Last weekend, I got together with a bunch of my girlfriends. The subject of birth control came up and I was reminded of how unhealthy and unnatural most of our options are. I am completely against the birth control pill, philosophically (what could be more unnatural than taking hormones daily–hormones that affect every cell in the body, not just those of the reproductive system!) and personally (the 4-month stint I had with the pill left me 10 lbs heavier and clinically depressed). After the birth of my first child, I tried a copper IUD. I thought this might be a good option as it’s hormone free. But it concerns me that doctors still aren’t certain of why it works and one primary theory is by causing inflammation of the uterus that prevents implantation. Does a chronically inflamed uterus sound like fun to anyone? I can say that my experience left much to be desired. My IUD hurt. It caused additional bleeding. And once it was removed, I had a little bit of trouble getting pregnant and staying pregnant, which my doctor adamantly pronounced had nothing to do with the IUD. But I’m still suspicious.
If hormonal methods of birth control are out, and so is the IUD, I suppose all that’s left is barrier methods. And alas, that’s what I’ve been using mostly. Condoms. But these aren’t without their faults too. I don’t like the waste (although let’s be honest, parents of two children don’t do it that often to produce much waste) and I’m not crazy about the spermicidal or lubricating chemicals. Not to mention the total mood-killing aspect of condoms. And how strange it feels as a married mother of two to be buying them at the store.
Well, there is still one other option. And I’ve never liked the idea of it, but after trying it for a couple of months, it really isn’t that bad. There’s charting. Keeping track of your cycle and the signals your body sends you when it’s about to ovulate, and avoiding sex during fertile times (or using something like condoms). I’ll be the first to admit that it sounds like a hassle. Who wants to take their temperature every morning? Or pay attention to cervical mucus each time you use the bathroom? But for me (and my cycle is pretty predictable), after keeping track of my fertility signs for a mere 3 months, I’ve found some significant patterns. And now I don’t have to pay as much attention. I take my temperature and note cervical mucus around the time of the month that I expect to ovulate, not all month long. During fertile times, sex is either avoided or condoms are used. But the beauty of this (and something I was completely unaware of until a couple years ago) is there is no chance of getting pregnant a couple days after you ovulate through when you expect your period. A beautiful week or more when you’re completely free of worry. High school sex ed left me thinking that right after my period, I was not fertile because ovulation was still far away. But that isn’t true at all. A little bit of reproductive education is enlightening and empowering.
So if you’re intrigued, I suggest you look into a book like Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It’s amazing to learn how loud and clear your body speaks to you when you bother to listen. I’m really impressed by the signs of fertility the female body gives off and how simple it is to read them. It’s also interesting to learn details about my body that I never knew–details I wish every girl was taught when they were young so they could better understand themsevles and their options.
