Stop birth control before Natural Family Planning classes?!


Question: I am going to a NFP class in a month, however, I am currently using birth control pills to help with cramps and regulate my cycle. I have been on the pill for about 3 - 4 years. Do I need to stop taking the pill in order to effectively take the class and chart my cycle? Or can I still chart it while on the pill?

Thanks!


Answers: I am going to a NFP class in a month, however, I am currently using birth control pills to help with cramps and regulate my cycle. I have been on the pill for about 3 - 4 years. Do I need to stop taking the pill in order to effectively take the class and chart my cycle? Or can I still chart it while on the pill?

Thanks!

You cannot chart your menstrual cycles using NFP while on the birth control pill. The way that the pill works is #1 to inhibit ovulation. You have nothing to chart by means of basal body temperatures if there is never a shift due to ovulation. Another way the pill works is to thicken your cervical mucus so that it is inhospitable to sperm. But NFP relies heavily on noticing the changes in your cervical mucus due to the body's natural hormones during a cycle and specifically the change in mucus after ovulation.

As an NFP teacher, I can say that learning how to chart NFP after coming off the pill can be a little more challenging, but it is definitely possible and with the help of your teacher you should be able to master the method within 2-4 months. I would suggest that you stop the pill now so that you have a few weeks to get some of the residual hormones out of your system before starting classes.

Depending on what method of NFP you will be learning, you may be able to talk to your teacher to get some ideas about how best to deal with cramps & cycle irregularity if you find that they come back after ceasing the pill. I know that the vitamin Optivite is great for helping with cramps & PMS. And the book "Fertility, Cycles & Nutrition" by Marilyn Shannon has lots of ideas for how to help regulate your cycles naturally with vitamins & supplements. It is likely that your cycles will be a little wacky at first, but that is normal when coming off the pill. Don't let yourself get frustrated when your cycles aren't perfect like they were on the pill. Give your body time and remember that NFP works for those with cycle irregularity too because it is an individualized method based on the signs you are seeing day to day. Even women with the goofiest of cycles can use NFP.

Good luck!!





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