Like millions of women I used to take the pill, and was lucky enough not to have any unpleasant side effects.
In 1995, research was published that linked hormonal contraception to blood clots.
I was working as a librarian for the NHS at the time, in public health. I paused but I felt young and fit enough to handle the risk.
Then a friendly colleague suggested using fertility awareness as contraception.
In 1995, research was published that linked hormonal contraception to blood clots.
I was working as a librarian for the NHS at the time, in public health. I paused but I felt young and fit enough to handle the risk.
Then a friendly colleague suggested using fertility awareness as contraception.
This sounded like a terrible idea. Not a reliable or responsible way to avoid pregnancy.
But I was curious, and as a librarian I loved the idea of information as contraception.
My husband and I were planning to have a baby in the next few years so we decided to go for it. I borrowed my friend's book asked her some questions, printed out some charts, and got on with it.
I was nervous. There was no reassuring drug packaging, or recommendations from doctors. The only official-looking gadget I had was a fever thermometer. Not exactly high-tech.
It felt like a leap but I didn’t feel that different. Some of my hair fell out, which was concerning and put me off going back on the pill, but it calmed down eventually.
Most importantly, it worked! Just like my friend said, I was able to avoid pregnancy and then plan pregnancy. Science!
I finally felt like I understood what my body was up to. I also loved dodging all the hassle of pill prescriptions, being eco, and having a method that could be used in the event of a zombie apocalypse. Heady stuff.
When I asked my doctor about the impact of crossing time zones on my waking temperature I was surprised to get a bemused smile.
He said “You probably know more about this than I do”.
I laughed nervously and thought "What? This is all down to me? Don’t doctors get taught this stuff at medical school?"
It was an alarming moment, but I'm glad he trusted me to get on with it and didn’t give me a lecture about how irresponsible I was being, which is what many women have to endure.
So on I went, flipping my knowledge to help me get pregnant when the time came, and following the LAM rules and a few more for good measure while breastfeeding. Again, I was nervous, and again it worked.
After that, instead of being open to having another child if the method failed I became open to having an abortion if necessary. The method worked for us so I didn't have one but I did volunteer with an abortion charity and continue to be a big supporter of abortion rights.
When I hit my late 30s, after attending one of those “what do you want to do with your life” training courses, I decided to train as a Fertility UK fertility awareness practitioner so I could support women (and their partners). Books are great, but they can only take you so far.
Since then I've worked with many, many women. My other work continues, I like to mix things up, and I only see a few new clients a month, though I email many more as part of my ongoing support. It's not a massive money spinner, but I love it and I've learned lots.
Using fertility awareness myself, and seeing the joy and relief it can bring to many women, could have made me a massive evangelist. Someone determined to make the entire world use fertility awareness as contraception.
But I'm more low key than than and I know it’s not right for everyone. There’s no such thing as perfect contraception, they all their downsides.
That said, I do get fed up with those who simply tell women “It doesn’t work” and they should use something else. I want fertility awareness to be a routine contraceptive option, not a routinely dismissed one.
But I was curious, and as a librarian I loved the idea of information as contraception.
My husband and I were planning to have a baby in the next few years so we decided to go for it. I borrowed my friend's book asked her some questions, printed out some charts, and got on with it.
I was nervous. There was no reassuring drug packaging, or recommendations from doctors. The only official-looking gadget I had was a fever thermometer. Not exactly high-tech.
It felt like a leap but I didn’t feel that different. Some of my hair fell out, which was concerning and put me off going back on the pill, but it calmed down eventually.
Most importantly, it worked! Just like my friend said, I was able to avoid pregnancy and then plan pregnancy. Science!
I finally felt like I understood what my body was up to. I also loved dodging all the hassle of pill prescriptions, being eco, and having a method that could be used in the event of a zombie apocalypse. Heady stuff.
When I asked my doctor about the impact of crossing time zones on my waking temperature I was surprised to get a bemused smile.
He said “You probably know more about this than I do”.
I laughed nervously and thought "What? This is all down to me? Don’t doctors get taught this stuff at medical school?"
It was an alarming moment, but I'm glad he trusted me to get on with it and didn’t give me a lecture about how irresponsible I was being, which is what many women have to endure.
So on I went, flipping my knowledge to help me get pregnant when the time came, and following the LAM rules and a few more for good measure while breastfeeding. Again, I was nervous, and again it worked.
After that, instead of being open to having another child if the method failed I became open to having an abortion if necessary. The method worked for us so I didn't have one but I did volunteer with an abortion charity and continue to be a big supporter of abortion rights.
When I hit my late 30s, after attending one of those “what do you want to do with your life” training courses, I decided to train as a Fertility UK fertility awareness practitioner so I could support women (and their partners). Books are great, but they can only take you so far.
Since then I've worked with many, many women. My other work continues, I like to mix things up, and I only see a few new clients a month, though I email many more as part of my ongoing support. It's not a massive money spinner, but I love it and I've learned lots.
Using fertility awareness myself, and seeing the joy and relief it can bring to many women, could have made me a massive evangelist. Someone determined to make the entire world use fertility awareness as contraception.
But I'm more low key than than and I know it’s not right for everyone. There’s no such thing as perfect contraception, they all their downsides.
That said, I do get fed up with those who simply tell women “It doesn’t work” and they should use something else. I want fertility awareness to be a routine contraceptive option, not a routinely dismissed one.