Comments on: Green Birth Control and "Natural" Family Planning

By: Regina

Regina — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:58:00 +0000

We’ve been NFP people for a bit now. Normally, we’re “just go with it and if I get preggers, I get preggers” kind of people, but since starting the adoption process, we’ve (for the first time ever) been in a position of hoping to avoid it for a short while. Now, for me, hormonal birth control is a no-no. Not only do I hate the way it makes me fee, but I can’t get behind the method. It so drastically changes my body. And if I were to get pregnant, I wouldn’t want anything in my body that would put that life in danger. I don’t in ANY way judge people that use it, but I know it’s not for me. I have a latex allergy, so most condoms are no good for me either. (That and they kill the mood and diminish the intimacy factor for my hubs.) So…. I thought I would try this:
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=encare+spermicide&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=2013350145019913167&sa=X&ei=ShIwT6e8EYX9iQKypYXfCg&ved=0CEQQ8wIwAQ

I thought it would make me a bit “more” safe. Lemme tell you….. WORST MISTAKE EVER!!!! It’s been about two months now since the “incident” and I’m only just now feeling back to normal. I had the worst UTI in the world with bacteria that proved resistant to antibiotics. I hate using antibiotics in the first place, let alone two different kinds of great strength. It totally threw off my GAPS diet progress, completely altered my good bacteria balance, and my cycles have been wonky. Talk about a huge setback. All that to say, just stick with NFP. Not only is it totally natural, it won’t mess with your body’s natural rhythm, and it’s good to know your body well enough to spot potential issues when they are early on. I’m able to keep track of my thyroid function by watching my daily temps! It’s the best way to go. It takes some education to do it right, but it’s sooo worth it. Also a perk: When you do want to get pregnant, knowing your cycles so well will make it easier for you to know when your chances of being successful are highest. I’m looking forward to using it for that purpose. :)

By: Regina

Regina — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:58:00 +0000

By: nike soccer

nike soccer — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 01:46:00 +0000

Good, yours articles is very nice!

By: anonymous

anonymous — Wed, 04 May 2011 16:39:00 +0000

I’m all for NFP and I think as women we have a natural inclination to trust the method and our ability to use it, but unfortunately hubby is resolutely against it. He doesn’t trust it and has never been educated about it despite my attempts and trying to get him to study it with me. So in the interest of ever hoping to have sex again, he and I are going to have to be OK with condoms. I’m assuming, since natural rubber latex is plant-based, that it would biodegrade? Am I wrong?

By: abdecoteau

abdecoteau — Wed, 04 May 2011 12:42:00 +0000

We used FAM as well and have had 5 children over 12 years. We have been very successful with this method. All were planned except for the last one when I ovulated early. However, we were going to start trying again in a few months, so he was just a little earlier than we thought. The great things we found out about this method are that you become so in-tune with your body and its rhythms and also that when you do “try” it doesn’t take very long. Sad for my husband. haha. Our family is now complete and my husband recently had a vasectomy. Overall my mood and hormones were much happier without birth control pills.

By: Tessa

Tessa — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 17:35:12 +0000

Just wanted to chime in — I practice NFP (Billings Method) and love it so much, I’m getting certified as a professional instructor. Here’s a glimpse of its impact on love and relationships in 120 countries around the world, summarized from Dr. Evelyn Billings’ speech:

-In China, the government selected Billings as an official option for managing fertility. 40,000 Billings teachers were trained and there was a huge cultural shift in families once concerned with infertility, damaged reproductive systems from IUD’s, etc. – The abortion rate reduced seven-fold, and if followed correctly, Billings has a 99.1% effectiveness rate to avoid pregnancy and pregnancy rates were down to 1%.
-Blind women are successfully using and teaching Billings.
-People in HIV/AIDS ridden Malawi are practicing Billings.
-In Southern Tanzania, while the men get HIV/Aids education, women learn Billings, and there is increased fidelity among the couples. One man said, “I used to beat my wife, but now I love her. Something beautiful has happened in my country.”
-In the Philippines, Billings teachers are working with the poor, jail inmates, and all people. “I was about to leave my husband, but with Billings he respects me.”
-A woman from the Baha’i faith said, “It is so simple and can be taught anywhere. When following the rules of nature, you feel a deep sense of peace.”
-“I have learned more about female reproduction and fertility through the Billings Method than in medical school. I used to prescribe contraception, and those I did were exactly the ones coming back with abnormal pap smears and STDs. I thought, something’s wrong here.” – Dr. Lydia Dennis

After 50 years of medical research on the Billings Ovulation Method, women’s charts are being used as diagnostic tools for health and fertility problems. With obesity, PCOS, infertility, and Vitamin D deficiency on the rise, “when one correctly diagnoses the ovarian dysfunction and corrects the underlying metabolic disorder, the Billings chart reflects the progress made and aids in adjusting therapy. Over 90% of women with irregular cycles has a problem which can and should be treated” without having to use artificial contraception. -Dr. Pilar Vigil.

Read her book too: http://boma-usa.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=6

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:43:46 +0000

I too have pcos and wanted to know, how are you able to track you cycle. I feel like what is the point since I now that I am not ovulating. Even though I have a period every month. If you could offer any advice from one cyster to another. I would be awfully grateful.

By: Dustin | Engaged Marriage

Dustin | Engaged Marriage — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:49:36 +0000

I just wanted to chime in to let you know that I just found this post and really appreciate it! I really enjoy your perspective in embracing NFP as a natural method first, instead of seeing it only as a religious issue as so many promoters do.

I actually just added my first NFP-specific post on my own site, which is aimed at having a great marriage. I plan to write many articles on the topic as it is a passion for my wife and I.

Although we are proud Catholics, my goal is to promote NFP to a larger audience so most of my NFP posts will not be “religion-specific.” Instead, I want to share our personal journey to NFP, the benefits it brings to marriage, the health and environmental benefits, etc.

Again, thank you for a great post and for generating a wonderful discussion in your comments section.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:05:43 +0000

The birth control pill. Yaz, has been linked to life-threatening side effects such as strokes, blood clots, and heart attacks. Since 2004, at least 50 deaths have been reported in women taking Yaz and contraceptives made with similar ingredients. There is more information on this disturbing problem at http://www.yaz-may-cause-strokes.com/.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:41:18 +0000

It amazes me how people who want to live natural lives (diet, green living etc.) cop out completely when it comes to what is natural in regards to bearing children. What is natural is to use no birth control. Let nature take its course and be blessed with the children you receive. Semen how many health benefits for the vaginal tract. Any time we alter the bodies natural function, we create set up a potential disease state.. Cutting the vas defrens (in vasectomy) is not natural.

By: Carrie at NaturalMomsTalkRadio

Carrie at NaturalMomsTalkRadio — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:45:29 +0000

I spoke with the inventor of Cycle Beads for those who might be interested, the link is above with my name.

I used the cervical cap for about 3 years and didn’t conceive. It is more popular in Europe and doesn’t require use of spermicide, but it is hard to find someone in the states who can fit you for one. I loved it and will be getting another soon since I recently got remarried.

By: Janel

Janel — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:58:54 +0000

Thank you so much for this article. I also practice NFP and took it as a Catholic when we were engaged. I think NFP has gotten a bad rap because of the old rhythm method and because of the strict Catholic way of teaching it, but I agree that it is much better than chemical alternatives.

Thanks again!

Also, I’m getting started on an environmental health column and would love to swap stories every once in a while. I’m currently working on an article about coloring hair with henna. I don’t think I will ever go back to boxed or pro color.

By: Vivian Jane

Vivian Jane — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:50:11 +0000

I am so happy that the topic of natural birth control and fertility awareness method is being discussed. I was disturbed recently to see Kevin Gianni of the Renegade Health Show (which I normally love) telling viewers that the only two green methods were withdrawal and condoms. Today I had my copper IUD (Paraguard) removed after a year of progressively more painful and irregular periods. There was nothing cyclical about my menstruation! Also, my sex drive has suffered tremendously. These things don’t happen to everyone, but they dramatically affect quality of life for those of us (and our partners’) who do experience them. We discussed vasectomy as an option, but neither of us would choose (even minor outpatient) surgery over a less invasive, non medical alternative.

My personal plan is to use FAM with the symptom tracking chart and a diaphragm. We’ll probably rely on the fertility testing strips for the first couple of months while we gain confidence in our ability to recognize the signs of ovulation. If I find fertility testing indispensable, I have no qualms with investing in one of the monitors such as LadyComp.

I am just so relieved and excited to be at the end of my search for birth control. I have tried everything and ended up at square one. Wouldn’t it be great if we began to pass this knowledge of and reverence for our cycles on to our daughters and future generations instead of the barrage of complicated contraception choices we were taught to contemplate as young women? I look forward to the day. Let’s all see what we can do to spread the popularity of seizing our personal power.

By: Janet

Janet — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:34:27 +0000

Amy,
I also have PCOS and have successfully used NFP for the past 9 1/2 years (avoid and achieve pregnancy). We use the Creighton Model and after 3 cycles I could use yellow stamps which mark days of mucus but not my fertile mucus. A sympto thermal method (taking your temperature and checking mucus) would give even more feedback. Couple to Couple league is a good resource. I think having training is very helpful since they are scientific methods (not hard to understand but you understand it better when knowing the “why”).
The biggest help though was being able to manage my PCOS through diet and exercise. South Beach Diet and Sugar busters were two diets I looked at to figure out “healthy” for me. I still have long cycles but they have become consistent in length, within a week of each other.

Hope that helps!

By: Amber

Amber — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:43:48 +0000

As always, you’ve caused me to think outside the box. This has been an issue for us for some time. I’m against chemical birth control (for myself) and am leaning towards a diaphragm. I always stayed away from NFP b/c i think i could get pregnant if i sat on a couch someone’s had sex on in the last 10 years; ds was conceived early in my cycle, dd was late in my cycle–both were in the first month of trying. But you’ve prompted me to do some research. Thanks for all you do!

By: Jaimee

Jaimee — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:40:51 +0000

What do you recommend for your 17 year old daughter who just became sexually active? As far as I know a condom is being used but I am concerned for her safety of disease and prevention of pregnancy. The charting methods do not seem likely for a teenager nor should she be without condom.
I do not want her on hormones (I as a teenager, never liked them). Any suggestions?

By: Carla

Carla — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:53:11 +0000

I was going to go with the copper IUD but decided not to because I don’t want to deal with heavy, painful periods (I’ve experienced enough of that in my life). Sterilization may be an option but we don’t have kids so I’m not sure how doctors would respond to that.

By: Dr. Josh Axe

Dr. Josh Axe — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:50:30 +0000

Birth control pills are definitely something you want to stay away from. They raise estrogen levels in your body and carry with them a long list of potential harmful side effects like weight gain, mood swings, migraines, yeast overgrowth and an increased risk of cancer. They also create nutrient deficiencies in your body.

I am definitely a proponent of the NFP method you described.

By: Batrice Adcock

Batrice Adcock — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:48:41 +0000

Rachel, I want to let you know that you can definitely use symptoms-based modern NFP methods to easily track your signs of fertility, even with irregular cycles while breastfeeding. If you go to, http://nfp.marquette.edu/index.php
and click on “Protocols for Special Circumstances”, you’ll see a couple of sections on the left that would be helpful: “Return of fertility after child birth” and “Breastfeeding protocol for mucus”. You can use this site too, to learn about how to monitor your primary sign of fertility, your mucus.

It is common to have very light periods and irregular cycles as your cycles begin to regulate postpartum. They may continue to be irregular for awhile, because you are still breastfeeding. But, that is okay, because this method (and most modern NFP methods) rely on daily observations of fertility signs. It takes some effort at first to learn about the signs of fertility and how to monitor them, but it is worth it! IT can become second nature.

Best!

By: rachel

rachel — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:03:01 +0000

Thanks to some of the commentors for the great links! I’ve researched NFP a few times and decided against it, but have decided to research further. I have a very irregular cycle and have had an extremely light period only twice since my son was born 15 months ago (still breastfeeding), so I don’t think the calendar method will work for me. Hopefully tracking symptoms isn’t a hassle. Man would we love not to use condoms anymore!