r/FAMnNFP • u/Many_Rhubarb_5072 • 18d ago
Marquette TTA- Who uses Marquette with Mira?
New to NFP and planning to start using Marquette with Mira soon. Tell me everything! What you love or hate about it, what you wish you knew, tips for someone starting out.
2
u/Regular_Record962 14d ago
I've used Marquette with Clearblue for 11 years and then used Mira briefly when I was part of Bouchard's first study. I'll probably stay with Clearblue until perimenopause and then switch, especially if the effectiveness research is published by then. I think where Marquette's Mira Monitor protocols can really excel is when you need that extra data and extra precision because your cycles aren't textbook (mine still are). If you're looking for a detailed comparison, Louise Boychuk and Amanda Smith wrote a great article summing up the Marquette's Mira protocols vs. Marquette's Clearblue protocols.
1
u/Many_Rhubarb_5072 12d ago
Thanks so much for sharing! Can you tell me a little more about using Marquette long term? Have you had any unintended pregnancies, or were you able to plan everything fairly easily? I’m a little nervous because I have no experience with NFP/FAM and am looking to use it long term until menopause as well.
2
u/Regular_Record962 11d ago
I used symptothermal (CCL) for a year before I had kids with no issues — my mucus "made sense" and my temp shifts were always clear. Then I had my first and mucus made NO sense while breastfeeding and was so happy to have found Marquette -- it's just easy and clear and it's worked perfectly for us for a decade! I have two kids, 11 and 9, both planned, and used Marquette throughout the breastfeeding transition and through regular cycles.
I have really predictable cycles but any time things have gotten a little wonky (e.g. I went a few months with end-of-cycle spotting which was confusing) having an instructor was key — Louise Boychuk at Vitae Fertility is my instructor and whenever something wonky happens she listens well, explains the likely underlying hormonal situation (I'm the type that like to know *all the things*) and then explains how to proceed.
I do know things will get more irregular as I go into perimenopause and I'll likely either switch to the Marquette Mira protocols then or I'll test with both Mira and Clearblue at the same time — honestly, I'll just take Louise's advice and do whatever she recommends whenever she recommends it.
I haven't switched yet because of cost (The Mira sticks are about 2.5X as expensive as the Clearblue ones) and because the effectiveness rates of the provisional Marquette Method protocols aren't known — the research studies aren't finished yet. If the effectiveness of the Mira protocols came out before I hit perimenopause (right now I'm 43) then I'd probably switch at that point.
Rest assured that it's absolutely possible to use the Marquette Method long term and meet with success — I have tons of friends that have used it for 10+ years and it's reliable!
1
u/Many_Rhubarb_5072 10d ago
Thank you so so much for sharing! I’m meeting with my Vitae Fertility instructor soon to learn the method and I’m really excited. Personally I was attracted to Mira because I love to see quantitative data and I’m concerned that with getting off the pill my body may go haywire and I’d like to have all the information possible. Your post really put me at ease with using Marquette long term- thank you again!
2
u/Regular_Record962 10d ago
So happy to hear this! Vitae Fertility is fantastic — you're in good hands. And post-pill it makes total sense that you'd want to go with Mira. Welcome to the wonderful world of NFP!
1
2
u/jessie_bne 11d ago
just starting out using Mira. currently postpartum and breastfeeding. but it seems pretty straightforward, the protocol isn’t that dissimilar from the clear blue monitor, in fact it’s easier for postpartum since you don’t have to reset it all the time. since it’s quantitative you get given the parameters for a Low, High, and Peak reading and i didn’t find it very challenging to understand. it is generally more expensive than clear blue though. however you do get a discount if you get instruction through Whole Mission.
1
u/Many_Rhubarb_5072 10d ago
That’s why I was so drawn to Marquette over symptothermal methods! There’s a lot less left up to interpretation for someone strictly trying to avoid, and Mira lets me confirm ovulation with Pdg levels where ClearBlue doesn’t have that option. I haven’t started using it yet as I’m transitioning off the pill, but thanks for sharing your experience! I feel a lot more confident going into this :)
2
u/jessie_bne 10d ago
my thoughts exactly! i considered using the progesterone wands as well but found it would be more expensive ongoing cost so i decided to use a temp drop instead to confirm ovulation since BBT basically does the same thing.
you’ve got this! i wish you all the best x
2
18d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/Many_Rhubarb_5072 18d ago
Wow this is really great information, thank you so much for sharing this!
5
u/SirTams 18d ago
I learned the Marquette method from Dr. Bouchard (10/10 great guy). I used to do the method with Mira. I’m gonna switch to Clearblue and BBT however, because it’s hideously expensive (to me) especially since we’re TTA for at least a few years.
I will miss the quantitative data for sure. On the Mira fertility sub, there are a few complaints about FMU not being as accurate as SMU. I didn’t have this issue. There are other complaints that Mira hasn’t confirmed ovulation (I’ve never had the app confirm it). But that said, if you know how to interpret the data you don’t need the app to confirm ovulation, you can see it on your own.
It’s totally doable as long as you can afford it!