NFP *without* cervical checks?

[Jaimelynne04]

Is there such a thing? Is it effective? Can you use basal body temp. alone successfully? Any advice or info would be awesome.

I'm so happy to have found you all!!!

 

[sweetangelmum]

I dont think that you can do one without the other that is what I have been told but to be honest I have never used this method.

 

[Jaimelynne04]

I dont think that you can do one without the other that is what I have been told but to be honest I have never used this method.

Hmmm, I'm not quite sure either. Everything I've researched so far on basal body temp has also gone hand in hand with cervical checks.

I've heard of a few people using temperature only to gauge their cycles but I was wondering how effective it was for them.

 

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

I used only BBT temping when I was TTC my son, and it did work, I was able to see when I had ovulated, but the temp doesn't go up until AFTER you ovulate - so it's kind of too late by then iykwim! Which is why they say the cervical (and cervical fluid) checks.

 

[Jaimelynne04]

I used only BBT temping when I was TTC my son, and it did work, I was able to see when I had ovulated, but the temp doesn't go up until AFTER you ovulate - so it's kind of too late by then iykwim! Which is why they say the cervical (and cervical fluid) checks.

Ah okay, well that clears things up, lol. Thanks!

 

[Leanna]

Yes you can..... but you need to use two fertility signs, so you could choose temperature and watching your fluids....

 

[Assisi]

To achieve or avoid pregnancy? It would be useful to achieve pregnancy to keep track of your temperature alone, but not to avoid.

As Leisamd said, your temperature typically goes up after you ovulate, which is useful to confirm that ovulation has taken place. I have irregular cycles and often have a 'false start' where my LH surges (I get all mucusy) but I don't ovulate, I go on to ovulate later. So a temperature would be useful because I would know that I hadn't ovulated. That said, I can usually tell the difference between the times when I get ready to ovulate and don't, and the times I actually ovulate - I don't temp.

In a typical cycle you would be fertile for at least 5 days before you ovulate, so sex on any of these days (just once) could lead to pregnancy. Your temp typically stays the same during this period, so if you're avoiding then you wouldn't know that you shouldn't have sex on these days. I've heard of some women checking cervical position in these days, but more commonly I know of ladies who check their cervical mucus in order to identify these days.

Personally I find cervical mucus alone reliable enough to use it alone to pinpoint ovulation and fertile days. I use the Billings Method.

 

[jessesgirl]

So if your temp goes up AFTER you ovulate, how is it effective to check your temp to achieve pregnancy? What would your temp need to be to achieve? High or low?

 

[Assisi]

So if your temp goes up AFTER you ovulate, how is it effective to check your temp to achieve pregnancy? What would your temp need to be to achieve? High or low?

I guess I'm saying that it's useful to check your temp because that way you can confirm whether or not you ovulated (if you have trouble telling). But if it's the only thing you check, it's not going to work to help you avoid. If you're aiming to achieve, and you only check your temp it could be useful if you're regularly having sex. Because you will know whether you had sex at the right time, whether there's a chance. Some women also have a second temp rise at implantation if they fall pregnant that cycle.

I guess in writing my response I was assuming regular sex. But if a couple is timing their intercourse to achieve then I guess it would be just as useless.

I've confused myself now.

 

[Leanna]

So if your temp goes up AFTER you ovulate, how is it effective to check your temp to achieve pregnancy? What would your temp need to be to achieve? High or low?

For acheiving its just useful to know that you are ovulating, and also to count the number of days between ovulation day and AF... if that time period is too short then it will interfere with conceiving. Watching fluids is more useful to know when ovulation is about to occur...

 

[jessesgirl]

Yeah and charting is no good for me because I am so darn irregular!

 

[Assisi]

Yeah and charting is no good for me because I am so darn irregular!

I'm irregular too (though I can get charting to work for me) and it's pretty sucky. I'm jealous of all those girls with 28 day cycles and ovulation on day 14.

 

[jessesgirl]

I'm not so jealous...LOL...I have had the same box of FHP for nearly a year now!!!! I get off really cheap!!!!