https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:30:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rhythm-method#post-2569857 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 17:17:07 +0000 LovelyPlum 2569857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: we used the Creighton Model of NFP to avoid for 2 years before TTC #1 and again this past year. I have long cycles but fairly predictabe signs of O. We went to a NaPro specialist to teach us the method at first but after a month or so, it's super easy to keep up with. Never had any pregnancy "scares" when I was paying attention! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rhythm-method#post-2569844 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 16:29:01 +0000 JerricaBenton 2569844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can't edit anymore but I wanted to add, as pps did, that we aren't hell bent on preventing pregnancy. If there were a real reason we wanted to prevent or delay pregnancy we'd use a different method. As long as you're regular though I think it gets easier as you go on and are really on the lookout for signals from your body. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rhythm-method#post-2569805 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 15:14:06 +0000 periwinklebee 2569805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have super regular cycles, but my biggest issue with this approach is that my main o-symptom is increased sex drive :silly: It's like the last time I want to be abstaining! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rhythm-method#post-2569689 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 13:03:33 +0000 lilyofthewest 2569689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just calendar charting alone is rhythm method. The version of rhythm that is used for research is called The Standard Days Method. SDM only works for women with cycles that are always 26-32 days - it is a no go for women with short/long/inconsistent cycles. On the STM you abstain days 8-19. It is about 95% effective if used perfectly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rhythm-method#post-2569677 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 12:49:12 +0000 Mama Bird 2569677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Didn't work for me at all. My cycles are like clockwork, I think I can spot the mucus and it also shows up more or less on time, but actual ovulation? Whenever my body feels like it :silly: When I got pregnant with DD, I want even symptom spotting because it looked like we'd missed the right window by a long shot. Maybe temping is more reliable, but I've got no confidence in just going by period dates. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rhythm-method#post-2569671 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 12:42:47 +0000 psw27 2569671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use NFP right now. I don't temp, I just track it and am aware of CM. We usually use other protection within 5 days of ovulation on either side. If I got pregnant, I would be happy though, so that's the only reason we are using this method for right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rhythm-method#post-2569640 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 12:12:56 +0000 birdofafeather 2569640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>NFP works well if you're tracking everything, like temps and CM. i relied on it for 9 months pre-TTC and over a year post LO1 with temps. but then i got cocky and just assumed that because my cycle was somewhat regular, i could just rely on that timeline.... and because of stress of moving and travel, O was delayed and i timed it perfectly to conceive instead of avoid... so yeah, unless i'm tracking temps, or wanting to conceive, "NFP" without the information that goes with it is just winging it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rhythm-method#post-2569632 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 11:54:02 +0000 yoursilverlining 2569632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I have verrrrry regular cycles and always have. After getting my IUD out we used condoms and I tracked my cycle (we were planning to TTC in a few months, I didn't know if my return cycle would be regular (it was), etc) and we had unprotected sex what should have been a couple days before ovulation time. LO is 4! :silly: </p> <p>I know these methods work for many people....and not for many people. I personally don't consider NFP or PNP "pregnancy prevention/birth control" methods so much as potential pregnancy delayers (similar to that I don't personally see a big distinction between NTNP and TTC, unprotected sex is unprotected sex whatever terms you use and whatever time of the month you do it). Too many variables that don't actually control against pregnancy that can impact, unlike other methods of bc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rhythm-method#post-2569566 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 10:41:35 +0000 winniebee 2569566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: totally agree </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rhythm-method#post-2569562 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 10:38:39 +0000 Truth Bombs 2569562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used this effectively for 3 years before my daughter, and 2 years in between kids. Then I got pregnant with my son when I should have been 48 hours past ovulation. Obviously we were cutting it pretty close, and we were fine with that because we knew we wanted another baby. So kind of a surprise baby, but not a shock. I'm a big believer (and was before I conceived my son) that the rhythm method should only be used as a primary form of birth control if a pregnancy would be a happy surprise. I feel the same way about pull and pray. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rhythm-method#post-2569546 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 10:29:33 +0000 JerricaBenton 2569546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use what we call NFP (natural family/ fertility planning.) I use an app and do basic charting (period days and cervical mucous - I don't check cervical position) and we don't have sex during ovulation. Been working for 3 years. I think it'll make it easier for when we're trying to get pregnant too. I'm pretty regular and very aware of my fertile time </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rhythm-method#post-2569544 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 10:28:12 +0000 kes18 2569544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have heard there are a lot of accidents with the rhythm method. I think you need to track your cycles for 6 months and then you subtract X days from your longest and X days from your shortest cycles. I've heard some places say subtract 18 days from the longest and 11 from the shortest. Others say 19 days from the longest and 10 from the shortest. I would go with the latter. Following the first I should avoid days 5 through 15. Except I regularly ovulated ON day 15. Not good. I also ovulated on day 16, also not good when the latter gives me day 4-16 to avoid. That is cutting it a little too close for me if you have sex the next day (hey it's after midnight! or in the am!) and potentially the egg is still alive (I O'd at night).</p> <p>So I temped, tracked cervical fluid, cervical position, and used OPKs to avoid pregnancy over a year. It is very efficient but you need to be very knowledgable. NO sex (or use protection) any time you have cervical fluid (or have had any within the past 6 days). Even if it is not fertile quality. Until after you confirm O has happened. I would highly recommend this method over the rhythm method, as it is much more reliable and you know EXACTLY when you ovulated. But there is a lot more room for user error with both of these than with more traditional methods of birth control- you need to be VERY diligent.</p> <p>I used it succesfully for a long time and then got kind of lax about it (we were going to NTNP soon). I am guessing I ovulated one day earlier than normal (day 14) but I had the stomach flu and fevers on day 15 and 16 and then O was confirmed after that by my temp shift. I had sex on day 8 or 9 and got pregnant. So yes, you can get pregnant from sex 5 or 6 days before O. So for that reason, I would say you need to be very careful. It was the first day I had any cervical fluid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rhythm-method#post-2569542 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 10:26:34 +0000 winniebee 2569542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have a regular cycle since I was BF. But we thought CD5 was a safe day under any circumstances. Turns out we were wrong. The pregnancy ended in miscarriage though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rhythm-method#post-2569527 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 10:17:29 +0000 Foodnerd81 2569527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: I think tracking your cycle very closely (cervical mucous, temps) is pretty effective, even if you aren't super super careful, but just based on your normal cycle? Yeah I think that's called winging it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rhythm-method#post-2569526 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 10:16:48 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2569526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: no experience, but my grandma told me the rhythm method is why I have an uncle 😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rhythm-method#post-2569494 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 09:51:49 +0000 sorrycharlie 2569494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has anyone used this effectively? Let's say person has very predictable, regular cycles. </p> <p>If you got pregnant unintentionally while avoiding ovulation times, how close were you to ovulation?</p> <p>Is that what this is even called? Or is this just "winging it"?😂 </p>