Have you visited the fine folks over at fam? They have much great information about how to use the Fertility Awareness Method correctly. In addition, if you haven't done so already, pick up Toni Weschler's wonderful book Taking Charge of Your Fertility, which is really one of the most highly recommended books in VP and in FAM circles.
I second what loonylupinlover said: it might be very difficult to get good FAM data on your first few months off hormonal birth control. It's normal for your body to take anywhere from a week to six months to ovulate for the first time off HBC, and it can take additional time for it to fall into a regular pattern.
While your cycle is reacquainting itself with your body, no matter what type of fertility awareness / natural family planning / rhythm method you choose will be affected during that time, since many of those methods require establishing patterns and collecting data about your cycle that can be applied going forward.
In the meantime, I might also suggest withdrawal, either as a companion to FAM or as its own, if you feel comfortable with it. Although much maligned as a form of contraception, it actually posts surprisingly decent protection rates: if used perfectly (meaning your partner withdraws every time, without ejaculating near the vaginal opening, and urinates between ejaculations to rinse any lingering sperm from the urethra) it is 94% effective against pregnancy over the course of a year.
The typical use rates are a big drop -- 74% over the course of a year -- because it is difficult for many couples to use it consistently, but either way it's natural, allows for spontanaeity, and can be used in conjunction with whatever other route you're going.
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Date: 2007-10-15 04:08 am (UTC)I second what
While your cycle is reacquainting itself with your body, no matter what type of fertility awareness / natural family planning / rhythm method you choose will be affected during that time, since many of those methods require establishing patterns and collecting data about your cycle that can be applied going forward.
In the meantime, I might also suggest withdrawal, either as a companion to FAM or as its own, if you feel comfortable with it. Although much maligned as a form of contraception, it actually posts surprisingly decent protection rates: if used perfectly (meaning your partner withdraws every time, without ejaculating near the vaginal opening, and urinates between ejaculations to rinse any lingering sperm from the urethra) it is 94% effective against pregnancy over the course of a year.
The typical use rates are a big drop -- 74% over the course of a year -- because it is difficult for many couples to use it consistently, but either way it's natural, allows for spontanaeity, and can be used in conjunction with whatever other route you're going.