive.
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/
I've seen this website when other women have asked me to look at their charts. It looks pretty reasonable.
Let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
