Have you considered monitoring your fertility as closely as you do your finances? If the concept seems unfamiliar, let's delve into the world of natural family planning methods, a vital component of understanding and managing your fertility without relying on hormonal interventions.
From puberty to menopause, your body undergoes a monthly preparation for potential pregnancy. By observing certain indicators, such as body temperature and mucus quality, you engage in what's known as "charting" or utilizing natural family planning methods. This approach encompasses various strategies, including the Billings and Creighton methods, allowing you to track your fertility as an effective form of nonhormonal birth control.
Seeking Alternatives to Birth Control
My personal journey away from hormonal birth control began after a health scare in my teens, leading me to explore natural family planning methods. The side effects of birth control affected not only my athletic performance but also my emotional well-being. It was only in my mid-twenties that I realized there were alternatives to hormonal birth control that could offer a solution without the side effects.
NOTE: Just because birth control isn’t for me, doesn’t mean that it's not right for someone else. I just think women should have the right to choose, especially since there are alternative options available.
It's crucial to acknowledge that while hormonal birth control may not be suitable for everyone, it can be the right choice for some. The key is to ensure women are informed about all available options, including natural family planning methods, to make the best decisions for their health and bodies.
Natural Family Planning Methods: A Path to Understanding Your Body
Delving into natural family planning methods has been a revelatory experience for me. By charting my cycle, I've gained insights into the nuances of my body's rhythms and signs that may indicate hormonal imbalances or other issues affecting my menstrual cycle. These observations can be crucial for women experiencing irregularities, providing a foundation for addressing these concerns with targeted strategies.
If you have normal, healthy periods, that's a beautiful thing. But if you don’t, charting can help you pinpoint the underlying causes and come up with a plan of action.
Here are some signs which may indicate that something is off with your cycle:
They last longer than 35 days
Days of brown bleeding at the start of your period
Bleeding between periods
Irregular periods
Really, really painful cramps (to the point where it's hard to function)
The Broad Appeal of Natural Family Planning Methods
The decision to explore natural family planning methods is often associated with religious preferences, but its benefits extend far beyond. By incorporating education on natural family planning methods into health curriculums, we can empower young women with knowledge about nonhormonal birth control options, enabling them to make informed choices about their reproductive health from an early age.
If you're interested in learning more about natural family planning methods, consider discussing this approach with your gynecologist or OBGYN. With the advent of apps and software designed to assist in charting your cycle, adopting natural family planning methods has become more accessible than ever.
Still have questions about getting started? Take the first step by scheduling a consultation call with me to learn how you can begin to rewrite the future of your fertility.
