In light of World Contraception Day, I’ve got some things on my heart that I’d like to share with all of those who are educating about contraception and its benefits.
This health awareness day, according to Your Life was founded with the mission “to improve awareness of contraception and to enable young people to make informed choices on their sexual and reproductive health.”
This is my interpretation of it.
And the focus shall be on the key phrase “informed choices.”
Lately, I’ve been in flow-versations with teens and adults, those in the political space, those having problems getting and staying pregnant and the every day person about sex education and contraception.
All of which, education is seriously lacking or misinformed. If the education is not there or fully disclosed, then how can a young person (or adult) may an “informed choice?”
This is Period Bypassing™ in the sex education and contraception industries!
When there isn’t full education on contraception use and in sex education, then there are some hefty costs to be paid…of which is often the tween/teen girl and the adult woman.
So, while we may encourage the use of contraception, including making it more accessible, consider these costs and risks. Costs such as:
- Not being informed about your body leading to making decisions without understanding the holistic (or whole) impact to the body’s systems
- Perpetuating the culture of “do what I tell you to do” without question
- Supporting the use and purchase of other products that are there to “fix” the effects of contraception use
- Fertility challenges where not only are there hormonal disharmonies, but physical changes because of scarring, ovaries needing to be removed, hysterectomies at a really young age, blocked tubes and more
- Potentially increasing incidences of formation of cysts and fibroids, or diagnosis of PCOS or other metabolic syndromes
- Rise in STD/STI diagnoses amongst teens
As there is an increase in digestive disorders, mental health conditions and even autoimmune conditions, it may not be asked about or considered to see what is the use of hormonal contraception among those with any of the above diagnoses.
With hormonal contraception use, you are impacted way beyond “regulating a period” or “preventing pregnancy.”
The manipulation of your body’s system with the use of synthetic hormones affects:
- The way you’re able to metabolize (or break down) foods to absorb nutrients, including changing the atmosphere of the microbiome of bacteria, yeast and fungi
- The proper functioning of your immune system – I mean, since you’re manipulating the gut microbiome, you’re messing with your immune system of which the majority of the functioning of your immune system comes from your gut
- The way your neurotransmitters are produced and functioning – hello anxiety and depression!
- The way your bones grow and mature – cavities, easy fractures (the calcium that you’re unable to absorb has to come from somewhere)
My message to the pre-teens, tweens, teens, young adults: it’s so easy to make the decision based on if it’s quick and easy. This makes way for what may seem “quick” to be a long term condition or seem “easy” to be a struggle somewhere else.
If you’re confused about something, ask for help. Take the time to learn about menstrual health. It is possible to learn about the higher fertility time of her cycle. It takes some time to begin tracking what you’re seeing but once you’re in it and going, it becomes a lot easier. Not sure what to be tracking (and, yes, it’s more than the number of days to be actively bleeding), get the Cycle Syncing Checklist and Healthy Cycle Guidelines.
This leads me to the adults, listen to the questions and the comments they’re making. As much as you may cringe, cover your eyes or wanna run away, they’re going to have sex at some point. Making decisions for your own comfort may not be helpful to them. Open your hearts and minds. Go into the conversation with an understanding that they’re asking because they’re confused. Listen to them. Just because they’re “younger” doesn’t mean what they have to say or are experiencing isn’t valid.
We’re all connected and can be there for one another in uplifting humanity and doing what we can to make sure people are informed and safe.
With all of this being said and if we’re “celebrating” World Contraception Day, I celebrate:
- FULLY DISCLOSING what risks are when discussing options with clients, patients, students, whoever.
- ALLOWING them to make the decision from a more informed space.
- Providers and practitioners EVALUATING any of the potential effects and EDUCATING on ways to mitigate those effects. LISTENING to what they’re saying about their mental health, the change in their digestion, the bleeding patterns. Saying, “oh, that’s normal” is not enough nor okay anymore.
- Everyone using any contraception to become more INFORMED about each of the types and ASK QUESTIONS about what they may actually do Physically, Mentally, and Emotionally. (SN: Listen to your gut. If you’re still feeling like something isn’t quite right, then keep searching and keep asking.)
Playfully Yours
D
P.S. If you’re thinking you’d like to stop hormonal contraceptives to have a healthier cycle and if you’re ready, to prepare to expand your family with a baby, the Cycle Syncing Mentorship can help you with learning your natural Cycle and uncovering what you need to add, remove or change for overall health and well-being!
One Response
Thanks for posting this De’Nicea! I so agree. I first got interested in the female cycle when I was on the pill. I wanted to get off it and realized I didn’t know how to protect myself which triggered a quest for information. I found myself in the university medical libraries trying to find out what the scientists knew about the female body, menstruation, hormones and conception. The things I discovered blew my mind and I wondered why… if the scientists knew this information… why didn’t my mother know? I then wondered what it would be like if every young women grew up knowing and understanding her body well enough that she wasn’t dependent upon things like hormonal birth control. I love what you are doing! This is a much needed conversation.