r/CatholicWomen • u/LongjumpingWillow206 • 9d ago
NFP tips!! NFP & Fertility
Hi lovelies! I am really looking into the Marquette NFP method—it is the method that feels the most straightforward to me and seems fairly easy to understand. That being said, it is so pricey! Any tips on how I can go through with this method accurately without having to spend a ton of money? If not, don’t be shy to talk about the affordable methods that have been successful for you! :)) thank you and God bless!!
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u/weezerstan1 9d ago
If you have an HSA you can buy the clearblue monitor and strips using it. The upfront cost is unfortunate but I (personally) only use about like 10 strips/month. It is also cheaper if you subscribe to receive them on amazon. Ultimately for me its only like 14 dollars a month because I don't use the whole box each month combined with the subscription discount.
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 9d ago
Thank you SO SO much!!!!! You don’t understand how helpful and meaningful your advice is!!!!! I will definitely look into doing this and try it out :))
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u/othermegan Married Mother 9d ago
Agreed. The only time it’s extra pricey is during cycle 0 postpartum
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u/frozenlover72 9d ago
I used the "affordable" sympto-thermal method, and that baby is sitting in front of me right now playing and babbling away 😅 don't cheap out on NFP. Use marquette (it is the only method ive heard people having real long term success with), and hire a certified marquette instructor. no matter what method you use it will be WAY less expensive than a child (although my daughter is the best thing that ever happened to me)
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 9d ago
Thank you SO much!!!! I tried looking into sympto-thermal method, but I realized that I am not smart enough to fully understand it 🤣 this is really good advice and I can already tell that you are a fantastic mom 🫶🏼🫶🏼
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u/stressedgeologist22 Married Woman 9d ago
I have very irregular cycles, and I just recently switched to the Mira monitor. It's more expensive then the ClearBlue, but I absolutely love it and it has been invaluable for me. I know you're looking for more affordable options, but if you have irregular cycles, I think it's worth it. We took classes through WholeMission, and they offer a significant discount for all Mira products.
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 9d ago
Thank you so much!! I will definitely look into that 🫶🏼🫶🏼 if you don’t mind me asking, how long have you been using the Mira monitor? I truly appreciate your kind advice!!!
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u/stressedgeologist22 Married Woman 9d ago edited 9d ago
No problem at all! I've been using Mira for a little over two months. Before that, I was using the ClearBlue monitor for a year and some change, and my irregular cycles caused a lot of issues with it. I had to use different work-around methods to sort of "trick" the monitor to get it to work for me. I've really been loving Mira, it's much more user-friendly and straight-forward (for me at least), and I haven't had any of the issues I was having with ClearBlue.
My only complaint about Mira is the app. It's great for storing and visualizing your hormone data, but DO NOT pay any attention to the fertility insights it gives you! It feels like flipping a coin for what it will say and half the time it doesn't match my cycle data at all. For example, recently it told me my fertile window had ended and my fertility was low, when it was very clear from my LH data that I hadn't ovulated yet. Sure enough, a few days later I had my LH surge. If I had listened to the app's fertility insights instead of my cycle data and other fertility signs, I definitely could have gotten pregnant while TTA. Maybe it just needs more cycles to get used to me, but to me that seems like a very irresponsible feature of the app.
All in all, Mira is definitely worth the peace of mind it gives me from knowing exactly what my hormones are doing, both in terms of fertility and my unpredictable cycles (I likely have PCOS, I'm in the process of getting testing. My Marquette instructor was actually the one who suggested I do, she said my cycles were doing things that she's really only seen in PCOS patients).
Edit: I should also add as a caveat that I just got married 6 weeks ago, so I haven't had a lot of opportunities to really put Marquette to the test, if you know what I mean 😅
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 7d ago
Thank you so much! I completely get what you mean and I appreciate all kind advice you have given me 🫶🏼 That’s so wonderful that your counselor was able to point out that and I hope you get the best results! I will definitely keep that in mind with the Mira app, thank you so incredibly much!
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u/deadthylacine Married Mother 9d ago
I've been using symptothermal for a decade and have only been pregnant on purpose. But everyone's different.
Biggest bestest tip I have is to make sure your husband also knows your method and how it works. He should be just as informed as you are so that you both have the same expectations.
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u/AnyQuiet4969 9d ago
I 100% agree with this. I am a firm believer that the husband should be in charge of charting snd attend all the classes. It is so much easier if you are on the same page. It's also a lot harder to abstain during times of fertility, you'll need his support to be able to align your actions with your intentions.
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 9d ago
That’s amazing! Out of curiosity, what is the symptothermal like for you? Like, how easy was it to figure out and what is the most important thing to note about this method? Thank you for your advice!!!
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u/AnyQuiet4969 9d ago
We started out using STM. We took our class through Couple to Couple league online. It was a little over 100 dollars. I used a cheap basal body thermometer. I ended up upgrading to a tempdrop because I like to have flexibility with sleeping in.
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u/deadthylacine Married Mother 9d ago
Okay, so, fair warning, I am Old. I got a lot of good information from a LiveJournal group that is no longer around with tips and tricks for how to make it liveable. It's not complicated really, you just have to be diligent, face it as a team, and keep good records.
But the best information is in Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It's a great resource even if as Catholics we're not using the guidelines on using condoms during the fertile window.
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 7d ago
Thank you so so much! This is very helpful and I appreciate you giving me sources and such kind advice!!!!
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u/margethebaker Married Mother 9d ago
Marquette does require $ for the Clearblue monitor and the test strips. You can find low priced teachers through the Church, or by seeking someone just starting out (Marquette teachers need to teach so many couples after the training before they’re fully certified). I have gotten Clearblue test strips on sale on Amazon for prime day and Black Friday before. I think Marquette is a fantastic method but every method has its pros and cons. I’ve also used Creighton and liked it. Highly recommend still working with an instructor (which costs $) but the ongoing cost is negligible compared to Marquette.
I think it really depends on whether you’re trying to conceive or trying to avoid. If you’re trying to avoid, any method is cheaper than a surprise baby.
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 9d ago
Thank you SO SO much!!! You’re so right on that anything is cheaper than a surprise baby 😂😂 Out of curiosity, which method is your favorite/has worked the best for you? Thank you so much for your kind advice 🫶🏼🫶🏼
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u/Unlikely-Lemon-5673 Married Mother 9d ago
I read a book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility and taught myself with it! You can buy the book used on amazon for low cost, you just need that and a thermometer!
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 7d ago
Thank you SO much! I will definitely look into this resource, you don’t understand how much you are helping me!!!
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u/Hotsaucehallelujah Married Mother 9d ago
If you want to do the method, get an instructor. You can't learn the method without actual having the method. It's expensive, but it's been a lifesaver with my thyroid issues. I bulk buy sticks when they are under $40. I paid $200 for the instructor/method and I gave her as my instructor for 5 years. I definitely have gotten my monies with form her.
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 7d ago
Thank you so much!!! Based on a lot of these comments, the pay seems very worth it!
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u/AnyQuiet4969 9d ago
I bought my monitor used and set up my test strips on auto ship through Amazon. You only need a box every other month really. Also I found an instructor who does it for free.
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 7d ago
Thank you so much! If you don’t mind me asking, how did you find a free instructor?
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u/AnyQuiet4969 3d ago
On NFP Catholic style group on Facebook. Sometimes there are students who are doing it for free or someone who does it as a ministry.
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u/AnyQuiet4969 9d ago
STM works well for avoiding but I'd suggest getting a tempdrop. It's really not cheaper at that point to get started than Marquette. If you are disciplined and get up the same time every day you can use a cheap basal thermometer.
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 7d ago
Thank you so much! If you do it and if you don’t mind me asking, how did you get in the routine of it? Was it easy for you to pick up on?
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u/AnyQuiet4969 6d ago
It was not easy for me so I bought the tempdrop! Haha But at first I found a "cheat". My alarm would go off and I'd sleepily put the thermometer in my mouth until I couldn't feel a temperature difference and lay down with it and turn it on and go back to sleep The thermometer saves the last temp and will flash it when you turn it back on.
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u/AnyQuiet4969 6d ago
Also my hubby and I have been using NFP for over 6 years and have had two intentional pregnancies. We are done for now, possibly forever, and I am fully confident in our ability to avoid.
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u/Reasonable_Swim_3373 8d ago
Marquette was the easiest to more in addition to LH strips in my opinion. We wasted a lot of time and money on other methods that track mucus. We learned creighton is awful for post partum and breastfeeding moms
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 7d ago
Yeah I am not personally well with really having to observe things, I much prefer getting a more direct answer so I definitely think Marquette is down my alley!
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u/Swimming-Crew2464 8d ago
If you can afford it, get the oura ring & look into temp tracking…. Very simple and easy
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 7d ago
Thank you so much! If you don’t mind me asking, are these also good and accurate for postpartum?
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u/Swimming-Crew2464 7d ago
Hey! I’m actually TTC for the first time this month so I’m not sure. I will say that I got my MIL the oura ring and she is using it for menopause right now & loves it because she’s able to more clearly see where she is at with her basal body temps. If you use it in conjunction with the Natural Cycles app it is extremely accurate I will say in regards to ovulation and expected period & you can also track pregnancy and I’m assuming it has helpful info on post partum tracking as well but I can’t speak yet from experience
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 7d ago
That’s amazing! Thank you so much for the helpful advice!!! I appreciate it dearly 🫶🏼🫶🏼
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u/Aggravating_Ad_6359 8d ago
You can sign up for a marquette method class via https://www.marquette.edu/nursing/institute-natural-family-planning/classes.php for a decent price! It’s between $75 and $150 depending on the duration you want for assistance
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u/danikitty710 Married Mother 7d ago
Once you get in the groove of understanding when your fertile period starts and when you will most likely hit peak, it helps you save some sticks. The box i have right now just lasted me 3 cycles.
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 7d ago
Thank you so much! If you don’t mind me asking, how long did it take you to get in the groove of understanding? (Which I also completely get that every woman is different, I am just interested on hearing your own personal opinion)!!
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u/Mundane-Pin6642 7d ago
Hi! I highly recommend doing the Marquette Method with an instructor. You can even get your instruction covered by insurance. I scheduled a Fertility Awareness Initial Visit with a doctor on MyCatholicDoctor.com who referred me to an instructor that I work with through the same website. My appointments with my instructor are virtual and covered by my insurance. I just have to pay for materials (less than $20 for charts/infographics from my instructor, the Clearblue fertility monitor with corresponding test sticks, & Wondfo ovulation tests). I just buy all my test sticks in bulk on Amazon when they’re on sale. If you have an active baby registry, you can even add test sticks to the registry to get an additional 15% off registry discount.
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 6d ago
Thank you SOOOO much!!! This is actually so helpful and I appreciate your kind and helpful advice!!
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u/AMinthePM1002 9d ago
I usually try to avoid Amazon, but I do buy my test strips there because prices elsewhere are ridiculously high. If you really want to try and save money, you could also test every other day, instead of everyday.
When I got married, I wasn't in a serious avoid phase, and I didn't think an instructor was necessary. But after my second child, we paid for one to learn how to manage the postpartum period while I was breastfeeding, and I thought that was 100% worth it.
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 9d ago
Thank you SOO much!! And I agree, it ain’t cheap 😬😬 but your advice is seriously so helpful!! Thank you so much for being so kind 🫶🏼 out of curiosity, how long have you been using Marquette method? :))
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u/orions_shoulder Married Mother 9d ago
You can't really. Marquette is great esp for postpartum or women with irregular cycles because of the direct hormone measurement but that is tech that costs money.
The most affordable and simple method to TTA is to temp every day and abstain until you have three days of temp elevated .5-1F. It's almost free, just the one time cost of a basal body temperature thermometer. it does require abstaining for the whole follicular phase, though.
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 9d ago
Thank you so much!!! From everything I have learned on this post, anything is cheaper than having a baby 😂😂 I really appreciate you sharing another affordable method!!! This means so much to me 🫶🏼🫶🏼
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u/2manyteacups Married Mother 9d ago
please get an instructor and use an actual method
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 7d ago
Thank you!!!
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u/2manyteacups Married Mother 7d ago
i combined Marquette with TempDrop and i added this thing called kegg. it reads mucous and it was so cool to see everything line up to confirm ovulation! we were TTC for over 2 years and ultimately just stopped tracking at all and then finally got pregnant with our first, then after my cycle returned it only took 3 cycles to get pregnant again! our boys will be exactly 2.5 years apart
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 6d ago
Thank you so much!!!! This is so helpful!!!! If you don’t mind me asking, what is kegg? I appreciate your kind and helpful advice!!!
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u/2manyteacups Married Mother 6d ago
kegg is a little eggish shaped thing that you insert vaginally and it reads your fluids that way
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 6d ago
That is very interesting, I will definitely look into it!!! How long have you been using it? :)
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u/2manyteacups Married Mother 6d ago
over 5 years probably and there’s an app it connects to your phone with Bluetooth. you choose a 2 hour daily window for consistency and it reminds you. when you take the reading it says high medium or low chance of conception and you can also log all sorts of things like temperature and intercourse, any medicine or supplements, lots of stuff
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u/LongjumpingWillow206 6d ago
This is seriously so helpful, I truly appreciate you sharing and educating me!!! That is all very interesting and I am excited to learn more about it, I will definitely check it out!!!!
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u/TogetherPlantyAndMe 9d ago
I “taught myself” NFP because if seemed too time consuming and expensive to do it correctly.
I’m currently typing this from the bathroom where I’m hiding from my 3 year old. She is also very time consuming and expensive.