Me, NFP and Technology

I've written about our journey with NFP (Natural Family Planning) before, so please don't hate me for bringing it up again, but much like a woman's cycle, the topic comes up monthly in our house and there are always new things we are learning. 

It seems to me that the first year after a baby has been rough in terms of knowing thyself for NFP.  Recovering, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, and weight loss/gain, they all wreak havoc on a woman's hormones and make a cycle unpredictable at best.  Even though I give up on breastfeeding around 5 months (or should I say, breastfeeding gives up on me) things still don't get back to normal until my baby is around 13-14 months old.  These months in the first year of a baby's life can be scary if you're trying to avoid pregnancy in the short-term, and I am always interested in any new fertility advances made since my last go-round at using NFP to avoid pregnancy.

We currently use the Marquette Method, which seems to be the best for us after having tried them all.  It's a simple method that uses an ovulation monitor to detect the LH surge that happens when a woman ovulates.  The monitor gives you a reading each day (after using a test stick) that lets you know if you are experiencing Low Fertility, High Fertility, or Peak Fertility:

I've been using the same monitor since 2011, and it's been pretty straight forward for us.  There is a more updated monitor here.  The test sticks can add up, but we feel the cost of them is cheaper than having to buy baby diapers, so...yeah!  

Disclaimer: We have conceived two babies while using the Marquette Method, so I won't say it's fool proof, but those babies were conceived when the monitor read Low Fertility later into the cycle (like Day 12) when I should have been abstaining anyway, but decided to chance it because the monitor hadn't read High yet.  

Soooooo now we start abstaining at Day 6 and wait it out until all signs point to go (and then usually wait some more!)  "All signs" meaning the monitor reads Peak, then wait 3 more days until the monitor reads Low and all other fertility signs are gone.  I know, TMI, but I need people to share like this with me, and we're all adults here, right?  

{Kids - get off the mom blogs!}

In addition to the Marquette Method, we also have two new tech savvy tricks up our NFP sleeves.  They are:

1)  YONO

I received YONO in exchange for a review and I think it's a cool idea, especially if you chart temps to track your cycle.  YONO is an earbud that is worn while you're sleeping that takes your temperature through the night and then sends the data to your phone once you place the earbud back into the base station.  This means you don't have to wake up to take your temperature if you are using Basal Body Temps to help chart fertility.  Not only does it transmit the info to your phone, but it interprets your temps, lets you add other fertility indicators, and charts it all for you.  The automatic charting on the app os a very nice feature, and is a great way to store data.  I am still getting used to wearing the earbud because I sleep on my side, and find myself moving the earbud from ear to ear so that I'm not laying on it.  I'm hoping I will grow more accustomed to it and would say it wouldn't be a problem for back sleepers!  You can read more about YONO here.

2) Ovulation Double Check Test

I received these tests in exchange for a review, and unfortunately, I seem to fall into the small camp of women who have low progesterone and can't get a proper reading....which I am going to bring up to my OB at my next visit.  It's not something I would have ever known without these tests, as I've never had an issue getting pregnant or staying pregnant, so I suppose the tests were great for that aspect!  I'm also hopng that as my body is still adjusting to life after baby (he's 15 months) my hormones will level off correctly.  

But!  Simcha Fisher is a fan, writing "Amy Beckley is a biologist with a background in hormone signaling, and is a co-founder of MFB Fertility, which developed the Double-Check Test Strips. Beckley says that after two frustrating years of trying to conceive, she realized that women could manage their fertility better if they could test their urine at home for the presence of progesterone, confirming that ovulation had occurred, not just predicting it.  The test strips she developed can be used both by couples trying to conceive (indicating that ovulation has actually occurred) and by those trying to avoid pregnancy (confirming that they are safely past the fertile phase of the cycle). MFB Fertility is currently in talks with Marquette, and the goal is to eventually include these progesterone tests into the Marquette protocols." (more here)

And that, my dears, is the newest NFP Technology to me.  I do want to add that as technology and science makes great advances in how we can track and predict a woman's cycle, we must not forget that Natural Family Planning is a tool to be used by couples who are in a constant prayerful discernment with living God's Will.  No technology can replace the graces that flow when we live open to life in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic church.  

(You can read more of my thoughts on NFP in my 15 years of on and off usage right here.  God Bless!)