Since it's arrival in the 1960s, the pill has become the default option for women to prevent pregnancies with over 3.5 million women in the UK currently taking it. There is no question that the pill liberated women and revolutionised how we think about sex but it has become clear to NaturalCycles, a birth control app, that becoming accustomed to using the pill and not having to do anything yourself has left a huge gap in women's basic knowledge about fertility and their menstrual cycles.
Health on Female First
The company that focuses on improving female body awareness has launched their new customer service and educational platform, Ask Tibi, (ask.naturalcycles.com) that aims to bring birth control and fertility counselling online. The portal has information women need to to improve their body awareness so they can take charge of their own fertility and start more relevant discussions with their doctor.
Here are 5 reasons why NaturalCycles thinks it is important to know more about your cycles:
Find a method suitable for you
With access to the right information you can expand your options and make a more informed choice based on your specific needs. Birth control is not a one-size fits all so don't ignore or put up with the daily discomforts you may be experiencing as it's likely it's not the best option for you. Contraception is an essential so find something that matches up to your needs.
Take back the control
More often than not we do as we're told without questioning the repercussions. Too many of us just go along with what our friends or doctors suggest. We start using one method of contraception as teenagers and stay on it. It's time to take back the control, by becoming more knowledgeable about our options and demand for a product that works for us.
Keep an eye on time
The menstrual cycle is what makes us women. It's an indicator of our health, dictates our fertile potential and affects our emotions. However, despite it's importance, many women choose to ignore their cycles (except for buying tampons once a month) until they start to think about starting a family which can run the risk of being a little too late in the game. There is value in learning about the menstrual cycle as it can teach you a lot about yourself as well as how you can control your fertility naturally by finding your most fertile if you are planning pregnancy or non fertile days if you want to prevent.
Gain health insights
You can gain detailed insights about your reproductive health by learning how to track your cycle. Your menstrual cycle characteristics can help you understand your fertile potential and help you diagnose conditions that may be affecting it. For instance, if you're not getting a rise in basal body temperature you are liking experiencing an anovulatory cycle (not ovulating), which could be an indication of a hormone imbalance that could be rooted to an endocrine disorder, such as Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Understand your emotions
Women are designed by nature to be constantly changing, cyclical and emotional. Our hormonal fluctuations are the basis for our sensitivity and responsiveness to our environment, which makes us the flexible and adaptable people we are. However, one in three of all women outsource their hormonal experience to a pharmaceutical product, which can often leave them feeling feeling anxious, depressed and undesired. It's important women understand that contraception can affect the way you feel so they can go about finding an alternative that will make them feel better about themselves.
Tagged in doctor counselling