Comments on: Economy Makes For Tough Family Planning Choices: Go Natural

By: Teen Gets 2-Week Suspension for Taking Her Birth Control Pill : Eco Child’s Play

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:39:31 +0000

[...] Fairfax County, Virginia mom got word that her daughter would receive a two-week suspension for the birth control pill, she was shocked, I realize my daughter broke a rule. The punishment does not fit the [...]

By: marianna

marianna — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:18:49 +0000

Your wrote
“Whatever it is, for one Planned Parenthood clinic, January was the biggest month for abortions.” That is serious information! I am really sad that people are using abortion as a means of contraception. I’ve even read that someone said on a green site that abortion was an ok means to help the planet. Don’t we have it backwards? Whatever your view on pro-life or pro-choice, abortion is certainly not green! Abortion is the opposite of gentle for the earth. We need to find a middle way to all of this. Anyone? Thank you! I really want to start a conversation on green contraception that works — and works karmically, for all.

By: Crimson Wife

Crimson Wife — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:53:33 +0000

Once you’ve ovulated, it’s “too late” — the egg will be, well, overripe by the time the little dudes get to it.
Not quite. In ~10% of cycles, there is a 2nd ovulation within 24 hrs of the 1st. Each egg is fertile for 24 hours, which means a woman can get pregnant up to 48 hrs after the 1st ovulation. That’s why the NFP rule is to wait until the evening of the 3rd day of elevated BBT’s. If you don’t wait, you could very well find yourself pregnant like I did with my oldest.

Sperm *CAN* survive up to 7 days if the woman’s internal environment is favorable. Usually, it’s a shorter time (3 to 5 days) so it really depends on how conservative the couple wants to be. If there’s a very serious reason to avoid pregnancy, they’ll want to abstain longer. If they’re okay with a higher chance of getting pregnant, they can abstain fewer days per cycle.

There’s also a high-tech version of NFP that uses an electronic fertility monitor. It’s more expensive and not the most ecologically-friendly (since it uses disposable test sticks) but I personally find it easier than the sympto-thermal method.

By: Cate Nelson

Cate Nelson — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:19:31 +0000

Thank you, Heather. But may I point out that for some of us, it’s not just the hubbies who don’t want to abstain for a week and a half?
*I* just might die without sex. Sad and true. lol.

By: Heather

Heather — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:36:50 +0000

As for only abstaining (or using a barrier) for a few days before and after ovulation… I’ve heard and read that sperm can live for quite a long time, and it takes them a little while to get up to the ovary anyway. So even if you’re a week before ovulation, the timing might be ‘just right’.

In other words, it’s not that intercourse needs to *coincide* with ovulation, it actually has to *precede* ovulation. Once you’ve ovulated, it’s “too late” — the egg will be, well, overripe by the time the little dudes get to it.

Because of the fact that sperm can live for a few days once they’re in there, and the unpredictability of knowing *in advance* when you’re going to ovulate by more than a few days, I personally don’t feel ‘infertile’ anytime at the beginning of my cycle. Only AFTER I know I’ve ovulated. Then plus a few extra days, just in case.

I don’t know about all of you, but that’s *way* too long to abstain (at least for most hubbies!), much more than just ’3 or 4 days’. Not to mention the fact, like the article says, that this is the time in your cycle when your body is SCREAMING at you to get it pregnant! That’s the hardest time of them all to abstain!

By: VL

VL — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:45:19 +0000

You obviously miss the whole point of natural family planning, which is to regulate the spacing of children by a natural means–not to totally prevent the conception and receiving of children into the family. This is done by learning how to detect the signs of ovulation and abstain from intercourse during that time–normally only 3 to 4 days a month–but NFP recommends abstaining the few days up to and after peak ovulation times. There is never any need for barrier methods with NFP. By the way, no one has ever died from lack of sex. You just find other ways–conversation, taking a walk, doing special and creative activities to communicate your love for each other–hence, reinforcing the ideal that LOVE is not synonymous with SEX. Just as an aside, less than 5% of all couples who use NFP divorce. The primary advantage to NFP is that it strengthens your marriage and monthly reminds you of the commitment you made to each other. It epitomizes the fidelity and chastity possible within the marriage covenant.

By: jenn

jenn — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:14:36 +0000

I know you said it above, but PLEASE! do not! use the “rhythm” or calendar method without also charting your temperature AND cervical fluid (and also, possibly, position). A woman may have a dependable 28 day cycle but vary in the actual day she ovulates each month. also, ovulation is sensitive to stressors such as sleep disruptions and anxiety. If you are at all interested in natural family planning, you should absolutely read “Taking Charge of Your Fertility” by Toni Wechsler. It is a science, and it can be very dependable, but you have to pay attention.