Symptothermal method of birth control

[JJFigure]

This is for Ceebs and Spatts, since I know they are both practicing this method. I've been researching it and started to take my body temperature every day - more out of curiousity and a desire to see how my body really works than for relying on this method 100% for birth control right now. This would really help me prepare for contests though, since right now I have no idea when I may be ovulating and can't really predict when I might be retaining water, since I've been so irregular every month.

Here's my question - are both of you on regular cycles, or are you irregular at all? I seem to be messed up again after my little 3 week venture into Centchroman use. If you are irregular, can you still determine ovulation based on patter of basal temperature readings? All the literature I've read seems to assume your menstrual cycle is regular.

 

[spatts]

JJ...I was put on the pill when Iwas 16 because I rarely had a period. Maybe 1-2 times a year, and the doc thought I should be "regulated."

I didn't care too much for the pill and went off a few years later. Just as you plan to use the info for contest prep, I used it to guage when I would be best in my track and field events. I tried to intentionally tweak things around Jan or Feb to make sure I wouldn't be luteal (read: bloated, tired, and hungry) during the state meet.

I found, over 7 years of using this method, that my progesterone levels, would rise and fall in 34 days cycles, and I would ovulate twice most months, but if only once it was always the 19th day, and I still almost never had a period. Totally normal, slightly long, cycle...no period, ovulating like clockwork. Good to know when you're in Dallas and you're thinking about making sure everything is really "bigger in Texas." Long story...he's 3 now.

So to answer your question, yes. According to temperature changes, mucus changes, cervical changes, and later ovulation tests/predictors...my "charts" were quite accurate.

 

[JJFigure]

Thanks Spatts! I'm glad you and Ceebs have brought this topic up; I honestly would have never thought to look into it. I would have just continued to bitch every month about how I have no idea when I may be bloated and retaining water. I'm getting tired of the surprise method.

 

[Ceebs]

My menstrual cycle is completely screwed up, and was before the Centchroman. I'll either not bleed at all for a long stretch, or spot every time the wind blows my way. I'm still ovulating regularly though by temperature readings and mucus, every 22 days like clockwork, my endometrium is just a little confused.

Credit really goes to spatts - I wouldn't have tried this method of birth control if it wasn't for her touting it.