Still ovulating with the pill?

[returnofpiper.livejournal.com]

My body refuses to cycle with the pill. I'm worried I'm still ovulating. I know that's probably not possible, but my body goes through all the signs, cervical fluids, ovarian pain, etc. I've been checked out, I'm healthy. My doc says my body will regulate to the pill. It's been 6 months, and I'm curious. I'm thinking of using the FAM method to see what I come up with, charting temps, fluids, etc., because I think that might tell me if I'm ovulating, and if so, when. Am I completely crazy here? But if my body refuses to cycle with the pill, and it turns out it's not always working, I'm not going to screw up my body taking it anymore.

Comments

[erynchrista.livejournal.com]

I don't know....I've been taking the pill for a year and my body still does the same stuff as it did when I wasn't on it. I wouldn't be too worried about all of that. I know the pill works because there's one too many times when my boyfriend and I have had unprotected sex and everything turns out just fine.

I wouldn't go to the FAM method. It isn't that great for contraception. The failure rate is pretty high. Heh...Don't worry so much. :D

[serrano.livejournal.com]

Actually, FAM done properly is very reliable, as it cross-checks itself pretty thoroughly. It's typically a combination of taking your basal body temperature (orally), observing your cervical fluids (which takes some time to do well), and observing your cervical position either with a finger, or with a mirror & speculum. Not all women use all three, and it does take about six months to become accustomed enough to your body's behavior to rely on FAM..

There's an excellent book on this by Toni Weschler called Taking Charge of Your Fertility which is easy, very informative reading, & has sample charts in the back, and explains all different patterns of cycles.. Also, there's a great mailing list on yahoogroups entitled FertilityAwareness which you might be interested in...

Re:

[returnofpiper.livejournal.com]

I actually own that book - I really like it.

I'm a little confused as to whether or not I can use the FAM method and the pill - I'd just like to use FAM to learn a little more about my body - I need the pill for cramps.

Well, I guess I'll just try it out and see what happens.

[serrano.livejournal.com]

you can use FAM while on the pill, but since the pill induces a false state of pregnancy, your results probably won't be ones you can compare to non-pill users' results, nor ones you can use for birth control purposes.. that said, I don't know anyone who's charted while on the pill, but it would definitely be interesting to track what's going on!

[enigmae.livejournal.com]

Have you used FAM or do you know anyone who does? I just got Weschler's book and I'm interested in trying it but I'm a bit doubtful.

[serrano.livejournal.com]

I did successfully for about six months, but I'm just not responsible enough to do it fearlessly right now! I can't manage to wake up early & take my basal temp! (currently I just use condoms, since I'm not comfortable w/ hormonal birth control at all)

But there are lots and lots of women who're successfully using FAM on the fertility awareness (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fertilityawareness/) yahoo group.. And the moderator has a very informative website here (http://www.sisterzeus.com).

[enigmae.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info, and the link to the yahoo group...looks good. It builds my confidence in the method to hear about people who use it successfully.

[serrano.livejournal.com]

I mean: it's definitely reliable if you're responsible about it and cross-check & are able to abstain or use condoms during your fertile periods, but it also takes about 4-8 months before you're able to rely on it. & it's obviously something that doesn't protect against STDs or anything, & it's the kind of thing that your partner needs to be comfortable with..

[enigmae.livejournal.com]

By cross-check you're talking about temperature and cervical fluid, right? Weschler says that checking the cervical position is optional, if I remember correctly.

I'm pretty sure my boyfriend would be comfortable with it if I explained it to him...it's unfortunate though that more people don't think natural methods like this can work - it's just common sense that the body would have signs for detecting fertility. Most guys unfortunately are probably under the impression that the pill is the easiest and best method.

[serrano.livejournal.com]

Right about the cross-checking--temps plus CF plus cervical position if you're not sure (& condoms if you're not sure!). Though I think the moderator of the fertilityawareness group just uses CF & cervical position & has been doing so for about five years, which is really neat.

..The pill probably is the easiest method, but it makes me feel kind of dead & bloated, & has a lot of worse side effects for other women, plus I'm kind of suspicious of it for reasons I haven't really articulated to myself yet!

But good luck! The yahoo group is really a great resource & community!