Anyone successfully used charting/FAM to TTA?

[Brie]

I'm PG now but we successfully charted to avoid for over a year.

There is definitely a learning curve and it took a few cycles before we were comfortable not using condoms as a backup. But I really liked it--it helped me figure out some issues I had with my cycle that were relevant when I got pregnant (which I then corrected with my doctor).

ETA: It was also a very efficient transition to TTC, since I could already tell when I was ovulating.

[RITS]

I did for a year and a half. Pretty much everything Brie said... charted a few cycles to get comfortable while using condoms as backup. It also helps you figure out if you have any issues so you can take care of it before TTC.

[Ashley&Scott]

We charted to avoid for about 5 cycles before TTC. We also used backup method during this time.

[jenny1223]

I did for 2+ years and then got pregnant on the first cycle we were trying - that's how predictable and regular my cycles were.

[MadamePresident]

I used charting for about 4 years before we decided to get pregnant. I think it was such a good choice. I also really enjoyed learning about my body and how it works. It was a good experience and one where my husband could also be involved. I wrote stuff down, but he transferred that information into the software on our computer. I hate how it seems like Birth Control is primarily the responsibility of the woman, when we are only fertile a couple days each month and men are fertile every single day.

[oreille]

I've successfully been using charting to TTA for 3 and a half years now. I feel very comfortable with it, and feel comfortable that when/if we decide to start TTC, we will be ahead of the game because I already know when I am ovulating.

[schrodinger]

We charted to TTA for about a year. It was really eye-opening for me. I learned so much about my body. I tend to O really early in my cycle, so we only had unprotected sex after I had confirmed O, for us it was good insurance that we were covered.

It was a fairly easy transition to TTC, but still took us 5 cycles to conceive.

[froggy76]

I failed at it. We were TTC, but needed to take a few months off due to timing, so I started charting in preparation for when we would pick up TTC again. I got pg the first month TTA/charting. I think it would work if you do it for a few months with a backup method to see what your cycles are like. Our timing was totally off, which is why I wasn't getting pg when TTC, but had an oops the first month TTA.

[drloretta]

My brother and SIL have done so for their entire marriage, to TTC and TTA.

[bunch]

Hazel has a friend who is a tta baby . I think that if you have regular cycles and temp, it's a great option. I planned to go this route but I've yet to get a pp period so I haven't bothered. I read the material for the CM only nfp program that my friend (with the baby) uses and I wasn't convinced at all. I think there might have been 3 days a month that you could have sex.

[pacificrules]

May 23, 2012 10:43:58 GMT -5 @charky said:

On the fence about making the switch. Any success stories?

Yes, I LOVE FMA/charting. I did it successfully (to avoid) for 2 years, then to successfully get pregnant, and now it's been 2 more years TTA. Learning to notice/interpret my body's natural signs has been really empowering and amazing to me. I highly recommend it.

[MadamePresident]

May 23, 2012 12:24:57 GMT -5 bunch said:

Hazel has a friend who is a tta baby . I think that if you have regular cycles and temp, it's a great option. I planned to go this route but I've yet to get a pp period so I haven't bothered. I read the material for the CM only nfp program that my friend (with the baby) uses and I wasn't convinced at all. I think there might have been 3 days a month that you could have sex.

I know that cervical fluid is supposed to be more accurate, but I depended more on temperatures. I felt like there was less room for error. In my mind temps = math (facts) and fluids = english (open to interpretation).

[Deleted]

I've been having sex Regularily for 12yrs w/ out BC. I used FAM to TTA & TTC successfully. I have 3kids...last one was not "planned" but I was not charting that month & ovulated 2wks late. We didn't discover this until the 8.5wk u/s showed a 6wk...OB thought it was not viable but we waited it out & sure enough she was fine.

[theintended]

I have a "success" story. She's four. lol

But really, I was doing a shitty job at it (which we were both fine with).

[zeewifeandmama]

Yup, I did for about 3 years until I decided to use it to get pregnant.

[belovedbride07]

We've been using FAM to avoid for about 3 years now. So far, so good. :-) It works so much better for us than me being on the pill, which completely killed my sex drive. We use condoms during my fertile times, and neither of us think they are as bad as some people say. We are pretty conservative about it, but if we were just abstaining during fertile times, I could see the temptation to bend the rules and end up with a surprise.

[pamela]

It works if you really do it. Don't blame the method if you half-ass it and it doesn't work.