Do not have intercourse or genital contact or use withdrawal during the fertile window – i.e., from the first day of fertility through the last day of fertility. The length and time of the fertile window will vary from cycle to cycle. Couples who are using the CEFM as an aid to avoiding pregnancy will be asked to refrain from intercourse on all "high" and "peak" days and to use the following instructions for determining the fertile window.
1. |
Fertility BEGINS on day 6 of the first 6 cycles. |
2. |
After 6 cycles, fertility BEGINS on the earliest day of "peak" during the last 6 cycles minus 6 days or the first "high" reading on the monitor - whichever comes first. |
3. |
Fertility ENDS on the last "peak" day on the monitor plus 3 full days. |
4. |
After 6 cycles, fertility ENDS on the last "peak" day of the last 6 cycles plus 3 full days, or the last "peak" day on the monitor plus a count of 3 full days - whichever comes first. |
These instructions are to be used only for those women who have cycles between 22 and 42 days in length. If there are two or more cycles that fall out of that range or the menstrual cycles vary by more than 10 days, see your professional NFP teacher for advice.
Women who are coming off of hormonal contraception, who recently were pregnant, or who recently stopped breastfeeding should wait until they have at least 2 natural menstrual cycles in a row before using the monitor. There is a separate protocol for women who are breastfeeding and who are not in cycles.
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