Multiple birth control methods...question

[Applewhite]

Is there anyone that uses birth control pills AND tries to keep track of 'safe' days (I guess called natural birth control)?

 

For various reasons, we want to use multiple birth control methods. But I have read somewhere that hormones in the pill alter the natural menstruation and fertility cycle. So I am guessing this will not make it easy to detect 'ovulation' since I guess there isn't supposed to be any ovulation?

 

Or maybe I'm completely off.

 

Any websites and/or info you can offer?

 

Thank you

[Catdancer]

Since I'm pregnant....I dont think my advice would be any good...lol. I can talk about how to track cycles and ovulation schedule...I kept track of mine on a website....but I dont know how the pill interacts with those cycles.

[Applewhite]

Do you really think keeping track of it on a site has increased benefits compared to just using paper and pencil I mean if I'm checking my temperature, and fluids and keeping an open mind about other 'signals' and writing everything down, isnt it just as well? For some reason I think it would be much easier with paper and pencil, as I looked at one site and was rather confused lol

[Catdancer]

I was using an ovulation calculator, period tracker, the works. It sent me reminders of when I ovulated and just before my periods. I thought it was pretty cool. Besides I did most of it at work. I'm not too much a paper and pencil person... computers spoil me!

[Applewhite]

I'll look into it. (Sooo lazy here). Usually I am technologically challenged Too complicated for me... I fear the future where I'm older and even more clueless...

[Red Fox]

For various reasons, we want to use multiple birth control methods. But I have read somewhere that hormones in the pill alter the natural menstruation and fertility cycle. So I am guessing this will not make it easy to detect 'ovulation' since I guess there isn't supposed to be any ovulation?

 

Or maybe I'm completely off.

 

Any websites and/or info you can offer?

 

Thank you

 

I am not sure that natural family planning and the pill would work together but I don't have a medical qualification so don't rely on me at all!

 

link removed is a guide to using natural family planning as a method of contraception. The guide states that:

 

"Using hormonal emergency contraception will upset your normal hormone pattern and alter your fertility indicators. After using hormonal emergency contraception you should not rely on your natural family planning indicators for two complete menstrual cycles. This allows time for your cycle to return to normal and for your natural family planning indicators to be reliable."

 

The site above refers people to another site for more in depth information about natural family planning (link removed) and that site states that:

 

"Women who stop the pill and want to use a natural method, need to be aware that it may take up to several months to be able to accurately define the phases of fertility and infertility, due to the effects of the synthetic hormones. Help will be required from an experienced NFP teacher to use a natural method after stopping the pill." link removed

 

These would suggest that the hormones from the pill and the emergency contraceptive pill disrupt the fertility indicators that natural family planning seems to rely on (and thereforee may not be compatible at all). The guides state that natural family planning is most effective when taught by a qualified instructor, so if you wanted to try it someone qualified could tell you for sure about the pill. If you wanted to use more than one form of contraception then it seems from the leaflet that condoms and natural family planning work together (it is even suggested), and you could also ask your doctor about specific combinations that would work well.

[Applewhite]

Well we were planning pills and natural planning AND condoms LOL, but yes I guess it seems that the extra effort I put into natural planning might not be worth it. Probably if I take my temperature, I won't notice that jump that helps pinpoint ovulation.

[civilservant]

I'm glad I'm a bloke, all these permutations has my head spinning just thinking about it!!