Problems with NFP (Billings Method)

[Augustinian82]

Hi everybody,

I just started charting my cycles using the Billings method about three weeks ago prior to my wedding in September. I was recording “sticky” by examining the mucus with my hands but my teacher told me that I’m not supposed to be doing that. Apparently “sensation” at the vulva is first and “appearance” of the discharge second.

My problem is that although I’ve been paying attention, it is hard for me to record “sensation” at the vulva every day. I can detect when the vulva is really wet (close to the peak), but that is about it.

Did you have problems recording sensation at the vulva too? Any suggestions or tips?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Rach620]

I don’t use Billings, so I don’t have any specific advice, but I wanted to say that it’s great that you’re learning NFP before your wedding!

We’re using the Creighton Method, which has been explained to me as modified/standardized Billings. I have thought before that I’d never be able to chart the sensation at the vulva…I just don’t pay attention and need something a little more concrete. Creighton observations include the sensation while wiping the mucus across the perineal body, and then finger-testing it from the tissue. So there is no gray area of observation–each time you wipe you are able to categorize it. Maybe you’d be more comfortable with this method? I know you’re getting pretty close to your wedding, but it’s worth looking into!

God bless!

 

[Liberanosamalo]

The nice thing about Billings is there is no mistake about the examination of the cervical os. (Firm like the tip of your nose, closed, or squishy, like that area around your thumb when you make a fist and open.)

Internal examinations can be very helpful. You’ll eventually figure out that internal cm exams can warn a little earlier than external.

 

[ChristinaM]

Hi Augustinian,

Good for you that you are learning to chart so early on! Three weeks is not a long time. I am a Billings Method user too and it took me a few cycles to really become aware of the sensation at the vulva. It’s just something that takes time to learn, since it’s not something we pay attention to every day.

Something that may help is to be aware of the sensations when you have your menstrual period. I usually go through a pattern of sticky feelings (spotting) to very wet and slippery (heavy flow) to sticky again. This gives me kind of a basis of comparison for the fertile time, it may work for you too. I also pay attention to how the tissue slides across the vulva as I wipe after urinating. Is it completely dry, a little sticky, or does it just slide across with no resistance whatever? I look at the mucus on the TP too.

Billings Method discourages any internal observations so that is something you should be aware of, if you want to hew close to the Billings rules. I’m not sure if the TP observation is part of the official method either, but it works for me.

 

[armywife]

I go off of sensation AND a finger test off the TP, not internally because that can be misleading. I have a constant discharge so I just watch for “the change” when I’m fertile. It takes a few months, but eventually you’ll just know what the fertile mucus looks and feels like.

Good job for learning before marriage, my big problem was following through as newlyweds.

 

[Rach620]

Good job for learning before marriage, my big problem was following through as newlyweds.

Tell me about it! We’re getting married in two weeks and are constantly having the conversations about how closely we’re going to follow “the rules”…

 

[nfpworks]

Tell me about it! We’re getting married in two weeks and are constantly having the conversations about how closely we’re going to follow “the rules”…

This is the best thing about practicing NFP. . .the conversations! NFP promotes the best communication. My husband always says that if you can talk about sex, you can talk about anything!

My husband and I are Billings teachers. One analogy that I use for determining what you feel at the vulva (the sensation) is this: If you put just water on your hands and rub them together. . that is wet. If you put liquid soap on your hands with the water, that is slippery. And, if you take Elmer’s glue and let it semi-dry on your hands and then you put your hands together. . that is sticky.

The other thing is to not OVER analyze it. You go about your day and observe. When you obsess about it, it becomes difficult, etc. You know that saying. . a watched pot never boils. . .

Billings does NOT teach internal investigations of the cervix. And, once you get the hang of it, it’s just second nature.

My husband and I also learned before we got married (about 9 months before) and there were LOTS of conversations on the honeymoon as well.

 

[sylusovi]

This is the best thing about practicing NFP. . .the conversations! NFP promotes the best communication. My husband always says that if you can talk about sex, you can talk about anything!

My husband and I are Billings teachers. One analogy that I use for determining what you feel at the vulva (the sensation) is this: If you put just water on your hands and rub them together. . that is wet. If you put liquid soap on your hands with the water, that is slippery. And, if you take Elmer’s glue and let it semi-dry on your hands and then you put your hands together. . that is sticky.

The other thing is to not OVER analyze it. You go about your day and observe. When you obsess about it, it becomes difficult, etc. You know that saying. . a watched pot never boils. . .

Billings does NOT teach internal investigations of the cervix. And, once you get the hang of it, it’s just second nature.

My husband and I also learned before we got married (about 9 months before) and there were LOTS of conversations on the honeymoon as well.

 

[sylusovi]

Hi, this will be my first post so I’m not even sure if this is the way to do it but…here I go with my concerns:

I am also feeling lost with recording sensation at the vulva with the billings method. I am new with NFP and it seems very difficult to find teachers on our area… I chose the billings method by reading online; seems its the most indicated for postpartum?

Well since I do not know were am I at my menstrual cycle, because I don’t get my period each month since I am breast feeding our 2 1/2 month baby girl, its scary to me trying to learn NFP on our own and also without any clue of where am I at my cycle. Today I’m specially concerned, because for the first time since our daughter was born I noticed some discharge when I wipe my self, not so sure how to call it… slippery may be?

I am charting on a billings method website trial but not so sure of what I am doing; since I am not used to pay attention to vulva sensation; and to me there was not any type of discharge before today, since I stopped bleeding from post postpartum almost a month and a half ago.
I searched for teachers on CCL site but there is not any postpartum class on our area or on-line; but to me those are very expensive also; even if those where available I do not have that money to pay the class…
I will try to order the postpartum book, but I will love to have some advice.

Thank you.

 

[silentfactor80]

Also checkout the Marquette Method and Ovacue which both rely on fertility monitors. The technology takes some of the guess work out of it.