How to do NFP when your wife's cycle is irregular?

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My cycles are very irregular and the one I learned works great. I recommend you learn the sympto-thermal method, where you chart temperature and cervical mucus, plus you can add cervical opening. Have her chart for a few months and she should get the hang of it. Normally the last phase of her cycle ( I think it’s called the luteal phase) is consistant (about 12 to 14 days until menses starts), so phase III (which is the last phase) will be easy to identify and it’s ideal for preventing pregnancy. It’s phase I and II that are more tricky and can be more irregular, but she’ll get the hang of it. From a secular perspective, I recommend the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It explains it all pretty well. But I do think taking a class through your diocese is best.
 
It doesn’t matter how irregular it is. You only need to know when she is fertile, and her body will show signs: fertile type mucus, temperature, and other changes. Take classes, and get a coach if you can. Then there is always a trained coach to answer your questions.
 
What do you mean by irregular? Cycle variation from woman to woman and even cycle to cycle for one woman is normal.

This is not an impediment to using natural family planning observations. You observe your signs of fertlity every day.

If you wife truly has abnormal cycles, then she needs professional medical assistance to diagnose and treat the problem. NFP observations will be a very useful tool in that process.
 
I would say sympto Thermal Method as well for the same reason.
 
I think I know what is meant by “irregular.” Mine were. It was rare, if ever, for me to be regular. I might go 45 days between cycles, or it might be a different number of days. This started about as soon as I started having my cycle at the age of 11. Not knowing any better (I wasn’t Catholic at the time, so NFP wasn’t available), I just accepted it for what it was. I don’t have that to contend with anymore. Next month marks 10 years of having had a hysterectomy. Also, I’m not married. If all that was the opposite, I would have contacted my parish about the classes for NFP. I know it’s rough, but hang in there.
 
There may be a misunderstanding in the initial question? My understanding is that NFP has developed BECAUSE women’s cycles can be irregular…otherwise the rhythm method would be all that’s needed. When your wife’s cycles are irregular, you “do NFP” by following the “rules” of whichever method you choose. 🙂
 
Lest people paint too rosy a picture, there ARE plenty of women for whom it is more difficult than average to discern the medical symptoms of fertility.

But posters so far are right to point out that NFP is totally unrelated to the number of days since your last period ended.

I do find it strangely unreal that humans can develop satellites, automobiles jetliners, computers, organ transplants and nuclear power, but suspect that we are unable to do what nearly all other mammal species can easily accomplish: discern the physical symptoms of the female fertile time. Sure we have poor smell and are easily distractable, but it really isn’t THAT complicated for women in generally good health. It’s the discipline that is usually hard, not the medical side.
 
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