Computer Program Tracks Woman's Cycle - NFP

Arlington Catholic Herald ^ | 2/9/06 | Angela E. Pometto

[klossg]

Say goodbye to diaries — those small books with breakable locks that little brothers could easily get their hands on.

Today’s women have computer programs that help them track their most cherished secrets. Women practicing Natural Family Planning (NFP) can throw away their paper charts and store that information in their palm pilot. And there is no worry about this sensitive information falling into the wrong hands — with the click of a button, the intimate details of a woman’s life can be protected by a password.

Woman Calendar, a program by BEIKS LLC, is a simple program that any couple can navigate. The calendar is basically an electronic journal of a woman’s cycle that includes options to chart such obvious signs such as menstruation, basal temperature and mucus, as well as noting days with doctor’s appointments, potential PMS and cramps.

When entering data into the system, the program automatically predicts when a woman’s fertility will peak and when she should expect her next menstruation. Although this is not always a guaranteed prediction, when added to the couple’s interpretation of the data, the computer’s estimate can be helpful.

After recording one cycle, the program converts the information into printable charts. Charts display the length of each cycle, the temperature changes by month, and the temperature changes and physical observations by cycle.

NFP couples are not the only people who can benefit from the program. It is also helpful for single women who may need to track their cycle for health reasons.

The program is available in several different formats including Desktop, Palm OS and Pocket PC.

According to Dr. Richard Fehring, professor of nursing science and director for the Institute of Natural Family Planning at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., computer programs are often helpful for women who are “technically oriented.” “It’s very organized and more clear,” he said. But to some degree, Fehring believes it may be more work for a woman to enter their information into a computer instead of using an already simple paper chart system. “You shouldn’t need a computer.”

There are many programs now on the market that offer varied features, such as the ability to send in the chart for professional consultation. “Most charting systems are not any more accurate,” Fehring said, adding that it’s still important for a couple to read the signs.

For more information or to download the program, go to BEIKS LLC Woman Calendar.

[Petronski]

Here's the blurb for "MyGirls" from your link:

Tiny tool that displays information about women, depending on their female cycle. Once you have entered the current day of her cycle, it always shows you if/when she has her menstruation, when the ovulation is/how probable it is that she gets pregnant, and how big the PMS effect currently is. Can handle multiple women ;)

LOL

[VRWCmember]

Like any guy needs a computer to track his wife's cycle. I wonder if the think comes with a PMS Alert.

[VRWCmember]

What did you have to do by hand? (And was that just certain days of the month?)

[xsmommy]

keep track of the INFO you perv! warn't no fancy computer programs back then ; )

[RockinRight]

True. Of course, when the woman in question is with me...their buttons appear more like the top one... ;-)

[xsmommy]

i am in continual mourning for the loss of that fantastic pic you had of me for the PMS alert! that was the classic of all time!

[RockinRight]

I am almost afraid to ask for clarification of what that meant...

[xsmommy]

LMAO, vast wasn't!

[RockinRight]

Whoops...figured it out.

You gotta admit...pinging TO the particular post you did would bring questions!1

[Mike Darancette]

Didn't need a computer, my wife's recurring monthly interest in fondling sharp implements and looking at me balefully was all the warning I needed.

[klossg]

Funny that doctors and engineers are just coming to grips with a woman's fertility cycle in order to make a computer program like this ...

We landed on the moon ~ 37 years ago, cured polio ~ 55 years ago, did the first open heart surgery 60 years ago, flew an air plane 98 years ago...

And here we are just starting to really understand when a "woman is fertile!" It's not like women weren't there all along, having babies. Or we weren't aware what caused pregnancy. How can we still get away with saying "This was a surprise pregnancy??!!!"

Did you know that the human egg only lives about 24 hours. That means sperm has to be there only one day out of the month or a women cannot become pregnant. How can a pregnancy be "surprising" when satellites are orbiting the earth beaming cable TV programs and providing your exact location +/- 1 foot. Why married people, in the year 2006, rely on contraception when a woman's body/personality/health provides easy to read signs ... is beyond me.

Especially when the pill crushes a woman's libido. I mean women are naturally less "horny" than men anyway. It is hard enough to match up "the mood." But, then we toss the pill at her ... when we could just get to know her a little better, read her signs and abstain a few days a month. Contraception seems like using a bazooka to get rid of a rabbit. Instead we could just pick up the cute little cuddly rabbit and move it out of the way. Who needs bazooka holes and shrapnel all over the yard (especially when it is your sex life). Then again I may be slightly off, seeing this as if it were easier than calculating all the equations to make Apollo 11 possible back in the 1960s.

[xsmommy]

there is the great email that makes the rounds about what looks attractive to women, with the punchline that during PMS, men look good to women, with scissors sticking out of their skulls!

[Tax-chick]

Did you know that the human egg only lives about 24 hours. That means sperm has to be there only one day out of the month or a women cannot become pregnant.

But sperm can live 3 or 4 days in the right conditions, so there's a "window" of 3-5 days around ovulation when conception can occur.

I agree that any time a man and a woman engage in sexual intercourse, they can't realistically claim to be "surprised" if pregnancy occurs. That's, like, the whole point, from a natural-selection standpoint.

[Dianna]

I agree that any time a man and a woman engage in sexual intercourse, they can't realistically claim to be "surprised" if pregnancy occurs. That's, like, the whole point, from a natural-selection standpoint.

Sure, but I find it a little odd that we women aren't taught how to detect our fertile periods until there is a problem or if we seek out natural family planning methods. If I had a daughter, I'd certainly explain to her what I learned during my bout with infertility.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

...when a woman's body/personality/health provides easy to read signs ... is beyond me.

Not all women are as "easy to read" as others.

I'd have better luck doing the calculations to make Apollo II possible.

[klossg]

But sperm can live 3 or 4 days in the right conditions, so there's a "window" of 3-5 days around ovulation when conception can occur.

Yes that is right! You are completely right. Didn't mean to imply that just like men, sperm don't think one day is enough! Those "little-men" hang around for up to 3 days and in some rare cases up to 4 days!

And as you said NFP uses the "5 day window" rule to be darn sure! Only smart to make sure when you want to be sure!

As you implied: Before the egg is "launched", like Apollo 11, there is the 5 day sperm-can-live window. And I agree with you that it still doesn't make knowing when a woman is fertile ... comparable to open heart surgery or landing on the moon or flying a jet at 8 times the speed of sound.

[sauropod]

Oh joy. I have a pre-teen daughter.

She ain't gettin' no palm pilot!

[arizonarachel]

There's actually a few other sites, too...I personally used http://www.pregnancy.org to track my cycle, and plan on using it again in the future.

[klossg]

Not all women are as "easy to read" as others.

You are right. No two women are the same and that is why the crusty old method of Rhythm or even the crust old method of Rhythm combined with "taking the woman's temperature" didn't work for a hill of beans!

But with today's NFP and/or this program even women who have wacky/long/erratic cycles can easily chart their signs and get the same amount of abstain time as a set-your-clock-by-her "regular" woman. Today's NFP reacts to stress or sicknesses in every woman's life. Only addition and subtraction needed. No calculus, trigonometry, particle theory, physics or chemistry needed - like the moon program or PhD and operating room - for open heart surgery.

[avg_freeper]

I have a quick method of determining if someone has seen the main international NFP video series.

All I have to do is hold one hand out and slowly bring my index finger together with my thumb and then apart and then together again.

If they start laughing uncontrollably I know they've seen the video.

Not a jab against NFP just kinda' an inside joke. (rain cloud)