28 Days, 28 Myths: The Menstrual Cycle, The Pill, & Fertility Awareness.

The Intro

Since ditching the pill, charting my own cycle, and teaching fertility awareness all over the world, I’ve come across a few myths I’d like to set straight.

I’m an AFAP-certified Justisse Fertility Awareness Educator.
I help wild women reconnect with their cycle and take back control of their health and fertility.

That means preventing pregnancy without hormonal contraceptives, achieving pregnancy when you want to if you want, and understanding your health through understanding your menstrual cycle.

Since ditching the pill, charting my own cycle, and teaching fertility awareness all over the world, I’ve come across a few myths I’d like to set straight. And the first one is the common belief that a healthy menstrual cycle should be 28 days long.

So in honour of this mythological 28-day cycle, I’m debunking for you 28 myths about the menstrual cycle, birth control pills, and fertility awareness.

Myth 01

Do you think a normal menstrual cycle should be 28 days long? Think again!

Is a normal menstrual cycle 28 days long?

The myth: The menstrual cycle should be 28 days long.

The truth: A normal cycle varies between 24 and 35 days.

Maybe in an effort to simplify sex ed, we were told that anything other than a 28-day cycle is abnormal. Not true.
 
So how do you know your cycle length?

Day 1 is the first day of medium or heavy menstrual flow and count the days until the last day before your next medium or heavy flow. Cycle lengths between 25 and 36 days is absolutely ok.

And not only do cycle lengths vary among women, they’ll also vary cycle to cycle. Regular cycles can have a normal variation up to 8 to 10 days. 
We’re not windup clocks after all!

Your menstrual cycle is as unique as you! xoxo

See everyone tomorrow for myth #2!

Myth 2

This is one of my favourite menstrual cycle myths! Do you think you can "catch" pregnancy any time during your cycle? I once did!

Second myth… Do you think you can "catch" pregnancy?

The myth: A woman can get pregnant at any time during her cycle. 

The truth: There are only a limited number of days during a woman’s cycle when pregnancy is possible. 

In fact, most of the time, a woman is infertile. To become pregnant, a woman needs to ovulate. Ovulation is when the egg is released from the ovary and becomes available for fertilization.

Well now here’s the thing…

A human egg can only survive 12-24 hours after being released. The reason women are fertile longer than 24 hours is because sperm can live in a woman’s body for up to five days if cervical mucus is present.
 
That leaves us with a fertile window of 6 days per cycle. This takes into account the lifespan of sperm in a woman’s body (up to 5 days) and the lifespan of the egg (up to 24 hours).

And P.S. While women are only fertile for a short period each cycle, men are fertile everyday. Open for business from puberty and on – so tell me again why women are the ones taking the pill every single day?

I have few more cycle myths for you and then we’ll get into the birth control pill.

Myth 3

Ovulation Always Occurs on Day 14? Spoiler alert: It doesn't always occur on Cycle Day 14.

Does ovulation Always Occurs on the 14th day?

The myth: Ovulation always occurs on day 14. 

The truth: Ovulation varies from month to month. In longer cycles, ovulation will occur later in the cycle and in shorter cycles, ovulation will occur sooner. 

Recall, ovulation is when the egg leaves the ovary. The idea that this occurs on day 14 comes from my Myth#1, that women have 28-day menstrual cycles, and so ovulation fits nicely at the halfway mark.

For some women, this may be true. For many women this is simply not the case.  This idea, now a myth, led to the obsolete, ineffective rhythm method.

The truth is things like stress, illness, diet, and heavy exercise, travel can influence the day you ovulate.

You might ovulate anywhere from 9 to 20 days after your period and this is what determines the length of your cycle… and the reason why we don’t have 28-day cycles clockwork. 

Ahhhhhhhh. Makes sense? 

Tomorrow I debunk another ovulation myth. See you then!

Myth 4

Many of us are told you can ovulate more than once in a cycle. Is it true?

Can you can ovulate more than once in a cycle?

The myth: You can ovulate more than once per cycle.

The truth: No, no you can’t.

Ovulation is not a random event.

In order to ovulate, a series of hormonal events must occur to trigger the ovary to release an egg.

Then due to hormonal changes that occur after ovulation, you can’t ovulate again until the whole cycle starts over, beginning with menstruation.

But ovulation can only happen once per cycle and when it does it occurs in a 12 to 24 hour time period.

Rabbits on the other hand - now that a different story.

Myth 5

Do you think bleeding is a safe time to have unprotected sex?

My favourite myth & the perpetuation of this myth is actually the reason why I’m on this Earth—Hi Mom! Do you think bleeding is a safe time to have unprotected sex?

The myth: You can’t get pregnant on your period.

The truth: It’s uncommon, but it does happen (hence me) for two reasons.

First, in short cycles, women ovulate early in the cycle. When this happens, cervical mucus may be present during days of menstruation and can keep sperm alive in a woman’s body for up to 5 days giving the sperm time to wait for the possible event of an early ovulation.
 
And second, it is possible to have bleeding or spotting at other times during the cycle and these can coincide with ovulation.

So the take-away today, times of bleeding isn’t a fool-proof time for unprotectected sex if you’re trying to avoid.

Myth 6

It's true. Us menstruators are so powerful we can bleed for days without dying. But do you really lose that much blood during our period?

Do you really lose that much blood during our period?

The myth: You lose a lot of blood during your period.

The truth: The average menstruator only loses about 2 to 4 tablespoons during their whole period!

A healthy period is 3 to 6 days long, starts off moderate or heavy, is a nice vibrant red colour like cranberry juice, it’s clot-free, pain-free, and gradually tapers off.

If you were to measure all of your bleeding from the first day of your period to the last day of your period, a healthy one will be between 30 to 60 ml.

That’s 1 to 2 menstrual cups!

This is why I love my menstrual cup so much. It allows me to measure how much I bleed each cycle.

Myth 7

Is period pain is normal?
Spoiler alert: Period pain is NOT normal! Watch this video!

Is period pain is normal?

The myth: Period pain is just something that us menstruators have to deal with.

The truth:  You should not be experience debilitating pain during your period.

Because period pain is common, we tend to believe it’s normal and just something that comes along with having a uterus.

Now let me be clear, when we get our period, our endometrial lining is literally being cramped out of our uterus so we can expect to have some discomfort especially the first day or two.

But it shouldn’t be a throbbing, burning, stabbing pain that makes up pop pain pill after pain pill or interfere with our daily activities.

If this is what you experience, your period pain may actually be a symptom of a hormonal imbalance, underlying medical condition, nutrient deficiency, or a food allergy.

So like in many symptoms of the menstrual cycle, your period pain is not the problem, it’s revealing the problem.

Time to listen up! 

Myth 8

Repeat after me. The Pill DOES NOT regulate your cycle. The end.

Does the Pill regulate our cycles?

This week is all about the birth control pill! So lets start with myth #8!

The myth: The pill regulates your cycle.

The truth: The pill suppresses your cycle until you don’t have one anymore.

The pill has many functions but certainly not to regulate your cycle. It actually prevents you from having a cycle by shutting down your natural hormones and suppressing the cycle to such an extent there is no ovulation.

It does that by replacing your natural hormones, estrogen and progesterone, with synthetic steroids, (Frankenstein hormones, if you will), ethinyl estradiol and different kinds of progestins.

So while the pill may be giving you the “mythical” 28-day menstrual cycle, it might as well give you a 38 day cycle or 48 day cycle.

How can you regulate something that doesn’t exist anymore?

And that’s another myth debunked for today!

Myth 9

The pill bleed and a real bleed are not the same thing. I'll tell you why…

Is the pill bleed & a real bleed the same thing?

The myth: The pill bleed is a real bleed.

The truth: No. The bleeding you have on your pill isn’t a real period at all.

A real bleed, or a true menstruation, is one that follows ovulation.

Since the pill, on the other hand, prevents you from ovulating, you’re not having a true menstruation.

So the bleed you experience during the break from pills is actually a “withdrawal bleed”.

This has little relation to true menstruation and this is why it might be lighter, shorter, and less painful.

Worse yet, if you’re taking the pill to reduce heavy, painful menstruation, you’re really just masking the problem, not fixing it.

Myth 10

Let it be known! The pill masks symptoms, it doesn't cure them!

Is the pill is the cure-all solution?

The myth: The pill is the cure-all solution for women’s health.

The truth: The pill masks true hormonal imbalances, medical conditions, and women’s experiences.

Now I don’t want to sound anti-pill here because I don’t know everyone’s story or situations or why they’re taking the pill… it just bothers me that hormonal birth control has become the standard care for women no matter what the problem is.

More and more women are being prescribed the pill for reasons other than contraception. Acne, painful periods, irregular periods, and conditions like PCOS or endometriosis… the list goes on.

And whatever your choice is for your health and well-being, it’s important to understand, the pill is a band-aid solution that actually masks the symptom… it doesn’t treating the underlying condition.

Remember, your menstrual cycle isn’t the problem. It’s revealing the problem.

Myth 11

The hormones in the birth control pill are like our own hormones, right? Wrong.

Is the hormones in the pill the same as our own?

The myth: Birth control pills contain hormones that are naturally produced in a our body.

The truth: Birth control pills contain chemically produced synthetic steroids.

Even though taking the pill can feel like we’re taking a hormone supplement that our body needs and wants…

It actually switches off the body’s natural estradiol and progesterone and replaces them with Frankenstein, pseudo-hormone, synthetic steroids like ethinyl estradiol and different kinds of progestins.

They do not have the same molecular structure as human hormones and that small difference makes a BIG difference in your body.

Our body’s natural progesterone promotes hair growth but the progestin levonorgestrel (lee-von-nor-ges-tril) causes hair loss.

Our progesterone improves brain health and cognition. But the synthetic version drospirenone (draw-sper-known) causes depression.

Estradiol improves insulin sensitivity but ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel cause insulin resistance.

…you get the point…

It’s like you’re building a puzzle with foreign pieces and while they manage to squeeze into place, the picture isn’t the same.

Myth 12

This is one of my biggest pet peeves. Do you think being on the pill is like being pregnant?

Do you think being on the pill is like being pregnant?

The myth: Being on the pill is like being pregnant.

The truth: No it’s not.

Well, there is one thing. When you’re pregnant, you don’t ovulate. And when you’re on the pill, you’re not ovulating either.

But if you look at the hormonal profiles…

On a real cycle with ovulation and menstruation, theres an ebb and flow in your hormones. Pregnancy is a sky-rocket of hormones.

The pill however suppresses your cycle in order to make you infertile and this causes your natural hormone production to be low or non-existent.

This is a chemical castration. More similar to menopause than pregnancy.

That’s why many women experience menopause-like symptoms while on the pill like low libido, vaginal dryness, bone loss, mood changes.

Imagine how many women would take the pill if doctors told them it’d be like early menopause!

Myth 13

Talk to 5 different women and you’ll get 5 different stories about how the birth control affected their fertility.

Has anyone got pregnant right after stopping the pill?

The myth: You can get pregnant right after you stop the pill.

The truth: That’s not the case for everyone.

Talk to five different women about hormonal contraceptives and you’ll get five different stories about the effect it had on their fertility.

Some people’s cycles bounce back right while away others take months or years!

The return of fertility is going to depend on many factors such as:

• What type of hormonal contraceptive you were on

• How long you were on it

• How old you were when you started

• Whether or not you’ve taking breaks

• Whether or not you’ve had a previous pregnancy

• If you have any underlying medical conditions

• Your genetics

• And your general health, lifestyle, diet

So don’t accept that statement as fact and assume you won’t need other birth control right after discontinuing or that you’ll have no problem conceiving right away.

Everyone has a different experience on the pill and it’s the same for going off.

Myth 14

People are going around saying that women don't actually need periods. What the what!?!?

Do we even really need periods?

Myth: Women don’t actually need their periods.

Truth: Yes we do!

When I hear people say that periods are unnecessary and that it’s a good thing to suppress them with hormonal contraception, I just cringe!

Keep in mind that there’s so much more to your menstrual cycle than just having a period. And in fact, the whole thing is actually driven by ovulation.

And ovulation is SOOOOOO UNDERRATED!

#1) It’s the only way to make estradiol (a type of estrogen) and progesterone. Of course these are important for baby-making but they’re also incredibly important for your bone health, heart health, breast health, your mood, libido, and your metabolism.

#2) Ovulation is how we create other human beings and propagate the species of course but it also amplifies our own personal being, how we connect with others, what we do, what we accomplish, what we create.

I don’t only need my period, I love my period. My whole cycle. Menstruation, the follicular phase, Ovulation, the luteal phase.

And that’s why I’m the cycle savvy globetrotter. 

Myth 15

Is the Fertility Awareness Method the same thing as the Rhythm Method? Spoiler alert: No, it's not.

Let’s nip this in the bud right now…

The myth: The Fertility Awareness Method is the same as the Rhythm Method.

The truth: Oh my GODDESS! Not it’s not and please stop saying that.

The Rhythm Method makes mathematical projections based on past menstrual cycle history to predict future fertile and infertile phases of the menstrual cycle.

These predictions, though occasionally right, assume most people ovulate around the same time (Hey! Remember Myth #3 that ovulation always occurs on day 14?) and DO NOT accurately reflect your current cycle!

Thus making it an ineffective, out-dated form of natural birth control.

The Fertility Awareness Method teaches a woman how to determine the status of her fertility through daily observations of her body’s signs like cervical mucus, basal body temperature, cervical position.

You will always know if you are fertile right now, today. You won’t need to wonder and guess.

It’s like deciding if you need to wear a rain jacket or not by looking at the weather forecast this time last month or looking out the window!

Myth 16

Ineffective!?!? Try 99.6% effective. That’s just as good as the pill!

What’s the truth here?

The myth: The Fertility Awareness Method is ineffective.

The truth: The Fertility Awareness Method is 99.6% effective.

That’s as good as hormonal contraception!!!!

Remember that fertility awareness is the daily practice of observing and recording one or more of the body’s signs fertility – cervical mucus, basal body temperature, or cervical position.

Tracking this helps you to identify your fertile window – the only time in your cycle when it’s biologically possible for you to get pregnant! (Remember Myth #2?)

People are often surprised when I tell them that the Fertility Awareness Method can be just as effective as the pill. 

So where does this number come from? It’s from a study done in Germany that looked at 900 women who contributed over 17,000 menstrual cycles and prevented pregnancy using the sympto-thermal method of fertility awareness.

It’s important to clarify, that the 99.6% effectiveness is when you abstain during the fertile window. If you choose to use a barrier method or withdrawal, then now you’re relying on the effectiveness of the barrier method or withdrawal with the knowledge that you’re capable of becoming pregnant.

Also the effectiveness depends on how you learned the method, your correct use of instructions, and your consistent observation and charting of these signs!

Myth 17

There’s more than one way to practice fertility awareness, each with their own intricacies to observational routines and guidelines.

Is there only one way to practice fertility awareness?

The myth: There’s only one kind of fertility awareness based method.

The truth:  There are many.

Each with their own intricacies to the observational routine and guidelines.
 
Cervical Mucus-Only Methods rely on a woman’s daily observation and charting of cervical mucus (like Billings or Creighton)

Sympto-Thermal Methods combines charting cervical mucus, basal body temperature, or other signs like changes in the cervix (like the Justisse Method, Couple to Couple League, and the method taught in the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility)

Sympto-Hormonal Methods combines cervical mucus with urinary metabolite hormone levels (like The Marquette Model and FEMM Fertility Education and Medical Management)

And they have similarities, too!

• They require a time investment to learn the method

• There are no side effects (unless you include body literacy, self-direction, & empowerment)

• They can help women achieve pregnancy naturally or avoid pregnancy naturally

So whichever method you choose, happy charting!

Myth 18

Recording your period on an app that tells you when you’re fertile is just a techy version of the Rhythm Method.

Are you using a period app to tell you when you’re fertile? Then this myth is for you.

The myth: Period apps can tell you when you’re fertile. 

The truth: Not all apps are created equal.

Did you know there nearly 100 apps to allow women to track their menstrual cycles and are being used to avoid pregnancy?

Well this is what you need to know… only some apps use evidence-based fertility awareness methods (which is where you’ll get effectiveness that rivals the birth control pill).

Beware the predictions! Apps that ask you to simply log when you get your period and then predict your fertile days… well that’s just the good ol’ ineffective, outdated rhythm method disguised in fancy-dancy app technology.

The apps you want to look for don’t predict your fertility or at least allow you to turn that option off. 

And they allow you to record evidence-based signs of fertility like cervical mucus and basal body temperature.

Apps can be a convenient way to record your observations on your phone; but it’s the daily observations you make that tell you when you’re fertile.
 
So don’t rely on an app to do that for you.

You know your body best.

Myth 19

Do you think fertility awareness is only for people who are trying to make babies? Think again.

“Oh no, we’re not trying.” “I don’t want kids right now.” “I’m done having kids, thank you.”

These are some responses I get when I tell people I’m a Fertility Awareness Educator. Hence today’s myth.

The myth: FAM is only for people who are trying to conceive.

The truth:  Absolutely not!

Ahhhhhh this one kills me every time!

I can’t even count anymore how many times I tell people I’m a Fertility Awareness Educator and they respond with something like…

UGH! Don’t use the that “f” word around me. I’m might catch a pregnancy.

(Okay maybe that’s a bit dramatic) 

But it’s true. We see the word “fertility” and just think of babies.
 
People practice fertility awareness for more reasons than just to conceive.

It’s also a highly effective, hormone-free, symptom-free birth control.

That means you can finally ditch the pill and still prevent pregnancy with all of the effectiveness and none of the side effects.

And since your menstrual cycle is your 5th vital sign, charting consistently can reveal valuable information about your body health!

That means finally getting to the bottom of that period pain, figuring out what’s up with irregular cycles, or even seeing patterns or abnormalities that would easily be overlooked by a non-charting menstruator.

But yeah, it ALSO means being able to conceive naturally when you’re ready. (Not to mention being able to address any signs of infertility or sub-fertility before trying to get pregnant not on the same cycle!)

Myth 20

I often hear people say you can't use FAM if you have irregular cycles.

Spoiler alert: Yes you can!

The myth: You can’t use the Fertility Awareness Method (or FAM) if you have irregular cycles.

The truth: Absolutely, you can!
 
FAM can be practiced by ALL menstruators, whether they have regular or irregular cycles, if they’re coming of off hormonal birth control, or experiencing cycle changes like perimenopause or breast-feeding.

This is because FAM is about charting daily observations where us menstruators make decisions about our fertility based on what we see today not on what happened in previous cycles (like in the ineffective, outdated Rhythm Method).

In fact, the more irregular your cycle, the more you SHOULD be charting!

Excuse me?

Your menstrual cycle is your 5th vital sign! And fertility awareness charting can reveal whats really behind those irregularities.
 
So to all my menstruating friends,

Keep calm and chart on!

Myth 21

Do you think FAM is too complicated to learn? Better watch this video then.

Is FAM is too complicated to learn?

The myth: The Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) is too complicated to learn.

The truth: You are already wiping when you pee, right? It’s that easy!

FAM involves learning to observe and chart your 3 signs of fertility: cervical mucus, basal body temperature, and cervical position.

Although there’s a bit of a learning curve, most women find that within 2-3 cycles it becomes second nature.

And you don’t even have to chart all three!

Some people choose to start with cervical mucus first. Since that’s the queen of all the signs!

It can really be as simple as taking something you’re already doing everyday… wiping… but doing it more consciously.

Wipe before and after you go.
Pay attention to the sensation you feel.
Look at your toilet paper.
And finger test any cervical mucus you see.

And when you see cervical mucus, you’re fertile!

Now to get the most out our your charting and to to maximize the effectiveness, you’ll want to learn the method from a good book or from a certified fertility awareness educator (like me!).

That way you’ll be clear on the guidelines and confident to use the method to prevent or achieve pregnancy.

So what are you waiting for… go check!

Myth 22

Repeat after me: Tracking your temperature CANNOT help you predict ovulation. So what can it do?

Repeat after me: Tracking your temperature CANNOT help you predict ovulation. So what can it do?

The myth: Tracking your BBT can help you predict ovulation.

The truth: No, but tracking your BBT can help you confirm ovulation.

BBT, or your basal body temperature, is a measure of your metabolic rate. After you ovulate, your metabolism goes up (as a result of a surge of progesterone) and you can measure this shift when you take your temperature every morning.
 
Since you need to ovulate in order to see that temperature shift, it can’t predict when it will happen.

But tracking your BBT can be very useful to confirm that you did in fact ovulate.
 
Though some women may experience a dip in their BBT close to ovulation day, this does not occur reliably enough in all women to be used as a predictor of ovulation. 

Cervical mucus is a much better predictor for when ovulation is likely to occur. 

Happy temping!

Myth 23

While there are a lot of really cool,
fancy-dancy BBT thermometers out there, this is the one I recommend.

There are a lot of really cool, fancy-dancy, BBT thermometers out there. Are they really necessary?

The myth: You need a fancy thermometer to track your basal body temperature (BBT).
 
The truth: No, you don’t.

While there are a lot of cool fertility gadgets you can buy out there including really expensive thermometers…

All you need is a thermometer you can buy from your local drugstore, pharmacy, or convenience store (like Superstore!).

I personally use and give all my clients a non-mercury glass thermometer.

It’s also the best way to asses your thyroid health (remember the menstrual cycle is your 5th vital sign!)

But if you’d prefer to use a digital thermometer, then here are some tips to increase the accuracy: 

• Make sure to get a BBT thermometer not a fever thermometer

• Look for one with two decimal places

• Leave it in your mouth or under your arm for 10 minutes before turning it on

Being consistent is the key when it comes to tracking your BBT.

Don’t change how you’re taking your temperature mid-cycle or you may have a false temperature shift. Instead, wait for the beginning of the next cycle.
 
And no need to break the bank.

A glass non-mercury thermometer works perfectly. And it’s still more economical even after you’ve broken 1 or 2 …. even 5 or more (like me!). 

Happy temping!

Myth 24

Taking your BBT every morning doesn’t have to be a pain! I’ll show you my trick in this video!

Taking your BBT every morning doesn’t have to be a pain! Here’s my trick!

And we’re back with myth #24!

The myth: Taking your BBT every morning is inconvenient.

The truth: It doesn’t have to be!

So remember your BBT, or basal body temperature, is the temperature of your body at its most rested state.
 
And you can measure it to see the shift from low to high temperatures, confirming ovulation has happened.
 
(You watched yesterday’s myth, right?)

So to get the most accurate measurement of your BBT, you want to take it:

• First thing in the morning before getting out of bed

• After a minimum of 5 hours of sleep

• Approximately the same time each day, plus or minus an hour

• Take your temperature for 10 minutes

WHAT?!

I know, I know! It sounds impossible at first. But I have two words for you!

Snooze button.

My trick is to set my alarm 10 minutes before I actually want to get up.
 
Once the alarm goes off, I hit snooze, put my thermometer under my arm and go back to sleep!

When my alarm goes off, my temperature is taken and I’m ready to get up.
 
Show me someone who couldn’t use an extra ten minutes in bed anyways!!

Myth 25

Cervical mucus is THE most important sign of fertility. So how do you know which is fertile or not?

Cervical mucus is THE most important sign of fertility. So how do you know which is fertile or not? 

There’s a huge misconception in the fertility awareness world that not all cervical mucus is fertile so this brings us to myth #25.

The myth: Not all cervical mucus is fertile.

The truth: Repeat after me: All cervical mucus is fertile mucus.
 
As you approach ovulation, your estrogen levels begin to rise and this is what causes your cervical mucus to change from a plug to a slip-n-slide that’s visible at the vulva when you wipe. 

You might observe CM that is…
 
Sticky, cloudy, pasty
Tacky, cloudy
Stretchy, clear (also sometimes called egg white cervical mucus because it looks like raw egg white)
And many other combinations or colours and consistencies.

It’s true your mucus may become more clear and stretchy the closer you approach ovulation, but it doesn’t matter what kind of cervical mucus you see and or how much you see it, when cervical mucus is present, sperm can ride that super-high way all the way to the Hotel De La Sperm, the cervix, and check in for 3 to 5 days waiting for ovulation to occur!
 
Now, there are times when a menstruator may see cervical mucus everyday or have unusual patterns.
 
For example, if they’re coming off hormonal birth control,  breast-feeding, experiencing underlying reasons like food allergies or compromised cervical health or if they’re confusing cervical mucus with vaginal cell slough or arousal fluid (both are which infertile) but these all temporary and should be addressed with your fertility awareness practitioner.
 
So while everyone’s mucus pattern is different, all cervical mucus is fertile mucus! 

Myth 26

Using FAM for birth control involves abstaining during the fertile time. But you can still be aware of your fertility and choose not to abstain on fertile days. In this case, I have 3 tips for you!

Do you despise the thought of having to abstain?

The myth: You have to abstain to use the Fertility Awareness Method.

The truth: Once you learn how to confidently and accurately identify your fertile days, how you decide to manage this time is between you and your partner.
 
You may decide to abstain from intercourse (where you’ll get the highest form of effectiveness) or have alternative sex that doesn’t allow cervical mucus and sperm to mingle.

Or maybe you want to use a barrier method (like a condom or diaphragm), understanding that now you’re relying on the effectiveness of the barrier with the knowledge that you are fertile.
 
For people who would want to use barrier methods during the fertile time, here are 3 tips!

1) Learn the method well so you can confidently identify fertile and infertile days (This might involve getting help from a certified fertility awareness educator – like me!)
 
2) “Double-up”! What I mean is using two types of protection (like using a condom and a diaphragm or use withdrawal combined with a barrier method). This is helpful because the slipperiness of cervical mucus can cause barriers to come off or fall out of place!
 
3) Explore your intimacy and sexuality! And practice expanding your sexual expression to include more than just intercourse. 

Sounds like you have some homework to do!

Myth 27

Do you think sex will be less fun using the Fertility Awareness Method for birth control?

Will sex will be different using FAM for birth control?

The myth: Sex is less fun when you’re using the Fertility Awareness Method (or FAM).

The truth: Oh my goddess, no!

1) Using FAM means you have a libido. 

• Hormonal contraceptives, like the pill, can dramatically reduce your sex drive. And there’s nothing sexy about that.

• If you decide to start using FAM you may be pleasantly surprised to find that after ditching the pill, your sex drive comes back!

2) You have better, deeper communication with your partner (or partners), which can translate into better sex

• In order for the method to work effectively, both partners need to be able to communicate their intentions and agree on how to manage the fertile time.

• Discussing your fertility can make it easier to talk about other aspects of sexuality, like what you like or what you’d like to try.

3) If you choose to practice periodic abstinence, where you avoid sex during the fertile time, this can enhance the anticipation and increase the enjoyment of the sex you have on infertile days.

Plus, using FAM means you’re in touch with the real you and in control of your health and fertility… and that’s a turn on! 

Myth 28

Fertility awareness is only about sex and fertility, right? Wrong.

Is fertility awareness is only about sex & fertility?

The myth: Fertility awareness is just about fertility and sex.

The truth: Absolutely not!
 
While fertility awareness is the daily observation of your signs of fertility and infertility, body literacy is the self-knowledge gained by understanding your cycle!
 
And this self-knowledge includes understanding how to avoid or achieve pregnancy naturally, knowing when your next true period will come, and gaining insight into you overall and reproductive health.
 
But it’s even MORE than that! 

• The menstrual cycle is your ultimate guide to befriending yourself and getting to know all parts of you… that’s all 4 phases!

• And this will completely change the way you live your life!

  • What you eat

  • How you exercise

  • Who you date

  • What jobs you take

  • Whether you go out salsa dancing or stay in and read a good book

• And you’ll begin to live by your own rhythm, follow your own sense of timing and listen to your own intuition…

• Plus, it’s a super-secret, menstruator-only awesome mindfulness tool that we get to tap into every night we chart.

So you start for the fertility awareness but you stay for the body literacy!

Outro

E-High 5! You made it all the way to the end of the 28 Days, 28 Myths video series! And I’m so happy you did!

Well, that was fun!

If you want these menstrual magic moments to keeping poppin’ up, be sure to like my Facebook Page, subscribe to my YouTube Channel, and follow me on Instagram.

It’s my passion to teach people about the menstrual cycle and help them reconnect to their body through fertility awareness charting.

If you’re ready to ditch the pill and avoid or achieve pregnancy naturally, if you want to gain insight into your reproductive and overall health, or if you crave the body literacy that comes from understanding your cycle, I offer 1:1 and group programs for you to learn!
 
I also offer a free, 30 min discovery call where can meet online to see if we’re a good fit for each other! Go ahead and book your spot here!

Happy charting!