Best Options for Modern Natural Contraception?
Unless the world and his wife become celibate, most countries en-masse use some form of contraception.
The issue with overpopulation is not so much how many children a family has, but how each child consumes. One family in a simple family on a Pacific island, is likely consuming less resources, than the average UK or American teenager.
Years ago, the two choices were having lots of children or abstinence. But today the contraception industry is a multi-billion dollar business, designed to create immense havoc to our wildlife and oceans (some fish have changed sex, when hormone-rich contraceptive pills have been flushed down loos).
What you believe or do is up to you, but here are some helpful pointers, so alongside your doctor or church, you can make decisions that resonate best for you, and help the planet too.
It’s not just the Roman Catholic church that is against contraception, other faiths are too. Some people are critical of this, but you’re not going to change people’s religious beliefs, so it’s a waste of time.
There are natural birth control methods that don’t interfere with people’s faiths. And for people who use contraceptive methods, there are methods that are safer and better for our planet.
A caveat. Nothing is 100% safe. The real answer (also an alternative to abortion) is to create societies where teenagers are not obsessed or pressured into sex, and end up giving birth at 16, feeling that’s all there is to do in life).
A bit of compassion is needed. One valid criticism of American evangelists who bomb abortion clinics is that many vote for governments that don’t care about dropping bombs on pregnant women in middle eastern countries. Why don’t media pundits call this out?
Did you know that in ancient Rome and Greece, the juice from the Silphium plant was so popular to prevent pregnancy that the birth rate remained low, but the plant went extinct?
Know also that many foods are banned in pregnancy. Other foods should be avoided (high doses of ginger and many other foods) as they contract the uterus and cause early labour/contractions. And anything unpasteurised (juice, blue cheese and miso).
CycleBeads (beads or an app)
CycleBeads were created by reproductive researchers at Georgetown University in Washington, USA. Available in simple beads (used in Africa to prevent unwanted pregnancy) or in an app version, these again tell you the days you are most likely to get pregnant, so you can abstain or use alternative contraceptive methods.
Abstinence!
This is oft-forgotten in our sex-obsessed society. The USA’s Silver Ring Thing program has teens wearing a ring, showing that they are more interested in having fun and studying than sleeping around, until they find true love. It may sound puritanical, but surely there is more wisdom in this philosophy than modern media?
Natural Family Planning Charts
Natural family planning can be up to 99% effective, if done well. But get training from an expert, not from a book!
Basal Temperature Apps
Natural Cycles (where you measure basal temperature each morning) was created by a couple of Swedish boffins. It’s an app that ‘learns your cycle’ then gives you ‘green days and red days’.
Some criticised this app, saying it did not work because a few people got pregnant. But after a legal case, it was found that the ‘window’ of error was correct.
Which suggested that some were simply not following the instructions, or not reading that there was a window of error.
Lady-Comp is a German-invented fertility tracker, which again you use to measure basal temperature in mornings. After ‘learning’, it tells you when your fertile days are. It may not work for some hormone-related medical conditions. A similar app is Daysy.
Eco-Friendly Condoms
Condoms are often used these days, but never flush them down the loo, as they are a common form of beach litter and blocked drains (leading to garden floods). Better brands (vegan and Fair Trade) are Hanx, Flo and Fair Squared.
A Hormone-Free Cervical Cap
FemCap is a reusable hormone-free alternative to the cervical cap. This has FDA approval and is available on prescription, with around 92% effectiveness.
If you need lubricants, YES! offers an organic brand free from usual nasties. Sorry if this is a bit rude, but it’s important to list the ethical alternative, to save marine creatures – yes!
Good Books to Teach the Youngsters!
Talking With Your Teen About Sex and Start Talking To Your Kids About Sex are books written for Catholic parents to combine education with morality and faith. Organised in a question-and-answer format,
We Need to Talk is an empowering book for girls and teens, for them to get to know their body. This is not some narcissistic book by a celebrity influencer, instead by a qualified doctor from Chicago, without media or religion (it covers same-sex relationships).
A Plastic-Free Pregnancy Test Kit
Hoopsy Pregnancy Test is unique in that it’s a medically approved pregnancy test (99% accurate). but this one is made from 99% paper, and easy to use. It can be used up to 5 days before your period is due, and is easy to write on, if you want to record the day you took the test. Contains 5 tests (also in a 10 pack and 3 pack).
The test gives results in 5 to 10 minutes (depending on how diluted urine is). And takes up less space in landfill than plastic tests, if it’s throw in the bin. So it doesn’t take decades to break down, like plastic pregnancy tests.
This test has been approved for sale in the UK and EU by the medical authorities (MHRA and CE). The test is easy to read (positive, negative or invalid – which may mean you didn’t follow the instructions).
To use, just open the test pouch and hold the end with the Hoopsy logo. Put the other end in your urine stream for 3 to 5 seconds, being careful not to pee over the MAX line! Put the test on a flat surface, with the printed side up.
Then wait 5 to 10 minutes, to read the result. Do not read the result after 10 minutes.
