Marquette University | Natural Family Planning

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Breastfeeding protocol
for fertility monitor

Breastfeeding protocol
for mucus

NFP and long cycles

NFP and short cycles

Perimenopause

NFP after using
hormonal contraception

Stress

Vaginal Hygiene
and Vaginal Infections

Premensteual Syndrome (PMS)

Continuous Mucus
and Other Body Fluids

Management of
Continuous Mucus

Return to fertility
after child birth

Medical referral
for women's health problems

NFP and unusual bleeding

NFP After Hormonal Contraception

Many women for health, medical, psychological, spiritual or other reasons decide to no longer use a hormonal form of contraception and switch to natural family planning. While coming of the Pill, Depo-Provera, or other hormonal contraceptives is usually no problem from the standpoint of using NFP, there are a few things that a woman should know that will make the experience easier. First of all, you should realize that the hormones contained in these form of contraception might take some time to clear from your body. For this reason we recommend that women who are trying to achieve pregnancy wait for at least three cycles before doing so. Until they do, their menstrual cycles will be somewhat variable with the return of the signs of fertility in particular cervical mucus signs. The injectable forms of contraception (i.e., Depo-Provera) take longer than the oral forms to clear the body, thus the variations may last longer. Things the woman should know about the return to fertility are:

•	Wait a minimum of 3 cycles before attempting to conceive.
•	Variability in the return of mucus and cycles is not unusual (see continuous mucus and short cycle protocols or long cycle protocols)
•	Vaginal spotting may occur (see unusual bleeding protocol)
•	The first ovulation can be very painful.

THE BEGINNING OF FERTILITY:
1.	Fertility BEGINS on day 6 of the first 6 cycles.
2.	After 6 cycles, fertility BEGINS on the earliest day of "peak" type mucus during the last 6 cycles minus 6 days or the first "high" mucus reading - whichever comes first.

THE END OF FERTILITY:
1.	Fertility ENDS on the last "peak" day of cervical mucus plus 3 full days.
2.	After 6 cycles, fertility ENDS on the last "peak" day of the last 6 cycles plus 3 full days, or the last "peak" day of cervical mucus plus a count of 3 full days - whichever comes first.

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