Natural contraception is a term mistakenly used to express the fact that we rely on our natural cycle to avoid pregnancy.
In reality, it's more correct to speak of a cycle observation method. Today, I meet more and more women who have decided to stop taking hormones, or who have never taken any at all, and who want to reconnect with themselves, develop their knowledge, and above all know how to reliably determine the fertile and infertile phases in order to manage their cycle naturally.
But in this quest for naturalness, many misunderstandings are common, so what are the mistakes to avoid when undertaking natural contraception?
1 - Rely on a reliable, effective, scientifically recognized method
Unfortunately, today, when a woman wants to try a more natural method of contraception, she's left to her own devices. It's hard to find information from scratch, and most of the time talking to your gynecologist only results in the dissemination of beliefs and judgments, leaving women with no real solution. So, to put it simply, let's put an end to outdated and ineffective methods such as the Ogino method (which involves calculating the days of the cycle) and the temperature method.
These methods are hard-toothed and regularly amalgamated.
In my opinion, the sympto-thermal method is still the most reliable and effective way of observing the cycle. You need to take the time to understand the method before you start, but fortunately today there are more and more books on the subject, and more and more trainers and consultants to help you.
2 - Don't count the days!
An all-too-common mistake. You may have regular cycles, but ovulation is and will remain a moment in the cycle which is not fixed and which depends on several factors: physiological, environmental, emotional ...etc.
So there's no need to count the days of your cycle to find out if you're fertile or not, as this is certainly one of the main causes of unwanted pregnancy.
3 - Take the time to learn
Another common mistake when it comes to natural contraception is jumping in too quickly, thinking you've got it without really understanding the subtleties of the method. In fact, I often hear women say that they use the symptothermal method. They do indeed take their temperature and observe their mucus, but in what way? What ensures the reliability of this method is respect for a few simple but important rules.
For example, did you know that the temperature must be taken every morning on waking, before getting out of bed? That there are situations where this will not be taken into account and the data must be reported on a daily basis in a logbook called a cyclogram?
So here's a valuable piece of advice to ensure that you use the method correctly and reliably: at the very least, take the time to read one of the leading books on the method to get started in the best possible conditions, and then you'll be on your way.
4 - Don't go it alone
It's really necessary and positive to surround yourself with other women who are going through the same process as you are, and to be followed by a consultant. This allows you to talk about your doubts, gain confidence and surround yourself with people who share your values and interests.
5 - Taking the plunge together
Often, by default, and because of the bad habits that society has asked us to adopt, the woman bears the responsibility for contraception in the couple. And yes, after all, it's she who risks pregnancy, not the man, isn't it?
Because of this, there's sometimes a tendency to want to take on this change of contraception alone, but here's an equally common and potentially fatal mistake. Wanting to carry the method alone means depriving the man of the opportunity to understand us better, to make him more responsible in his role. Worse still, you run the risk of experiencing confusion and misunderstanding during your fertile periods.
It's time to experience contraception as a couple, on an equal footing, and practicing the symptothermal method allows you to connect your couple to a much stronger bond. The man is a player in the game, and is just as responsible as the woman for the behavior to adopt during the fertile phase. Of course, good communication is essential, but even if the early stages can be complicated, when you're able to speak freely, you'll emerge much stronger and more connected.
