Note from Joy
These suggestions can be an effective way to prevent pregnancy but please note, they are not 100%. The only 100% true method of birth control is abstinence (NO SEX) which may not be what you want to hear! Also, there’s the calendar rhythm method. Enjoy this eye-opening post from Mary, a holistic nutrition student.
Hi everyone! Thanks Joy for inviting me back, so I know in my last post I spoke about all the The Truth About the Birth Control Pill. To recap the side effects of using the pill are; Infertility, Hormonal Imbalance, Lost Interest in Sex, they can alter your natural choice in a mate, Nutrient Depletion, Dry Vagina and Yeast Infections. Yikes that doesnt sound like fun does it?
Im going to share with you some holistic ways to keep from getting a little bun in the oven.
Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
This is done every morning before you do anything, even before you get out of bed, keep a thermometer beside you bed, stick it under your tongue and track your temperature.
Tracking your BBT allows you to track your ovulation and to make sure you are indeed ovulating. Before ovulation, a woman’s basal body temperature is usually about 97.0 to 97.5 degrees Fahrenheit, post ovulation temperatures are 0.3 degrees Fahrenheit higher than pre-ovulatary temperatures, and your temperature will probably stay elevated until your next cycle begins.
Checking your cervical fluid
This helps to determine when you are fertile, your cervix produces a fluid and at different stages of your cycle this fluid changes.
- During menstruation the fluid is sparse and dry.
- Around ovulation this fluid is more slippery like the texture of egg whites, this helps to move the sperm along to the egg.
- After ovulation the fluid becomes more sticky and opaque and acts as a barrier to the sperm so the little guys and gals cant make their way through.
Asides from the side effects of the birth control pill other reasons to use the BBT and cervical fluid method would be the icky things that are found in latex condoms and lubricants. Many women have found that they have allergic reactions to latex or even the lubricant that these condoms have on them already, look for condoms that are paraben and glycerine-free. Here are some points about what is used in the making of condoms and how they affect our lady parts:
- Many condoms companies manufacture their latex condoms using casein, this is a milk protein. Some condoms may also contain milk powder.
- Some condoms include the spermicide nonoxynol-9, which is a form of detergent. It kills sperm and STD-causing organisms/pathogens by agitating the outer barrier membranes of sperm and other cells. Frequent or high use of this spermicide can cause inflammation of the cervix and vagina, can potentially cause damage or destroy the skin cells in the vagina. These types of vaginal irritations may leave you more susceptible to urinary tract infections and STDs.
- Parabens, these have been found to function similar to the hormone estrogen and have been found to have an effect in the development and/or reproductive function such as low sperm counts, and are capable of producing a variety of toxic and physiological effects and have potentially been linked to increasing rates of breast, ovarian and testicular cancers.
- Glycerin is a sweet-tasting preservative that is often added to personal lubricants. It is processed in the body the same way that sugar is. When applied directly into the vagina during intercourse with a lubricated condom, the yeast found in the vagina feeds off of the glycerin. This can cause a disruption in the pH and an overgrowth of yeast, leading to a yeast infection.
Check out Sir Richards Condom Company they use 100% natural latex, and are vegan, paraben and glycerin free. There are also many apps out there for your phones for tracking your BBT and cervical fluid. So, have fun the natural, holistic way you were meant to!
You can find Mary on Twitter @MaryCammisuli
Check out Marys Blog: http://marycammisuli.wordpress.com/
16 thoughts on “Holistic Sex: Birth Control & Condoms”
Hi Joy and Mary,
Thank you for sharing this knowledge with me! I was wondering what your thoughts are on the copper IUD?
Thanks!
Leanna
Checking your temperature? I don’t think i’ve heard of a more irresponsible way to avoid pregnancy.
Your temperature is an indication of your hormone levels, estrogen and progesterone, so it can actually be quite an effective method. However, if you really don’t want to get pregnant, then following ALL of these methods. On the flip side, checking your BBT is really effective if you want to get pregnant by making sure you have sex during those prime times of your cycle. Perhaps this method is not for everyone, especially if you have imbalanced hormones then your BBT may not be the best indication.
Hi Leanna,
There are pros and cons to the IUD. I’ve had some clients with poor experience and some with a great experience. The best thing to do is research it for yourself, evaluate all the pros & cons and decide from there. For many, it can create inflammation and later need to be removed — that has been my personal experience from what I’ve gathered from clients. Also, for many, it makes their periods heavier, again.. I haven’t personally experienced it, nor would I get one, but this is what my clients have told me.
However, I know other nutritionists who swear by it and love it!
Sorry if that doesn’t help, but everyone is different.
Mary — thoughts?
I completely agree with you, Joy.
It’s the combination of all signs together that help make this method 99% effective. The third option is also to check your cervix position, as it becomes softer, moves higher and opens up a bit close to ovulation. Checking your BBT is a great way to check that you are indeed ovulating. But checking all 3 signals is best ;). Of course, as Joy mentioned, abstinence if the only 100% method. But this one comes pretty close and it helps you understand your body, which feels very empowering :).
For more information on natural holistic way to prevent & achieve pregnancy, I HIGHLY recommend this book: http://www.amazon.ca/Taking-Charge-Fertility-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0060881909
I have been married for 35 years and have three adult children I never used perscription birth control but on occasion used condoms. I don’t consider it luck that I never concieved any more children, I relied on my body to let me know when i was ovulating and my cervical fluids and if you pay attention to your body you to will be able to know the differences in your cervical fluids too . Thank-you Mary for your information
Hi Joy,
Thank you very much for your reply. I’ve been doing my research, reading up on a lot of the items you brought up, but I just wanted to see what your point of view was.
Thank you for insight!
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Thanks for your comment Kathy! It’s great that you were able to tune into your body’s cues.
I just noticed this in my news reader nearly two weeks after it was posted. Joy, maybe you can pass this comment on to Leanna.
I got a copper IUD last fall after researching and speaking to experts at a women’s clinic.
They say that you’re not a good candidate if your period is heavy and/or painful to begin with because the copper IUD tends to result in heavier and more painful periods. If you have relatively easy periods you’re an ideal candidate. This goes without saying, but make sure you’re not allergic to copper.
My personal experience after 6 months: Heavier periods, yes, but not as heavy as they were in the beginning. The first few periods were more painful than I was used to, sometimes so bad that I cancelled plans. For the first 5 months I had a week of light spotting before an actual 5-7 day period but I suspect that I’m past that too, since my period is due next week. My body seems to have an easier time with it now. I guess it’s adjusted.
The copper IUD is easily removed, it’s non-hormonal and it’s only $50 for 5 years of protection, so I say go for it and if you don’t like it/can’t handle it, have it removed. For me it was a godsend and worth the extra pain at the beginning. For someone in a cohabitation relationship for whom procreating isn’t on the life agenda, it’s a huge relief, and if you do want children some day – or before 5 years – I don’t think it has the lasting effects that hormonal birth control has.
If you’re in Toronto I can recommend an awesome women’s clinic.
RedTentSisters.com are based in Toronto, have tracking kits and loads of info, and do intro-workshops on the Justisse Method (which you’ve basically described in the post), AND they ship crazy-fast. I highly recommend them, and this approach.
Also: Sir Richard’s are THE BEST and the packaging is rad.
Hi joy, what brand is best for condoms and also what underwear is best?! Please answer thank you Xx
Oops sorry I found the brand for the condoms. Just really want to know what brand is good for underwear! Thanks
Hi Andrea!
Can you please provide me with the information on the women’s clinic?
I am looking into getting a copper IUD and would like to get some more information.
Thanks!
Thanks for that info! I have also been looking at the copper IUD…I thought it would cost a few hundred dollars though?
As nice as the ovulation tracking would be, it just doesn’t seem realistic to do that every day, and also I don’t see how you can be 100% sure of what days you can and can’t have sex with that…just too risky. I am off the pill now and looking for something else, hoping the copper IUD will work for me… I also heard It can cause acne though and that scares me a bit.
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