Hi

I'm really new to these forums, but I saw your thread and wanted to comment.....

The billings method IS reliable - as long as you stick to the rules. I charted my cycle for several months before using it and my hubby and I have used it successfully for over 2 yrs now. There are no predictions, everything is based on what you see and feel during the day, then you chart it at night on a day to day basis. You may reach the point that you don't have to acually write it down but my hubby found that charting each day on paper was useful to him - he felt involved, asked me at the end of each day "what today was" and that way he knew if we could or not. [btw. I know that's the "baby dance" symbol, but not in this case ]

Basically alternate nights (as you don't want his interferring with your mucus readings) are okay between the end of your period and any change in mucus/slipery sensation, even if you don't see a change. This first stage is variable on many things as ovulation is dependant upon your body producing enough hormones, which is variable on stress, illness etc. There are about 8 days in the middle of your cycle that you can't make love, slightly longer if you're super cautious and stop when you first see any change in mucus. At this stage, the enviroment is quite hospitable to sperm, nourishing and helping them survive which is why you need to abstain until 3 days after the mucus becomes transparent and stretchy. This is the turning point and after this stage the mucus will change again - not be stretchy, more like clag glue. Sometime in the next 12 or so hours ovulation occurs and if you call this non-stretchy mucus "day one" you can go for broke with your partner from the morning of "day 4". The egg lasts about 2-3 days after ovulation, hence the morning of 'day 4' is safe.

I realise that every woman's cycle can be different. This is a method that had been well studied across the globe, in different cultures, with women who have had all sorts of traumas relating to fertility and also for women who have been pregnant, breastfeeding, coming off the pill etc. There is a book: THE BILLINGS METHOD by Evelyn Billings & Ann Westmore. And if you google it, there may even be a centre near you that runs individual classes. Ours were put on by the Catholic (don't cringe) centre and were completely free of charge. The book is easily available too. It was Australians that first put this on the map. It is supported by science too. [link removed, please read guidelines]

Sorry for the extended post.... I hope this helps!?