Natural Cycles

[Megansnarkle]

Have you considered a copper coil instead?

Personally, from everything I've read about it, I wouldn't touch Natural Cycles with a bargepole as a form of contraception (even if I was a good candidate for it). It just sounds wholly unreliable and dependent upon 'perfect' use, there are also questions over their own efficacy stats.

 

[ChampagneBox]

Us women get such a rough deal honestly if I had billions I’d pour it all into research for non hormonal effective BC!

 

[velvetn0mates]

I’ve been using my natural cycle since I was 21 (now 24) I have tried most forms of BC and have reacted very badly to them all. I’ve not been pregnant or had a scare but my partner and I avoid sex during and before my ovulation period

 

[Welshgal]

Honestly everyone I know both irl and online has gotten pregnant sooner or later with this method. Also the pull out method is shit because there's a high possibility of sperm "getting out" way before guys pull out.

 

[ChilliBean]

Have you considered a copper coil instead?

Personally, from everything I've read about it, I wouldn't touch Natural Cycles with a bargepole as a form of contraception (even if I was a good candidate for it). It just sounds wholly unreliable and dependent upon 'perfect' use, there are also questions over their own efficacy stats.

I was thinking about it but I have several female friends who have tried it and all had to have it removed due to extremely heavy bleeding leading to them becoming anaemic. They also said it was extremely painful. My boyfriend and I have sex about once a week and I just don’t feel the pain and inconvenience of a coil is worth it for the infrequency which we have sex
---

I’ve been using my natural cycle since I was 21 (now 24) I have tried most forms of BC and have reacted very badly to them all. I’ve not been pregnant or had a scare but my partner and I avoid sex during and before my ovulation period

Sorry for being graphic but do you also use the pull out method on green days?
Do you take your temperature every morning?
Do you use any ovulation tests to pinpoint when you are ovulating?

 

[ChilliBean]

Has any one ever used this as a form of birth control? I have just come off the pill after 4 years, haven’t had a natural period for about 10 years as I was on the implant before that.
I’m very keen to try non hormonal contraception but I am obviously aware of the risks associated with NC and wanted to hear from other people

For background info I am 28, stable career and in a 3 year relationship. Keen to avoid pregnancy but not catastrophic if I did get pregnant. Also have access to safe legal abortion if required.

I have been off the pill for 4 weeks and I’m still awaiting my first period. My plan was to track my cycle for the first 3 months before starting to have unprotected sex. I would be using a thermometer to measure my basal body temperature and also ovulation tests to test for LH surge

I would also be using the pull out method even on green days besides this (after 3 months use and have established my cycle, currently using condoms for now)

Has anyone else used NC and what was your experience of this?
I have also seen poor reviews of the company continuing to charge people after they have cancelled their subscription - has any one else experienced this?

 

[smellsofbiscuits]

Agreeing with @Welshgal - everyone I know who has used this method has gotten pregnant. It's fine knowing your cycle inside out but you can't control any sperm leakage from your partner(s). Also I believe that sperm can remain fertile for a good couple of days if they find a nice, cosy environment. Like a vagina So if you have sex the day before your ovulation phase then there's still a risk of pregnancy.

We're done having kids so my partner had a vasectomy. Before his operation we used condoms as I didn't fancy getting pregnant again. Those are the only two non-hormonal methods I'd trust. Apart from abstinence but that's no fun for anyone.

 

[ChilliBean]

Us women get such a rough deal honestly if I had billions I’d pour it all into research for non hormonal effective BC!

Same, it’s just a game of trying to pick the least shit option isn’t it

 

[ChilliBean]

I’ve been using Natural Cycles since February this year and so far I love it. However I did a LOT of research and reading beforehand. I read a book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler and I follow the rules that are outlined in that book. I’ve only the last few weeks for confident enough in my cycle tracking to go fully unprotected once ovulation has been confirmed.
Ultimately it is a risk but I feel at my age and circumstances I can afford to accept a contraceptive method with a lower Pearl index. I’ve been much happier since being off HBC and using natural cycles though so it felt like the right choice for me

 

[ChilliBean]

Hi! Thanks for your helpful advice. Did you wait a bit after coming off BC, so you can get to know your cycle and before having unprotected sex?

have you had any scares? Do you take regular pregnancy tests? What method of monitoring do you use? I have an Apple Watch that I wear to sleep, I think that’s compatible with NC.

sorry for all the questions!

Feel free to ask loads of questions because I felt exactly the same as you when I was debating using it haha!

Yes I didn’t start having unprotected sex straight away, we used condoms at first and also the pull out method and we’ve only had fully unprotected (no pull out method) sex twice once ovulation has been fully confirmed.

Again I can’t reiterate the importance of reading TCOYF and learning the rules around that because it will make interpreting your cycle on natural cycles much easier. Definitely follow all the rules in that book and you can’t go far wrong

No scares and no need to do regular pregnancy tests when charting because I can see a clear temp rise during ovulation each month followed by getting my period 12 days later.

I use the thermometer that NC send you (it does take a bit of getting used to taking your temp every morning) but I think I will eventually upgrade to an Apple Watch when I’m less skint

 

[Scorpihoe]

thank you so so much! I’ll definitely give the book a read. How old are you if you don’t mind me asking? I had a call with my GP today about coming off my implant and using natural cycles and she recommended against it and said I’m at my most fertile right now and it’s likely I’ll end up pregnant using this method, sooner or later.

ah fab, yeah I think we’ll also use condoms at first and then when I understand my cycle a bit better, we’ll do unprotected on green days. Is the thermometer accurate?
---

Feel free to ask loads of questions because I felt exactly the same as you when I was debating using it haha!

Yes I didn’t start having unprotected sex straight away, we used condoms at first and also the pull out method and we’ve only had fully unprotected (no pull out method) sex twice once ovulation has been fully confirmed.

Again I can’t reiterate the importance of reading TCOYF and learning the rules around that because it will make interpreting your cycle on natural cycles much easier. Definitely follow all the rules in that book and you can’t go far wrong

No scares and no need to do regular pregnancy tests when charting because I can see a clear temp rise during ovulation each month followed by getting my period 12 days later.

I use the thermometer that NC send you (it does take a bit of getting used to taking your temp every morning) but I think I will eventually upgrade to an Apple Watch when I’m less skint

 

[ChilliBean]

Lara Briden is a fantastic person to follow around all of this/understanding cycles. Her book the period repair manual is like my bible!! She believes that you can use natural cycles as a way of contraception but it’s just that a lot of people do it incorrectly do end up pregnant

Thanks so much for recommending, I am going to listen to her podcast! Do you have any personal experience of using natural cycles?

 

[Ro98]

Has any one ever used this as a form of birth control? I have just come off the pill after 4 years, haven’t had a natural period for about 10 years as I was on the implant before that.
I’m very keen to try non hormonal contraception but I am obviously aware of the risks associated with NC and wanted to hear from other people

For background info I am 28, stable career and in a 3 year relationship. Keen to avoid pregnancy but not catastrophic if I did get pregnant. Also have access to safe legal abortion if required.

I have been off the pill for 4 weeks and I’m still awaiting my first period. My plan was to track my cycle for the first 3 months before starting to have unprotected sex. I would be using a thermometer to measure my basal body temperature and also ovulation tests to test for LH surge

I would also be using the pull out method even on green days besides this (after 3 months use and have established my cycle, currently using condoms for now)

Has anyone else used NC and what was your experience of this?
I have also seen poor reviews of the company continuing to charge people after they have cancelled their subscription - has any one else experienced this?

I used it for 6/7 years without any issues (used condoms on green days or sometimes didn’t have sex on them).
However I’d give it more like 6months before having unprotected sex, and if ever you go through a stressful life experience / depression / severe anxiety use condoms until 3/4months afterwards/until feeling more stable.
I fell pregnant using it after a really hard few months and turns out my cycle completely changed but NC didn’t pick it up on the temp recordings.
So for me if my mood & cycle was in perfect sync I didn’t have any issues but the one time it wasn’t I fell pregnant.
I’ve never been charged after cancelling my subscription.

 

[velvetn0mates]

I was thinking about it but I have several female friends who have tried it and all had to have it removed due to extremely heavy bleeding leading to them becoming anaemic. They also said it was extremely painful. My boyfriend and I have sex about once a week and I just don’t feel the pain and inconvenience of a coil is worth it for the infrequency which we have sex
---


Sorry for being graphic but do you also use the pull out method on green days?
Do you take your temperature every morning?
Do you use any ovulation tests to pinpoint when you are ovulating?

no we never use the pull out method on green days yes every morning and I check multiple times just to make sure. Ovulation tests sometimes but mixed for me as my partner works away for a week every few months so I don’t tend to rely on them. Honestly if you’re anything like me and can’t take well to other methods of contraception I would definitely reccomend it once you’re confident and researched

 

[ChilliBean]

I used it for 6/7 years without any issues (used condoms on green days or sometimes didn’t have sex on them).
However I’d give it more like 6months before having unprotected sex, and if ever you go through a stressful life experience / depression / severe anxiety use condoms until 3/4months afterwards/until feeling more stable.
I fell pregnant using it after a really hard few months and turns out my cycle completely changed but NC didn’t pick it up on the temp recordings.
So for me if my mood & cycle was in perfect sync I didn’t have any issues but the one time it wasn’t I fell pregnant.
I’ve never been charged after cancelling my subscription.

Thanks so much for telling me your experience with the app I really appreciate your advice!
So just to clarify you always used condoms with the app even if it was a red or a green day?
How did you find the thermometer and temperature taking, was it pretty accurate?

 

[Scorpihoe]

Is this thread still active? I’m considering using natural cycles and getting off my implant. I’ve had 3 implants back to back, so have been on it for almost 10 years 🥲 I’m so tired of the irregular, heavy periods and I just want some stability.

I’m married, but it’s not a good time for me to get pregnant right now. Ideally I’d like to avoid it but me and my husband agreed it’s not the end of the world if it does happen, and it would be a happy accident. So not catastrophic if I got pregnant. I’d also follow NC as closely as I possibly can

 

[Heyguysswipeup]

Thanks so much for recommending, I am going to listen to her podcast! Do you have any personal experience of using natural cycles?

I don’t myself so can’t be very helpful, but i work in a medical setting and see lots of females in regards to their hormonal health etc so it’s just something I’m researching more into / have an interest in.

 

[ChilliBean]

I don’t myself so can’t be very helpful, but i work in a medical setting and see lots of females in regards to their hormonal health etc so it’s just something I’m researching more into / have an interest in.

Wow I bet that’s a really interesting area to work in. I would love to do work in women’s health care because I feel like it’s so overlooked or not taken seriously

 

[Scorpihoe]

I’ve been using Natural Cycles since February this year and so far I love it. However I did a LOT of research and reading beforehand. I read a book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler and I follow the rules that are outlined in that book. I’ve only the last few weeks for confident enough in my cycle tracking to go fully unprotected once ovulation has been confirmed.
Ultimately it is a risk but I feel at my age and circumstances I can afford to accept a contraceptive method with a lower Pearl index. I’ve been much happier since being off HBC and using natural cycles though so it felt like the right choice for me

Hi! Thanks for your helpful advice. Did you wait a bit after coming off BC, so you can get to know your cycle and before having unprotected sex?

have you had any scares? Do you take regular pregnancy tests? What method of monitoring do you use? I have an Apple Watch that I wear to sleep, I think that’s compatible with NC.

sorry for all the questions!

 

[Ro98]

Thanks so much for telling me your experience with the app I really appreciate your advice!
So just to clarify you always used condoms with the app even if it was a red or a green day?
How did you find the thermometer and temperature taking, was it pretty accurate?

No sorry I meant red days Used them on red days! Went without on green days (you’ll find you have quite a fair amount of green with a good 5/6months of use!)
Yeah, I had another thermometer that I used to double check at first and it was accurate. It did mean waking up roundabout the same time everyday but usually I’d fall straight back to sleep after taking the temp & it keeps it on the thermometer screen.
There is another kind of thermometer that you can wear at night (but not natural cycles) and it records it I believe - it’s called tempdrop fertility tracker.