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Yup, for three years!

@Cherrybee: temping. I wasn't sure how long my cycles were, having been on the pill for 10 years before, but it turns out they do vary between 30-33 days. And I also used OPKs to determine when my fertile times were, which I did as a double check, every 4 months.

@Cherrybee: Yeah, that's how I feel...we don't actively try during that time because ideally we don't want to TTC for another year, or thereabouts...but also it wouldn't be the end of the World. Also, I hate birth control!

We don't but if you're looking for resources there is lots of information on Natural Family Planning (NFP) for practicing Catholics online.

Use condoms as a back up until you figure it out?...At least until CHristmas

@Cherrybee: so if he doesn't want to use condoms, does he not mind so much if you get pregnant right away? Or does he expect you to go on the pill?

I chose other because we did it successfully for 7 years but:
#1 I have PCOS, so who knows how often it worked because of charting or because I didn't ovulate.

#2 When I did get pregnant, according to my chart, every indicator, we conceived 48hrs+ after ovulation.....eggs only last 24hrs, so the charting couldn't have been right.

@Cherrybee: I'm so sorry to hear that birth control affects you like that, and at the same time, relieved to find a person like me. I always thought I was broken because I only was interested in sex during the exact wrong time! It caused at least one raised-voice discussion each year, I think because he felt unattractive due to my complete lack of interest.

It's why I really really DONT want to go back on the pill, but my husband is dead set against a copper IUD... But if we don't want children then it's pull-out and condoms for us. I never want him to pull out, and we both dislike condoms... so yeah. For now we put up with condoms.

No experience with charting but I have the exact same reaction to hormonal bc - I didn't even realise until I came off it after 10 years to ttc. We've been using condoms since DS was born - DH isn't a big fan (neither am I tbh), but he sees it as a lot better than nothing! I feel like what's the point of being on bc if it makes you uninterested in sex - it completely defeats the object!

@Cherrybee: I'm terrified of IUD, even though it is probably the best option.

I charted/temped to avoid for about 8 months before TTC. We followed every precaution though.

I know this is old but i'm so glad i came across this thread. This has been churning around in my head for the last week and i'm trying to figure out how to brooch the subject with the hubs, maybe when we're on vacation in a couple weeks.

6 months ago i switched from the mini pill back to the pill I was on before TTC and my sex drive tanked even further. At first I thought it was just sleep deprivation as my 1 year old still didnt sleep through the night reliably but now I'm suspect that its my BC.

Ideally we probably would TTC again for another 6 months to a year, but we could manage if we had another.... I think.

I'm heading to the GYN for my yearly in May. I guess I should get her thoughts too.

Worked for us to get pregnant and prevent

5 years and counting. "Tried" for 2 months and - baby. It's scary when you're close to your period and start feeling symptoms (happened a few times) but it has worked for us.

I know it's an old thread, but just wanted to add another voice saying that yes, charting to avoid a pregnancy works. We've used it for a total of 3 years successfully. But, you have to temp and check cervical mucus. Bonus points if you also check for other signs (cervix position, ovulation pain, etc.) Simply counting days (rhythm method) isn't reliable. Since no one has mentioned it yet, Taking Charge of Your Fertility is an excellent resource!

@chillybear: Communication is also key. We used a loose version of it (tracking CM and cervical position but not temping) after LO1 pretty successfully however one month I thought my husband knew that I had just ovulated less than a week earlier and would withdraw. Turns out either I hadn't told him like I thought or he forgot. Either way he didn't, and didn't so LO1 now has a wonderful brother.
I think one can be successful at it, it just might take a little more effort.

I haven't used birth control in 10 years. We just use the withdrawal method. We actually use it 99% of the time, even outside of my fertile window. I do NOT want to get pregnant right now. I do know that it's not 100% effective, but when used properly, it's pretty effective.

We've only have 1 child, and we were charting to plan for her.

With charting to avoid, you usually only know you've ovulated once it's happened, so you'd need to chart for a few months to see your pattern and know when to avoid BDing.