Read Part 1: The Pill: Sex, Drugs and Mood Swings
Read Part 2: The Pill: Sex, Drugs and Mood Swings
Before I go on to talk about my fave and most natural method of birth control, I did want to dabble a little in a recipe for The Pill should you want to cook up your own. Now, because I have this near obsession about what goes into my body and what things are made of, I was curious as to what cocktail I had been consuming for seven years.
Birth Control Pill Ingredients
Um… Well… I couldn’t find any. I did find an outline of The Pill manufacturing that describes a process known as the wet granulation method where the ‘active ingredients’ (powders containing synthetic versions of estrogen and progestin) get mixed with a dilutant and a disintegrant (the products enable the powders to dissolve in liquid) in a large mixer. This is where solutions carrying a binding agent are mixed into the moistened powder mass. This powder mass is forced through a mesh screen and then placed on shallow trays covered with large sheets of paper and placed in drying cabinets. This goodness than gets lubed up with a fine powdered lubricant and is screened onto the dried material (known as dry granulation). The lubricant and dry granulation are then mixed and tablets are formed from the mixture.
So what we have here is a combination of synthetic hormones, a dilutant, a disintegrant, a binding agent, and a lubricant cocktail- all unnamed, all unnatural. The opposite of healthful or healthy.
So how about not taking it? Yes, I know, you don’t want to get pregnant. Me neither! I also don’t want to be Miss Cranky Pants Big Bottom Bearded Lady with my mood swinging from here to Timbuktu in the blink of an eye causing all men in my life to run for cover.
If you are in a relationship-like-situation where no barrier method (condom) is needed to protect you from STDs and you have finally decided to let your body just be and get off hormone supplements, there are options. Oh, are there ever and wouldn’t you know it that they are effective, if we suck it up and take proper responsibility rather than leaving it all up to a pill. Not only do they keep us from getting knocked up, but they also give us no choice but to get in touch with our cycle. Please do keep in mind that this method is not for everyone and may not be right for you, all depends on your routines, lifestyle and all that.
Now, allow me to explain. With the right tracking, you don’t have to abstain (no fun in that really) or use the withdrawal method (how good are the guys at that anyway?) or any other pseudo-form of faux-birth-control. See, a woman’s egg can live for only 24 hours and healthy sperm can live for up to five days. That means, there are only five, maybe six days out of the month where we can get knocked up. All we have to do is pay attention to the signals from our body. Imagine that? Paying attention to what our body is telling us! Simply monitoring our health without a pharmaceutical.
So then, short of getting our men snipped, the natural method involves three things: body temperature, cervical fluid and cervical position.
Waking Temperature (also known as basal body temperature): This is easy peezy. Wake-up, stick a thermometer under your tongue, track your temperature. Though your temperature may very slightly, following ovulation (usually around day 14 of your cycle), the waking temperature will increase and remain elevated. Charting temperatures makes it very easy to see the shift and thus determine when ovulation has occurred. My fave tool for tracking temperature is MonthlyInfo.com. Now there are a few reasons that we want to know when the egg is dropping. For one, it’s good to know that we are in fact ovulating. Another bonus is that if we experience delayed ovulation, this will result in a late period. So our period can be late without us getting freaked. And hip, hip hooray is that after ovulation we can do it without concern of getting preggers. Now- don’t go having free and easy love straight away. You do want to know your cycle a bit and also want to make sure your temperature stays elevated. Wait about three days after initial spike. Basically this means that the first 8 days of your cycle are safe, as are the last 12-14 or so. The rest of the time, just use other precautions.
Cervical Fluid. Now this I found really cool. The cervical fluid that we produce, is same same to the seminal fluid of men. The cervical fluid is designed to provide a happy home for the sperm so they can make their way to the egg. This cervical fluid, however, changes throughout the cycle. Right after our periods, the cervical fluid is dryer and more sparse. During fertile times, just before ovulation, it is most abundant, more viscous, slippery and stretchy like egg white. It actually forms these little channels to help sperm swim along. After ovulation, the cervical fluid becomes thicker, more opaque and actually serves to block sperm.
Cervical Position. Did you know the cervix moves? This is not one I have ventured into personally, but the theory goes that around menstruation, the cervix will be firm, low, closed and drier. Then, around ovulation, the cervix will be soft, high, open and wet- a flashing welcome sign for baby making.
This method, obviously, is also super effective for tracking fertility when trying to make wee little ones.
I am not about to suggest that my little guide above is enough for you. I simply wanted to introduce you to the most natural, easy, and reliable method I know of.
Some fantastic and far better than me resources include:
- The book Taking Charge Of Your Fertility and Taking Care of Your Fertility Website
- The Justisse Method website where you can find a trainer in your area
- The Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research has some great info too
- The Red Tent Sisters offers fantastic individual and group coaching.
- Eco Sex offers great ethical contraception options (plus eco-friendly toys).
- Naturally For Her provides all sorts of natural contraceptive solutions.
- Monthly Info is a great and free online temperature calendar.
- Fertility Friend allows you to track cervical fluid along with waking temperature.
- Natural Methods provides computerized tracking devices.
Happy baby-free, pill-free sexing!
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Hey Meghan,
I am definitely planning to come off of this nasty pill after all you have shared! Just wondering if there is anything I can now or after I have come off the pill to ease my hormones back into balance and prevent some of the not so pleasant side effects.
Thanks- you are such a wealth of knowledge!
Great post. It’s funny, I know I am one of many women who never really understood all the signs of fertility like cervical fluid, cervix positioning…. until we tried to get pregnant! Taking Charge of your Fertility is an awesome book, but we should all be reading it when we DON”T want to get pregnant as well as for when we are trying to conceive. Our bodies shouldn’t be such a mystery to us!
Thanks for the books recommended. I am definitely reading them.
Great posts, Meghan! Do you have any advice for women who don’t take the pill for birth control, but to control heavy and very painful periods, beard growth, ovarian cysts and so on? I tried going off the pill, but I was absolutely miserable and wound up on the floor sobbing with pain every time I got my period – *if* I got my period. My cycles were up to 100 days. Not to mention the beard, the psycho lady stuff (which I became when I went OFF the pill) and the painful cysts. I tried to find solutions, but every doctor I ever talked to said that the pill is the only thing that helps. I don’t have the money to see a naturopath. Do you have links or books you could recommend?
Hey Meghan,
Here is the list of ingredients for the majority of birth control products on the North American market.
http://www.birthcontrol.com/search.aspx?prodcategory_id=19&group_id=1
Just click the link of whatever product you are taking and you can will be taken to a second page listing the ingredients, the manufacturer and whatever side effects the drug has.
IE. Tri- Previfem (Ortho Tri-Cyclen in Canada)
click here: http://www.birthcontrol.com/product_display.aspx?productid=198
Made up of – Chemical Name: NORGESTIMATE (nor-JES-ti-mate) and ETHINYL ESTRADIOL (ETH-in-il ess-tra-DYE-ole)
you can then wiki the chemical names to get a better understanding of the drugs.
ie. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethinyl_estradiol
For those reading Meghan’s blog please don’t misunderstand this post.
I think Meghan does great work in informing the public on ways to increase their health.
But for those of you who are not in a position (or are unwilling) to give up your pill – you should look to be on the one that is best suited for you.
Or even the method that is best for you – as this site lists all contraceptives not just the pill.
For my own disclosure – I have been off the pill for at least ten years now and not missed it a day.
(I use condoms both the male and female variety, and occasionally the vaginal film that is available).
I agree with Meghan there is serious concerns when you have your body floating in chemicals for the bulk of your fertile years for something as simple as not getting pregnant.
Particularly since there are a wealth of other methods on the market to stop that event, that are far less taxing on our systems.
Education is the key ladies…if you take the pill – know what your taking ~ understand the risks and/or benefits.
Be responsible for your health.
As Meghan can attest – it truly is the most valuable thing you own.
Stina,
Meghan’s Lunar Cycle tutorial recommends using supplements to regulate the hormones and all the ills that you complain of… it helped me for sure, check it out!
One of my fav. SNL skits, thought you might like it: http://www.hulu.com/watch/10234/saturday-night-live-annuale
Hi Meghan,
This site lists the main chemical components to their pill but every manufacturer has to list their ingredients.
If you go to the web site of the manufacturer you can download a .pdf product insert for the drug.
In this case Tricyclen_E is made by Janssen-Ortho – the pdf is here:
http://www.janssen-ortho.com/JOI/pdf_files/Tricyclen_E.pdf
Pages 26 – 29 describe the chemical makeup of the pills they offer for this series.
To answer your question specifically – page 28 under (ii) Composition.
your welcome ;>
Thank you Brigitte. I must admit that I was a little surprised to see that Dr. Sellman has a Doctorate in Naturopathy and is not an MD. Personally, I had expected that someone writing a book about how to …”Protect Their Daughters from Breast Cancer” would be an oncologist.
Meghan – I would be curious to know your thoughts on the following report done by the National Cancer Institute. Are these studies not credible? Should we not trust them? Thanks.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/aspartame
A couple of key points from the study:
A study of about half a million people, published in 2006, compared people who drank aspartame-containing beverages with those who did not. Results of the study showed that increasing levels of consumption were not associated with any risk of lymphomas, leukemias, or brain cancers in men or women.
Researchers examined the relationship between aspartame intake and 1,888 lymphomas or leukemias and 315 malignant brain cancers among the participants of the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study from 1995 until 2000. Development of these cancers was not associated with estimated aspartame consumption, refuting a recent animal study with positive findings for lymphomas and leukemias and also contradicting claims regarding brain cancer risk.
oOo! I’m so looking forward to your post tomorrow about diet & herbal supplementation! I can’t wait to pass this info along to friends! All my lady friends (we’re all in our twenties) set our cell phones to the same time to pop our pill nightly. I’m looking forward, sorta, to seeing the reaction I get when I tell them that I’m going off the pill and just self-monitor my lady-parts. Ha!
Susanna,
Information is education.
I am just presenting information for you consider ~ as is Meghan.
Your job is to filter it best for your lifestyle.
“on great big answer to cancer is in our thoughts and our refrigerators… a blog on that to come.”
You sure know how to leave us hanging!
Looking forward to that post, for sure.
Thanks for the BC pill info. I stopped taking it many years ago, after realizing it was making me crazy. I remember bursting into tears when I went to a pizza pizza and found out they had no vegetarian slices available. yikes. So happy to be off that nightmare!
That said I would not trust myself with the Rhythm Method. It sounds great in theory but the possibility of pregnancy would be too traumatizing. Lucky for me, my SO has had the old snipperoo…
Brigitte – I totally agree with you; information is education. I was just stated that I was surprised it was not an oncologist who wrote the book. Not to discredit the author, I was just surprised. That’s all.
Meg – I have always found your blog both insightful and interesting! Just to clarify, I am not suggesting aspartame is or isn’t healthy, but rather I am a little unclear as to the connection you make between an oncologist who uses aspartame in their coffee every morning and cancer. Are you suggesting that aspartame is a carcinogen?
If that is the case, then please note the following (from the same article you refererenced from Health Canada):
Allegation: Aspartame causes cancer and brain tumours
Not supported.
Scientists in the world-wide scientific community, including Canadian scientists, have found no link between aspartame consumption and the incidence of cancer or brain tumours from a study of the safety studies performed with aspartame.
In terms of the how safe aspartame is, also note the following (from the same reference):
In Canada, food additives such as aspartame are subjected to rigorous controls under the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. Before any food additive is permitted for use, manufacturers are required to file a food additive submission in accordance with Section B.16.002 of the Regulations. A submission must contain detailed information, including the results of safety tests, as well as information respecting the utility and potential benefits to the consumer of the additive in question.
Before consideration was given to permitting aspartame for use in foods in Canada, officials of Health Canada evaluated an extensive array of toxicological tests in laboratory animals and, since its listing for use, they have examined the results of a number of clinical studies in humans. There is no evidence to suggest that the consumption of foods containing this sweetener, according to the provisions of the Food and Drug Regulations and as part of a well-balanced diet, would pose a health hazard to consumers. In addition, other scientific advisory bodies such as the Scientific Committee for Food of the European Community, and the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization have reviewed all the available safety studies and have found aspartame to be safe. More than ninety countries world-wide, including the United States, countries of the European Union, and Australia and New Zealand, have also reviewed aspartame and found it to be safe for human consumption and allow its use in various foods.
If you are going to draw the conclusion(and maybe you aren’t…and if so, I sincerely apologize) that aspartame is a carcinogen, then I kindly suggest you spend the time to research both sides of the story. As noted in a couple of the other comments, information is education.
Just wanted to say thanks again for all of the info this week! I talked to my partner about going off the Pill the other night using your posts and all of the information as a jumping off point. He’s just as excited as I am to find out if my crazies go away once I’m off the Pill!
Meg, I just wanted to share with your readers that not all studies show that aspartame is dangerous. This is all about education and awareness, right?
So, just to clarify, do you or don’t you think that aspartame is a carcinogen?
Thanks!
For the record, you are the one who “know(s) of an oncologist who puts sweet ‘n ‘low in their coffee every morning. ”
In all seriousness, seeing as how you are a nutrionist (and I am not), I am curious to know your educated opinion on the topic. Do you think that aspartame is a carcinogen?
Hi Meghan,
Although I rarely comment I have been reading your blog for a long time and truly love it. I am currently trying to gather the extra funds for a diva cup, loved that series! My questions is while I know you support going off the pill what advice to you have for those that cannot or are not ready to do so. It is of course an extreme solution that is not right for everyone. I have down the basics 1. exercise 2. not smoking 3. eat whole foods 4. don’t eat refined/processed foods 5. eliminate plastics to the extent possible and in contact with food 6. eat organic/local when possible (difficult in Miami on my student budget) 7. non of that artificial crap the posters above seem to love ::squirms,ughhhhh:: but is there anything more specifically related to the cycle/period that could be beneficial? maybe avoiding soy at certain times or something to that effect (I do like tofu, tempeh, soy sauce, and steamed edamame)
Thanks for your thought in this matter
Well now…
Who knew Sweet and Low and Cancer could take a blog post discussion sideways?!
;>
Jordan ~ maybe the bigger question is this.
With all the excellent NATURAL sugar available by mother nature, why would you dump a chemical (made by accident, btw) in your drink?
Which you get nothing back from – no tangible benefits?
Last year I read a book called “Sweet Deception: Why Splenda, NutraSweet, and the FDA May Be Hazardous to Your Health”, which was rather eye opening.
If for nothing else the amount of lobbying that happens to the US government.
But you can read the reviews on Amazon plus the description of the book and make your own decision.
http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Deception-Splenda-NutraSweet-Hazardous/dp/0785221794/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
And Meghan if you don’t already have this book – as part of your research for your upcoming blog post – Pick it up.
Bvk – I don’t dispute whether aspartame is or isn’t healthy, I was just wondering whether Meghan thought it was a carcinogen. Personally, I seldom (if ever) include aspartame in my diet.
Those of you interested in the cancer connection there is an interesting movie on CBC Newsworld this coming Monday at 10 pm.
http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/passionateeyeshowcase/2009/catchingcancer/
looks interesting!
Hi Meghan,
Funny I am reading this today with your mention of the cervix and open/closed, etc. My yoga teacher is about to teach me how to open and close my cervix, as this is apparently useful for a handful of things like relieving bad menstral cramps, getting preggers, birthing, etc. Intersting stuff!
Jennifer
I am curious to see how many ladies will end up unwantedly preggo after ditching the pill. I don’t want to take the pill, but I don’t want get pregnant even more. I am scared of getting pregnant even though I’m on the pill and use condoms. Please use a condom if you are planning on ditching the pill, unless you want to be a parent in 9 months!
The Lunar Cycle plan- outlined in my super economical $5 tutorial is a fantastic solution for regulating hormones. Additionally- herbs like chaste berry (also goes by the name vitex), and a super clean diet are your best bets.
Thanks for this awesome resource Brigitte! Much appreciated- but it still doesn’t list ingredients. I wanna know what the solvent and binders are.
Diet, diet, diet, diet, adrenal support, exercise and a few key herbs. All that tomorrow.
Thanks, I definetely will! =)
I should also add recently at my health clinic I read an article by Dr. Sherrill Sellman called “A Bitter Pill to Swallow, The Betrayal of Oral Contraceptives” originally published in Nexus Magazine in 1998.
It is roughly 10 years old, so it speaks mainly to the earlier versions of pills before they started to tweak them – those are the versions I was on.
You can read the article here:
http://www.healthyhormones.com/news/news10.htm
I emailed her directly looking for a more recent version of this article and she replied it is included in her book “What Women MUST Know to Protect Their Daughters from Breast Cancer”
Dr. Sherrill’s personal site is here:
http://www.whatwomenmustknow.com/about.htm
She has also written in Vitality Magazine
http://www.vitalitymagazine.com/effects_of_electropollution_on_hormones_and_breast_cancer
happy reading ladies..!
I wouldn’t. I know of an oncologist who puts sweet ‘n ‘low in their coffee every morning. on great big answer to cancer is in our thoughts and our refrigerators… a blog on that to come.
cool
…glad we are on the same page.
Happy to see your reading my blog Jord!
Though I appreciate these studies, I am a firm believer that scientific studies are only a small part of the total picture. If I were to spend the time, I could find a dozen studies to counter those results. That is the nature of them. You can always find one to support the position you take. With that being said, no amount of studies on aspartame would ever convince me to add it to my diet, recommend it to others or believe it to be a a healthful ‘food’. A chemical is a chemical and that is what aspartame is, a chemical. From a holistic perspective, if we are trying to resolve any kind of health challenge, cleaning up the diet of chemicals and toxins is the first step.
http://www.diagnose-me.com/cond/C237252.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8373935
From Health Canada:
“Although aspartame can be safely consumed by most healthy individuals, it has long been recognized that excessive intake of phenylalanine, one of the constituent amino acids of aspartame, can pose a hazard to individuals suffering from an inherited metabolic disorder called phenylketonuria. For this reason, all foods containing.
aspartame must indicate on the label the presence of phenylalanine.”
And here’s one more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn5slnNB8h0
Everyone has to make their own decision.
Nope- all I was suggesting was that it was no surprise that a book on preventing cancer could just as easily have come from a naturopath. What’s with you and aspartame anyway?
I try and keep comments as relevant as possible to the content in the post. And why do you care for my opinion on this? I am going to send a sash to wear that says “Aspartame King”.
Will write about this soon. It has been on my list for a long while. Just requires a lot of research.
I cover a lot of this in the lunar cycle tutorial, but you definitely have the basics covered. Regular elimination (pooping) is also very important for eliminating excess estrogen.
ok thanks, I was under the impression that tutorial was for those going off the pill