From CANFP
Have used the pill but want to avoid pregnancy naturally
By Debi Hoppe
Oct 16, 2005, 12:31
Question
I'm a 22 year old. I've been on the pill before (ortho-tri-cyclen) but took myself off of it after two years because I felt it was affecting my weight, my periods and my moods (I also was no longer sexually active at that point). I am once again in a steady relationship, and I started the pill again (ortho tri-cyclen lo) and immediately I have become depressed, started losing hair, and gaining weight. I hate taking hormones, but I'm afraid to try to natural method because my periods aren't exactly regular (I've been on hormones almost always since I started menstruating, due to a problem with bleeding out when I was 14). However, I'd really like to do this naturally, or without hormones! What do you suggest?
Thank you for your time!!!
Answer
Weight gain and mood swings are common side effects reported by pill users. In your case, artificial hormones are also causing the additional problem of hair loss. Obviously, your psychological, emotional, and physical health is being compromised. For this reason alone, I can understand why you would “hate taking hormones” and congratulate you on investigating the healthy natural method of family planning.
You can learn to chart the fertile and infertile days of your cycle. It is a small investment of time in exchange for a lifetime of knowledge and improved health!
Modern, scientific methods of Natural Family Planning methods do not depend on regular cycles, so that is a non-issue which will not compromise your ability to effectively use this method of family planning. Perhaps you are confusing current natural methods of family planning, which do not depend on regular cycles, with the outdated Rhythm Method. The Sympto-Thermal Method of Natural Family Planning, for instance, is 97% to 99% effective for couples in committed relationships who attend all classes and follow the rules. If you are in California, you can locate the nearest teacher at the online directory at http://www.canfp.org/directory.php
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