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Giving Catholic couples practical and faithful help to live their sacramental marriage with joy

Many Catholic couples are struggling to find connection at every level: emotional, spiritual, and physical.

God wants more for you and your marriage.

We can help you rediscover the connection, joy and passion that first brought you together with faithful and practical guidance.

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Dedicated to helping Catholic couples live their marriage with joy and passion!

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The surprising interconnection between estrogen and calcium levels.

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One and Done Endometriosis Surgery with Dr Yeung

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One and Done Endometriosis Surgery with Dr Yeung

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NW Podcast S4Ep2: One and done Endo surgery is possible: How Dr. Patrick Yeung does it

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One and done endometriosis surgery is possible if your doctor knows what he’s doing. Hear how Dr. Patrick Yeung does it in this episode!

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One and Done Endometriosis Surgery with Dr Yeung

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One and Done Endometriosis Surgery with Dr Yeung

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NW Podcast S4Ep2: One and done Endo surgery is possible: How Dr. Patrick Yeung does it

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One and done endometriosis surgery is possible if your doctor knows what he’s doing. Hear how Dr. Patrick Yeung does it in this episode!

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Wins and misses from ACOG’s new endometriosis guidelines 

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Wins and misses from ACOG’s new endometriosis guidelines 

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ACOG’s updates are long overdue—yet they still miss the mark

https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/clinical-practice-guideline/articles/2026/03/diagnosis-of-endometriosis

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Wins and misses from ACOG’s new endometriosis guidelines

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ACOG’s updates are long overdue—yet they still miss the mark

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The 11 Best Baby Sunscreens of 2026 - Milk Drunk

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Finding safe baby sunscreens can be hard, but we asked the experts for their favorite creams, sprays and roll on spf!

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Top-rated baby & kids sunscreens | EWG’s Guide to Sunscreens

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EWG assessed more than 1,700 products, and only about one in four products meets our standards for adequate sun protection and avoids ingredients linked to known health harms.

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For trying to conceive

For cycle support

Made to help you get your cycle back on track

Contains clinical doses of Myo-Inositol (4g) and D-Chiro-Inositol (100mg) in the doctor-recommended 40:1 ratio

Pairs well with our Female Fertility Power Prenatal Pack to support ovulation, hormone regulation, and egg quality, helping prep your body for pregnancy

Improves insulin sensitivity, supporting metabolic health and overall well-being

Helps with energy, mood, and weight fluctuations related to cycle irregularity

Convenient once-daily, unflavored powder packs that dissolve easily in water

Vegan, gluten-free, and free from artificial colors, dairy, nuts, shellfish, and soy

Pregnancy and breastfeeding safe

Not trying to conceive? Inositol Cycle Support helps manage insulin sensitivity through perimenopause and beyond.

Nutrition Facts

Inositol Cyle Support

Serving size: 1 stick packet

Servings per box: 30

Amount per serving

% daily value

Myo-inositol

4 g

-

Magnesium (as magnesium citrate)

22 mg

5%

D-chiro-inositol

100 mg

-

Other ingredients: Isomalt

What makes it special

30 daily packs to simplify your routine

Research-backed forms of Inositol that are proven to support ovulation and egg quality

High-quality bioavailable ingredients at the right doses and ratios

Unflavored and taste-free powder

Free of gluten, dairy, shellfish, yeast, artificial colors, dyes and preservatives

HSA/FSA-eligible

Made in Canada

Is this product for you?

Females and people with eggs who are looking to:

Maintain their menstrual and ovulation cycle, or

Promote reproductive health, or

Support healthy glucose metabolism

Note: There are no known risks during pregnancy, but always consult a healthcare practitioner if you become pregnant while taking Inositiol Cycle Support or prior to use if you are pregnant or nursing.

Have a hard time deciding? Give our quiz a try to be matched with the best prenatal for you.

All the good stuff in it

Myo-Inositol & D-Chiro-Inositol

In each sachet, you'll find a 40:1 ratio of Myo-Inositol to D-Chiro-Inositol-the recommended dose and ratio by fertility doctors to help support your reproductive health. Studies show Myo-Inositol can support healthy glucose metabolism and regulate cycles, while D-Chiro-Inositol supports egg quality. They work best when taken together in that doc-recommended ratio, which is why we've included both, perfectly measured out in each daily sachet.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

What you may be asking yourself right now

What the experts say

I highly recommend Bird&Be prenatal supplements to all my patients who are trying to conceive. They provide a personalized and convenient approach, which makes their prenatals more efficient and enhances patient compliance.

I'm thrilled for patients to be able to access higher and more effective doses of key ingredients than I've seen in other prenatals - three cheers for choline and CoQ10!

Having an evidence-based approach to fertility-focused supplements is a key component to optimizing success, and it's great that Bird&Be's scientifically-backed prenatals are accessible to everyone, regardless of whether they're seeing a fertility specialist.

Bird&Be has hit all the right marks for prenatal and preconception care. They've removed the guesswork from patients' supplement regimes, while emphasizing dose education and including usable, active ingredient forms.

Personalizing the formulas based on the individual's needs makes Bird&Be's supplements much more effective, especially for those who require a much more intensive regimen to support conception.

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Best inositol supplement to support fertility, ovulation, irregular cycles, and insulin resistance. Includes Myo-Inositol and D-Chiro blend. Shop now

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Talking to Kids about Death, Dying, and Grief

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Talking to Kids about Death, Dying, and Grief

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Vaccines: Mythology, Ideology, and Reality

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Amazon.com: Vaccines: Mythology, Ideology, and Reality (Audible Audio Edition): John Leake, Peter A. McCullough MD MPH, Paul Boehmer, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.: Audible Books & Originals

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The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child (Updated in 2023)

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offers parents a fair, impartial, fact-based resource from the most trusted name in pediatrics. Dr. Bob devotes each chapter in the book to a disease/vaccine pair and offers a comprehensive discussion of what the disease is, how common or rare it is, how serious or harmless it is, the ingredien...

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Paul Thomas M.D. (Author), Jennifer Margulis (Author)

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The Vaccine-Friendly Plan: Dr. Paul’s Safe and Effective Approach to Immunity and Health-from Pregnancy Through Your Child’s Teen Years

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The Vaccine-Friendly Plan: Dr. Paul’s Safe and Effective Approach to Immunity and Health-from Pregnancy Through Your Child’s Teen Years [Thomas M.D., Paul, Margulis, Jennifer] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Vaccine-Friendly Plan: Dr. Paul’s Safe and Effective Approach to Immunity and Health-from Pregnancy Through Your Child’s Teen Years

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

The Studies the CDC Refuses to Do

Given the massive push to vaccinate the entire global population, this book is timely and necessary for individuals to make informed choices for themselves and their families.

This book is based on over one hundred studies in the peer-reviewed literature that consider vaccinated versus unvaccinated populations. Each study is analyzed, and health differences among infants, children, and adults who have been vaccinated and those who have not are presented and put in context. Readers will find information on:

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Vax-Unvax: Let the Science Speak (Children's Health Defense)

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This book is based on over one hundred studies in the peer-reviewed literature that consider vaccinated versus unvaccinated populations. Each study is analyzed, and health differences among infants, children, and adults who have been vaccinated and those who have not are presented and put i...

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Wellbel Women+ Menopause Hair Growth Supplement | Physician-Formulated

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Physician-formulated vegan hair supplement for women during perimenopause & menopause. Supports thicker, fuller hair, reduces shedding, improves density.

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Whether you’re donating or freezing your eggs or starting IVF, here’s how egg retrieval works

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Whether you’re donating or freezing your eggs or starting IVF, here’s how egg retrieval works

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Whether you’re donating or freezing your eggs or starting IVF, here’s how egg retrieval works

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The procedures, the drugs, and their risks

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PCO Px (Restorative Formulations) supplement

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PCO Px (Restorative Formulations) supplement

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Chaste Tree Berry (Vitex) is known to support healthy menstrual and ovarian function through hormone balance and healthy progesterone levels. It acts on the pituitary gland to help balance luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin already within normal range. Vitex may help promote a positive mood during the menstrual cycle. It can provide breast comfort throughout the cycle.

Myo- and D-Chiro-Inositol are shown to support healthy insulin response and balance androgens already within normal range. They also support reproductive health and ovarian health.

Organic licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) contains the active component Glycyrrhizin, which is used to balance blood sugar metabolism that is already within the normal range. It can support balanced cortisol levels to encourage healthy metabolism. Licorice also supports reproductive glands by helping balance ovarian follicles and function.

Saw palmetto fruit concentrated extract provides 202 mg fatty acids in three capsules. It supports healthy androgen metabolism by maintaining healthy 5-alpha-reductase activity.

Chromium and vanadium are trace minerals that play a role in balancing insulin and blood sugar metabolism, which is already within the normal range.

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Chaste Tree Berry (Vitex) is known to support healthy menstrual and ovarian function through hormone balance and healthy progesterone levels. It acts on the pituitary gland to help balance luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin already within normal range. Vitex may help promote a positive mood during the menstrual cycle.

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Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDA 2026)

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Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDA 2026)

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New Food Pyramid and Diet Guidelines USDA 2026

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For 40 years, the Pediatric Group has offered expert, comprehensive pediatric care, committed to developing compassionate and trusted relationships with our families in a warm and friendly environment.

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Medical conditions that cause heavy periods

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Medical conditions that cause heavy periods

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and how to find restorative care for them

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In a previous article, we delved into how heavy periods are defined, as well as how various diet and lifestyle issues, as well as some drugs and contraceptive medications and devices, can contribute to heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). However, many cases of HMB are linked to underlying uterine or systemic conditions. In this article, we will discuss the diagnosis and treatment of the underlying medical conditions that often cause HMB.

Improving diagnosis of HMB

To improve the diagnosis of HMB, in 2011, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) created a standardized classification system for abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). FIGO System 1 describes bleeding patterns using four primary descriptors: frequency, duration, regularity, and flow volume. FIGO System 2 classifies possible causes of AUB using the acronym PALM-COEIN [1].

PALM: structural causes (Polyp, Adenomyosis, Leiomyoma, Malignancy)

COEI: nonstructural causes (Coagulopathy, Ovulatory dysfunction, Endometrial, Iatrogenic)

N: not yet classified

Structural causes of HMB (PALM)

Polyp (P): Small overgrowths of endometrial tissue. While often asymptomatic, they can cause irregular or heavy bleeding, particularly in women over 40. A 1988 study found that 28% of women with abnormal uterine bleeding had endometrial polyps, most commonly between ages 40 and 50 [2].

Adenomyosis (A): Endometrial tissue invading the muscular wall of the uterus. HMB is the most common symptom of adenomyosis, although roughly one-third of women with the condition may have no symptoms. The exact mechanism behind adenomyosis isn't fully understood, but impaired uterine contractility is thought to play a role [2].

Leiomyoma (L) / Fibroids: Non-cancerous tumors that grow in the muscular wall of the uterus. A 2016 study found that 46% of women with fibroids experienced excessive bleeding, compared to 28% of those without. Fibroids are especially common in black women, and all women in their 40s and perimenopausal years, when progesterone levels drop and estrogen dominates [2].

Malignancy and hyperplasia (M): Although less common, cancers of the uterus or cervix can cause abnormal or heavy bleeding [2].

Non-structural causes of HMB (COEIN)

Coagulopathy (C): Blood clotting issues, such as von Willebrand disease, can prevent the body from properly stopping menstrual bleeding. Some estimates suggest that up to 13% of women with menorrhagia have an undiagnosed bleeding disorder [3].

Ovulatory dysfunction (O): Common in conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), where infrequent ovulation leads to prolonged estrogen exposure without progesterone. This causes excessive endometrial buildup and heavier bleeding. Elevated androgens in some types of PCOS are converted into estrone, a potent form of estrogen that further thickens the lining [2].

Endometrial (E): Inflammation or infection of the uterine lining (endometritis) can cause irregular, prolonged, or heavy bleeding [2].

Iatrogenic (I): Certain medications-such as blood thinners, tamoxifen, and some forms of hormonal contraception-can trigger or worsen heavy bleeding.

Not otherwise classified (N): Includes causes still being researched, such as the interplay between gut microbiome health and abnormal bleeding patterns.

How are heavy periods diagnosed and treated?

Treatment of HMB varies depending on the cause. Working with a doctor trained in Restorative Reproductive Medicine (RRM) can help ensure root-cause treatment for your heavy periods. This may include lifestyle and nutrition changes to support hormone balance, targeted hormonal therapies like bioidentical progesterone, surgical interventions such as fibroid removal or polyp excision, and microbiome and liver support to optimize estrogen metabolism.

Treatment of HMB varies depending on the cause. Working with a doctor trained in Restorative Reproductive Medicine (RRM) can help ensure root-cause treatment for your heavy periods. This may include lifestyle and nutrition changes to support hormone balance, targeted hormonal therapies like bioidentical progesterone, surgical interventions such as fibroid removal or polyp excision, and microbiome and liver support to optimize estrogen metabolism.

The best first step in diagnosis is using a Fertility Awareness Method (FAM), which helps detect cycle patterns and can speed the journey to diagnosis through hormone testing (estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, insulin), pelvic ultrasound (to evaluate fibroids, polyps, or adenomyosis), endometrial biopsy (to assess for abnormal or precancerous cells), and blood work (to check for anemia, infection, or clotting issues).

What we still don't know about heavy menstrual bleeding

Despite progress, many questions remain-such as the exact trigger for endometrial shedding, why similar hormone profiles can yield vastly different symptoms, and how gut health, immunity, and environmental exposures interact to drive abnormal bleeding. More research is needed into treatments that address root hormonal imbalances rather than simply suppressing symptoms.

Resources to help you on the path towards healing from heavy periods

If you're struggling with heavy menstrual bleeding and are looking for answers, Natural Womanhood has a variety of free resources to help you start on the path towards healing today.

Consider booking a free 20-minute phone call with one of Natural Womanhood's experienced fertility awareness instructors.

Fill our our Cycle Symptom Checklist to bring to your doctor to help get to the root cause of your heavy periods.

If you're new to the world of fertility awareness and want to harness the power of your "fifth vital sign" in addressing the root cause of heavy periods and other cycle-related issues, use this guide to choose a FAM and start learning today.

Looking for a doctor who can utilize your menstrual cycle charts in diagnosing and treating your heavy periods (without birth control?). Click here.

The bottom line on heavy menstrual bleeding

Considering that a woman will have, on average, 400 repetitive cycles of menstrual bleeding during her lifetime, heavy bleeding can be a real disturbance to her well-being throughout her reproductive life. As research has developed a more robust understanding of what causes nearly 30% of women to experience heavy menstrual bleeding, it is important for women to feel equipped to not let this experience go unaddressed.

Heavy periods can come from a wide range of causes, and these can be hormonal, metabolic, or structural in nature (or some combination thereof). From estrogen dominance, stress, and insulin resistance, to uterine fibroids, PCOS, and thyroid dysfunction-and even external factors like copper IUDs and gut microbiome disruption-addressing the root cause(s) of your heavy period is critical to your overall health and well-being as a woman. Furthermore, understanding the root cause can empower you to seek treatment that supports your health and honors the natural design of your body.

References

[1] Munro MG, Critchley HO, Broder MS, Fraser IS; FIGO Working Group on Menstrual Disorders. FIGO classification system (PALM-COEIN) for causes of abnormal uterine bleeding in nongravid women of reproductive age. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2011 Apr;113(1):3-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2010.11.011. Epub 2011 Feb 22. PMID: 21345435. [2] Hapangama DK, Bulmer JN. Pathophysiology of heavy menstrual bleeding. Womens Health (Lond). 2016 Jan;12(1):3-13. doi: 10.2217/whe.15.81. Epub 2015 Dec 23. PMID: 26695831; PMCID: PMC5779569. [3] Shankar M, Lee CA, Sabin CA, Economides DL, Kadir RA. von Willebrand disease in women with menorrhagia: a systematic review. BJOG. 2004 Jul;111(7):734-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2004.00176.x. PMID: 15198765.

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Medical conditions that cause heavy periods

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In this article, we will discuss the diagnosis and treatment of the underlying medical conditions that often cause heavy periods.

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HHS Releases Peer-Reviewed Report Discrediting Pediatric Sex-Rejecting Procedures

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HHS Releases Peer-Reviewed Report Discrediting Pediatric Sex-Rejecting Procedures

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US Department of Health and Human Services

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Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA)

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HHS Releases Peer-Reviewed Report Discrediting Pediatric Sex-Rejecting Procedures

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HHS published Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices, its peer-reviewed study of the medical dangers posed to children from attempts to change their biological sex.

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Cervical-Length Screening & Vaginal Progesterone to Prevent Preterm Birth: A Review

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Cervical-Length Screening & Vaginal Progesterone to Prevent Preterm Birth: A Review

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Cervical-Length Screening & Vaginal Progesterone to Prevent Preterm Birth: A Review - FACTS About Fertility

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Matt Fradd and Christopher West have a fascinating discussion about Pope John Paul II’s “Love and Responsibility.”

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A Woman’s Guide To Pelvic Floor Health At Every Age And Stage

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Optimizing Nutrition on GLP1's with Nourish online

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Optimizing Nutrition on GLP1's with Nourish online

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Nourish research on weight loss and GLP-1s demonstrates evidence from 3,700 patient survey on how Nourish’s GLP-1 care pathways can drive sustainable weight loss and improved patient outcomes beyond medication alone.

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Abnormal Uterine Bleeding and Hyperinsulinemia

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Abnormal Uterine Bleeding and Hyperinsulinemia

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Begotten Not Made: A Catholic View of Reproductive Technology

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Begotten Not Made: A Catholic View of Reproductive Technology

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Begotten Not Made: A Catholic View of Reproductive Technology

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by John M. Haas, Ph.D., S.T.L. In IVF, children are engendered through a technical process, subjected to “quality control,” and eliminated if found “defectiv…

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Begotten Not Made: A Catholic View of Reproductive Technology

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Begotten Not Made: A Catholic View of Reproductive Technology

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Begotten Not Made: A Catholic View of Reproductive Technology

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
by John M. Haas, Ph.D., S.T.L. In IVF, children are engendered through a technical process, subjected to “quality control,” and eliminated if found “defectiv…

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Assisted Reproductive Technologies: A Catholic Perspective

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Assisted Reproductive Technologies: A Catholic Perspective

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Assisted Reproduction: What Are the Options for Catholics?

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The Catholic Church understands the pain of infertile couples and recognizes certain means of helping them conceive as ethical.

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Assisted Reproductive Technologies: A Catholic Perspective

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Assisted Reproductive Technologies: A Catholic Perspective

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Assisted Reproduction: What Are the Options for Catholics?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Catholic Church understands the pain of infertile couples and recognizes certain means of helping them conceive as ethical.

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Reproductive Technology - Evaluation and Treatment of Infertility

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Reproductive Technology - Evaluation and Treatment of Infertility

# data[].attributes.headline
Reproductive Technology - Evaluation and Treatment of Infertility

# data[].attributes.subject
Reproductive Technology - Evaluation and Treatment of Infertility

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ellura® — Cranberry Supplement for Urinary Tract Health

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The UTI struggle is real, we hear you. ellura® is a clinically backed cranberry supplement that may help reduce the ability of certain bacteria to adhere to the urinary tract wall.

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Video: The Economics of Sex. The Austin Institute. 

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Video: The Economics of Sex. The Austin Institute. 

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Abortion is devastating and leaves a lasting impact on your heart, but it is not unforgivable.

Many believe that they are forgiven, but cannot forgive themselves.

Jesus has come to give you freedom from your abortion wounded heart.

We are here to help you experience that freedom.

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Deeper Still | Find freedom from your abortion wounded heart

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Many believe that they are forgiven, but cannot forgive themselves. Jesus has come to give you freedom from your abortion wounded heart. We are here to help you experience that freedom.

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International Help Line (Post-abortion help)

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International Help Line (Post-abortion help)

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Healing Hidden Hurts - Post-Abortion Healing Resource

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Healing Hidden Hurts - Post-Abortion Healing Resource

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Healing Hidden Hurts is a Christ-centered, compassionate and FREE confidential ministry leading those that have been affected by an abortion to reconciliation, restoration and peace of mind and heart.

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Connection between Endometriosis and Painful Sex - Natural Womanhood

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Connection between Endometriosis and Painful Sex - Natural Womanhood

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“Sex should never be painful:” The connection between endometriosis and painful sex

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Decked out in my white strapless dress trimmed with a subtle sweetheart neckline (and just a touch of sparkle), my father walked me down the aisle and

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Endometriosis - Fertility & Midwifery Birth Center

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Endometriosis is a remarkable and unusual condition affecting millions of women throughout their reproductive years. Tissue normally forming the lining of the uterus, the endometrium, migrates via an unknown mechanism outside of the uterus and establishes “islands” of endometrium in other tissues and organs. The tissue continues to respond to the reproductive hormones just as though it were within the uterus. That is, during the early phase of the menstrual cycle, the endometriosis thickens and grows. During the latter phase of the menstrual cycle when bleeding occurs, the endometriosis bleeds as well.

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Tips for Recovering Well from a Laparoscopy. Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia. 

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Tips for Recovering Well from a Laparoscopy. Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia. 

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A laparoscopy is an operation where a gynaecologist puts a telescope through the umbilicus (belly button) to look at the organs inside. For many girls and women, a laparoscopy is one part of their pain management plan.

Preparing well for a laparoscopy means a quicker recovery, less pain, less time in hospital, and a better health outcome. That's definitely worth putting thought into.

Rather than a laparoscopy being the first part of your pain management plan, it is often best to settle your pelvis and sort out as many non-surgical pains first. Even if you have endometriosis, it is common that there are other types of pain present too. For example, you may have the stabbing pains which are typical of pelvic muscle spasms. You may have cramping pain from the uterus itself with periods. You may have irritable bowel symptoms or food intolerances. These all contribute to your overall pain experience.

By taking 2-3 months to prepare yourself and your body, you set yourself up best for a more comfortable hospital experience and a better laparoscopy outcome. Most pelvic pain conditions (including endometriosis) do not change quickly, so, you have time to plan well.

The advice on this page is of a general nature and may not suit every person. Your gynaecologist knows your individual situation best, so please choose their advice if their plans for you are different from ours.
In the three months before surgery
Plan to minimise as many aspects of your pain as you can, so you can arrive at the hospital in good condition, both mentally and physically.

- Take time to think carefully, and make sure that you are comfortable with your decision to have a laparoscopy. Think about what you are trying to achieve by having surgery? Which pain is your primary concern? Is this a pain that surgery can treat? If you are unsure, there is information about each type of pelvic pain in this that explains which treatments work best for that particular pain. If you have had surgery before that did not improve your pain, or only helped you for a short time, ask yourself what will be different this time? If you are unsure about your decision to have surgery, now is the time to make an appointment with your doctor to discuss it further. Once you are sure, either way, you can feel positive and calm. You have made a decision. This reduces worry, which in turn can reduce pain.

- Minimise your periods to give your pain a chance to improve before surgery. Each period can wind up your overall pain, and the pelvic muscle spasms that causes the stabbing pains. If you use the contraceptive pill, try to skip periods, rather than have a period each month. If you find it difficult to skip periods with the contraceptive pill, ask your doctor about changing to a progestogen-only tablet like norethisterone 5mg or dienogest 2mg taken every day continuously without breaks. You can start these medications on the 3 rd day of a period, but remember to take them every day without forgetting any tablets. If you do forget them, you may get bleeding and pain. If you don't like taking these medications, consider whether it would be acceptable for you to take them just for two months before your surgery and one month after surgery?

These medications will thin the lining of the uterus ready for your surgery and reduce the aggravation of pain that happens with bleeding. Thinning the lining of the uterus is especially important if you are considering having an intrauterine device inserted. A thin endometrium (lining of the uterus) gives the intrauterine device a great start. By staying on these medications for a month after an intrauterine device is inserted, you give the intrauterine device time to settle in the uterus before a period happens.

- Time your surgery for just after a period. The best time to have surgery is just after a period. The lining of the uterus is thinner at that time, and cramps from the uterus are less common. If you have natural hormonal cycles, try to plan your laparoscopy for the first half of your menstrual cycle. If you are on the contraceptive pill, and using the pill continuously, stop your hormone tablets eight days before your surgery, allow your body to have a period, then restart the pill as usual and take it continuously until you are fully recovered from your surgery. This will give your body time to recover before your next period. If you are on a progestogen-only medication like norethisterone (Primolut) or dienogest (Visanne), then you can take these medications straight through from before your surgery, during your time in hospital and afterwards. Remember to take your medications into the hospital with you and not to miss any tablets.

- Settle down pelvic muscle stabbing and aching pain by keeping moving. We recommend the stretches on our webpage, going for a walk each day, seeing a pelvic physiotherapist skilled in helping people with pain, and using the downloadable pelvic muscle relaxation audio available through our PPFA shop. Pelvic muscle spasms are often the worst pain for people. These muscles can't be seen at laparoscopy, and the stabbing pain this causes isn't treated by surgery. Sometimes the muscle relaxant drugs and anaesthetic drugs used during surgery can improve this type of pain for a short time, but surgery doesn't provide a long-term fix for this pain.

- Improve your bowel function. Bowel symptoms, including constipation, will aggravate other aspects of your pelvic pain, particularly the stabbing, aching pains of pelvic muscle spasm. Options including obtaining advice from a dietitian, avoiding foods that don't suit you, or generally eating more 'plants' can help your bowel function and your pain. Aim for a bowel action like a soft banana that you can pass without straining. You may need to talk to your doctor about how to achieve this.

- Treat pain sensitisation. This is the change in nerve function that makes your pelvis so sensitive. If you have pain on many days for more than six months, you have pain sensitisation. Sensitivity worsens with inactivity, using regular opioid medications and stress. Keep your mind busy with things that matter to you, and ask your doctor if a trial of a low dose of amitriptyline may help you. It suits around 1 in 2 people with pain and is particularly worth taking before, during, and after an operation. Using amitriptyline at this time improves your recovery, and reduces your need for other medications. It reduces the chance that your surgery can aggravate your pain sensitisation, and it also helps sleep and headaches.

- If you are anxious or depressed, ask your doctor whether a psychologist may help you. Anxiety worsens pain, and an operation is an added cause of anxiety for some people. Plan your calendar to have a low-stress time in the weeks leading up to your surgery.

- Make a plan to stop smoking. Smoking is never a good idea, and before an operation is a particularly good time to quit. As smoking is not permitted in hospitals, and the urge to smoke is less after an anaesthetic, an operation is also an excellent time to permanently change your life. Become a non-smoker and make another step towards health and well-being.
Eight days before your surgery
- Plan whether you will have a period before your surgery (see above). Generally, this is a good idea, as it means you won't have a period during your recovery, and the surgery will be taking place at a time when the pelvis is calm, and the endometrium is thin.

- U se anti-inflammatory medications such as diclofenac or ibuprofen for pain relief at this time. However, it is best to avoid these medications in the 5-7 days before your surgery. Using them just before your operation can increase the amount of bleeding you have at the operation. You may wish to ask your doctor if you can try these as a suppository, rather than a tablet, as these work better, and for longer.

- Thinking positively. Remember that you have made the decision to have a laparoscopy carefully and that you can feel positive about your hospital admission. Thinking positively and using positive language will all improve how you feel about yourself and your surgery.
3 Days before your laparoscopy
- Plan your bowel preparation. An empty bowel makes surgery easier for your doctor and more comfortable for you. Your gynaecologist will have explained the plan for your individual bowel preparation, depending on the surgery that is planned. If more severe problems are expected, they may recommend a bowel prep. This usually takes 2-3 days before the surgery to complete. For most women, a bowel prep may not be necessary. Even so, it is still more comfortable for you if you have an empty bowel when you have your surgery. This reduces the chance of constipation after your operation. Coloxyl with Senna, an Enemax or a Glycerine suppository can help for two days before surgery.

- Pack your hospital bag. Things to take include your current medications, hospital paperwork, socks or slippers, toothpaste and toothbrush, throat lozenges, phone charger and headphones, book or magazine, peppermint tea or oil, lip balm, face wash or wipes, body wash, deodorant, hairbrush and dry shampoo, heat pack, pads and loose high waisted period undies, slip-on shoes/sandals and comfy clothes to wear home.

- Eating a healthy diet during this time, will help settle your bowel symptoms, another great way to prepare your body for surgery.

- Plan who will take you to the hospital, and who will pick you up from the hospital when it is time to go home after your surgery.
The day before your surgery
- Make sure you have time to go for a walk, do your stretches, and plan some enjoyable activities. Being calm and relaxed when you go to hospital is a great start.

- Fasting. Make sure you know when you have to fast from before your surgery. This will depend on what time your surgery is planned. There may be a different time for fasting for food (this includes milk in hot drinks), and fasting for water. If fasting for long periods can make you feel unwell, then ask the hospital staff if you can have an intravenous drip inserted while you wait. This can be especially important for women with diabetes or certain medical conditions.

- Anaesthetist questions. If you have questions for the anaesthetist who will put you to sleep, it is best to write them down on a piece of paper to have with you. That way you won't forget them.
When you are admitted to hospital
Hospitals can be scary places for people who are unfamiliar with them. They don't need to be. The hospital staff are there to look after you, and both your anaesthetist and your gynaecologist will stay with you throughout your operation.

Once you check-in at the front desk, you will be admitted and taken to your room. The process of hospital admission, and preparation for surgery can take some time, so it's best to take a book or music to listen to. If you prefer, you could ask a friend or family member to wait with you, chat, or bring an activity you can do together. The nursing staff will ask you to put on a hospital gown and ask you questions to check everything is ready for your laparoscopy. When it is time for your laparoscopy, you will be taken to the operating theatre.
In hospital when talking to your anaesthetist
The anaesthetist is the doctor who will put you to sleep and care for you until you wake up. They also manage your pain medications. You will meet the anaesthetist either in your room on the ward, or when you are taken to the operating theatre.

If you are not already on these medications, ask whether any of the following medications would improve your recovery:

- 10mg amitriptyline at night, every night until you have fully recovered. You may have already chosen to start this in the lead up to your surgery

- 100mg diclofenac suppository twice daily for the first few days after surgery, especially if you have had an intrauterine device inserted

- a medication for your bowels to avoid constipation, with a backup plan if needed

- 5mg of diazepam as a suppository or as a tablet for occasional use if your stabbing pains are a problem after the operation

- a tablet to reduce stomach acid while you are taking anti-inflammatory medications, especially if you have an easily irritated stomach or pain in your upper abdomen

Ask your doctor if you can keep taking your contraceptive pill or progestogen medication every day on time so that your period stays away while you are recovering.
In hospital during your recovery
The length of your surgery depends on what is found. If all looks normal, then your laparoscopy will usually take around thirty minutes. If you have endometriosis, or other conditions that require removal, then the surgery will take longer, depending on what needs to be done. Laparoscopic surgery is delicate work using small instruments near sensitive structures, so it takes time.

After your laparoscopy, you will wake up in the recovery ward. This is a special area near the operating theatre where patients are cared for by nursing staff until they are more awake and feeling comfortable. This usually takes one or two hours, depending on what type of surgery you have had, and how quickly you wake up. You will be attached to an intravenous infusion (you may have heard it called a drip) that provides water, salt and any medicine you need, into one of the veins in your arm until you can eat and drink normally.

Get up to go for short walks when you can. This will help your pelvic muscles move, and they will be less likely to go into spasm. If you have stabbing, aching pains, ask for a heat pack, do the pelvic muscles stretches, use the pelvic muscle relaxation strategies you've learned, go for a short walk if you can, or ask whether a diazepam tablet or suppository is available. These are for occasional use only, not regularly.

Your gynaecologist will come and explain to you what was found at your operation. If you have particular questions you want to ask, it is best to write these down on a piece of paper before your doctor arrives, or even before your surgery, as you might still be a bit sleepy, and it is easy to forget what they say. If so, you can ask them to write down what they found so you can read it later.

There are many types of pelvic pain, and most women have more than one type of pain. Some pains can be seen at a laparoscopy, but many pains can't be seen. The best outcome for your long-term health and fertility is to find that your pelvis looks normal, with either no endometriosis or small amounts of endometriosis. This doesn't mean that your pain isn't real. It is very real. Your laparoscopy is normal because your pain is a pain that can't be seen at a laparoscopy. There are many other non-surgery treatments for pelvic pain, and you may wish to look again at the book or other pages on this website.

Remember to tell the nurse if you think you are constipated. They can help you. Ask them what to do if you haven't opened your bowels after three days once you are at home and ask when your doctor's follow-up appointment will be.
Once you go home
Go for a walk every day. Even if the first walk is just around your garden. It is important to keep moving. The next walk maybe one block, and you will gradually build up.

Constipation is common after a laparoscopy. As well as the laxatives your doctor may have recommended, think carefully about your diet. Psyllium husk in liquid, kiwi fruit and drinking lots of water will help keep your bowels soft. If you have a sensitive bowel, then drinking peppermint or ginger tea, and using sterculia (normacol) or movicol daily may suit you better.
Three days after your surgery
Aim to have stopped all opioid medications within 2-3 days of your surgery. This includes codeine, oxycodone, fentanyl, tapentadol and any other opioids. Taking these medications for more extended periods will prolong the number of days you have pain for, as they sensitise the pain system, and they can cause constipation which aggravates pain. Read more about opioids here.

You can continue to use anti-inflammatory medications, paracetamol, and amitriptyline. If you have not opened your bowels, use the plan that you discussed with the nursing staff or your gynaecologist in hospital.
Your post-operative visit with your gynaecologist
Before your visit, it is a good idea to write down the 2-3 questions you want to be answered at your visit.

Most gynecologists take pictures of your pelvis during a laparoscopy. They also write down what they find on an operation sheet. This is important information for you. If possible, ask for a copy of your laparoscopy photos and your operation sheet, and keep this information stored carefully away for future. This way you'll understand more about your pain condition, and you'll have the information to provide to other health practitioners in the future.
Importantly: Remember the two pelvic pain myths!
Myth 1: If you have pain, there must be something to see at a laparoscopy. Many types of pain can't be seen. Endometriosis is often present in women with pain, but it doesn't need to be. You can have lots of pain and no endo, or lots of endo and no pain.

Myth 2: If something is found at laparoscopy, then that is the cause of the pain. It may be that your worst pain is a pain that can't be seen at a laparoscopy. There may be changes to see, but they may not be your worst pain.

All the best with your operation and recovery.

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Tips and Tricks to recovering well from a laparoscopy - Pelvic Pain Foundation

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A laparoscopy is an operation where a gynaecologist puts a telescope through the umbilicus (belly button) to look at the organs inside. For many girls and women, a laparoscopy is one part of their pain management plan. Preparing well for a laparoscopy means a quicker recovery, less pain, less time in hospital, and a better [...]

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NoMoEndo - patient stories and resources on Endometriosis

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How to Get an Endometriosis Diagnosis and Find Truly Restorative Treatment. Natural Womanhood. 

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How to Get an Endometriosis Diagnosis and Find Truly Restorative Treatment

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FFP 136 | Endometriosis, PCOS & Fibroids | Surgical Techniques That Preserve Fertility | NaPro Technology | Dr. Kyle Beiter - Fertility Friday

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Dr. Beiter is a Board Certified Medical Doctor, with a specialization in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology who specializes in fertility. Dr. Beiter is a trained NaPro Technology Surgeon. For those of you who aren’t familiar with NaPro technology is a specialized form of gynecologic surgery whose primary aim is to reconstruct the uterus,… Read More »

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Secondary Amenorrhea and Associated Risks: A Research Review. FACTS. 

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Secondary Amenorrhea and Associated Risks: A Research Review. FACTS. 

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What are the Symptoms of PCOS, and How Do You Treat It? Natural Womanhood. 

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Implications of Teenage Menstrual, Hormonal, and Metabolic Dysfunction - FACTS About Fertility

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May marks National Adolescent Health Month, and today we feature research summarized by Alyssa Heric, a medical student and former participant in the FACTS elective. The study authors identified a link between untreated oligomenorrhea and the onset of metabolic dysfunction.[1] Their research adds to the existing data that presents a strong case to educate young women about fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) to identify menstrual abnormalities and prevent later diseases.

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An Adolescent Uses FABMs to Track Her Cycle and Understand Her Body. FACTS. 

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An Adolescent Uses FABMs to Track Her Cycle and Understand Her Body. FACTS. 

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You will be automatically redirected to the requested page after 3 seconds.Don’t close this page. Please, wait for 3 seconds to pass to the page.

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Empowering Teenage Girls to Know Their Bodies (Video) 

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Empowering Teenage Girls to Know Their Bodies (Video) 

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Cycle mindfulness: what happens when you teach fertility awareness to teen girls - Natural Womanhood. 

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Cycle mindfulness: what happens when you teach fertility awareness to teen girls - Natural Womanhood. 

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Cycle mindfulness: What happens when you teach fertility awareness to teen girls

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In the 1980s, Leslie Carol Botha taught basic fertility awareness charting to teen girls (13-17 year-olds) at eight different restorative care homes for

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This Is Your Brain on Birth Control. Sarah Hill, PhD. 

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This Is Your Brain on Birth Control. Sarah Hill, PhD. 

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Amazon.com: This Is Your Brain on Birth Control: The Surprising Science of Women, Hormones, and the Law of Unintended Consequences eBook : Hill, Sarah: Kindle Store

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Amazon.com: This Is Your Brain on Birth Control: The Surprising Science of Women, Hormones, and the Law of Unintended Consequences eBook : Hill, Sarah: Kindle Store

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Subverted: How I Helped the Sexual Revolution Hijack the Women’s Movement. Sue Ellen Browder. 

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Subverted: How I Helped the Sexual Revolution Hijack the Women’s Movement. Sue Ellen Browder. 

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Hormonal Birth Control Depletes Your Body of Key Nutrient. Natural Womanhood.

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Hormonal Birth Control Depletes Your Body of Key Nutrient. Natural Womanhood.

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You like to eat right. You take pride in shopping at farmers markets, where the produce is fresh and nutritious-and preferably grown without the pesticides that can wreak havoc on your . You try to consume organic meat, eggs, and dairy, raised without synthetic hormones that make the animals freakishly bigger and more productive, and do God knows what to your own system. You even "greened" your makeup routine down to your , because you can't bear the thought of accidentally consuming the nasty chemicals found in conventional makeup. But every day, at the exact same time, you also take birth control pill, which depleting your body of vitamins and nutrients, potentially the mindfulness you put into and the products you use Sound unbelievable? Sadly, it could be true : Studies show that birth control use is significantly linked to important nutritional deficiencies.

We've know n that birth control depletes nutrients for a long time

Since at least the 1970s , researchers have known that use of the Pill is associated with depleted levels of such essential nutrients as vitamins C, B2, B6, and folate [1]. More recently, hormonal birth control use has also been shown to have an association with depleted levels of vitamin E and the minerals magnesium, selenium, and zinc [2]. Studies have also indicated a link between birth control use and inflammatory bowel diseases and poor gut health [3]. Unfortunately, we know from what both patients and doctors are telling us, that a number of women do not hear about many of these risks when prescribed hormonal birth control.

Should you care if your birth control could deplete your body of a few nutrients, or if it might make you deficient in a handful of vitamins you may never even have heard of? In a word, yes. Researchers are finding that many of the most serious side effects of hormonal birth control use may actually be due to the nutritional deficiencies with which it is linked. For example, low vitamin B6 levels are associated with heightened risk for thromboembolism, otherwise known as blood clots [4]. Those clots can cause heart attacks and strokes if they go undetected and are left untreated. Being a smoker, overweight, or having diabetes (or any combination of the three) make a woman's risk for developing blood clots and subsequent effects like heart attacks and strokes skyrocket if she is also on the birth control pill, and all three of those risk factors (smoking rates, obesity rates, and diabetes rates) are on the rise in young women. Importantly, however, even women without these conditions can suffer blood clots due to birth control.

Further , the nefarious link between Pill use and increased risk for both depression and suicide that researchers at the University of Copenhagen have diligently uncovered in recent years may also be due (at least in part) to hormonal birth control's link to vitamin B6 deficiency. B6 plays a big role in the body's production of certain neurotransmitters, including serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical that influences mood, and chronically low levels of serotonin are associated with depression.

B12 is another important B vitamin in which a woman on birth control may find herself deficient. According to Dr. Bruce Bistrian, chief of clinical nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, if a B12 deficiency is left untreated, "the deficiency can cause severe neurologic problems and blood diseases. " Knowing this, it should be unsurprising that both B6 and B12 deficiencies can also lead to anemia. Anemia is already common enough in women; according to an article on anemia from Harvard Health , "about 12% of women between the ages of 12 and 49 years have at least mild anemia, mostly from iron deficiency caused by blood loss during menstruation." And while mild anemia isn't life-threatening, its symptoms (including tiredness, shortness of breath, feeling lightheaded, headaches, faster heart rate and breathing rate) can greatly impact the daily life and activities of the young women plagued by the condition. The fact that hormonal birth control could potentially make this common problem even worse should be a concern.

Folate deficiency and neural tube defects

T he possibility that the nutritional deficiencies linked to birth control may have repercussions for more than just the woman on the Pill is also concerning . F or example, f olate is yet another B vitamin in which many women on birth control are chronically deficient. We know that i f a pregnant woman has a folate deficiency, it can be quite serious for her unborn child, potentially leading to neural tube defects [ 5 ]. Fortunately, most pregnant women are counseled to take folic acid to prevent such defects, but imagine the woman who is on the Pill, chronically folate deficient, and gets pregnant, and is unaware of either the deficiency or the pregnancy before it's too late.

Birth control depletes more than B vitamins

We know, too, that birth control may deplete women of nutrients beyond B vitamins. As mentioned above, hormonal birth control use is also associated with depletion in vitamins C and E, as well as minerals like magnesium, selenium, and zinc. A 2010 study also found that levels of coenzyme q(10), an important antioxidant naturally produced by the body, were significantly lower in women using various forms of birth control compared to non-users, with women on the transdermal patch having the lowest levels of all [6]. In fact, the study found that total antioxidant capacity was significantly lower for women on hormonal birth control versus non-users. Considering that antioxidants protect cells against damaging free radicals (compounds linked to serious diseases like cancer and heart disease), this is yet another example of how hormonal birth control can have far-reaching impacts on a woman's body beyond merely preventing pregnancy.

Subtle nutritional deficiencies can add up over time

More research is needed to determine exactly how and why birth control is associated with these vitamin and nutritional deficiencies . It's important to note, as well , that for many women on birth control , these effects may be subtle . However, as Scientific American 's "Nutrition Diva" Monica Reinagel points out "because contraceptives are often taken over extended periods of time, even subtle effects could add up [7] ." Especially c onsidering that so many girls are put on birth control in their teens, only discontinuing them for a short time in adulthood if they wish to get pregnant , the detrimental effects of years and years of birth control-related nutritional deficiencies should be greatly concerning.

Fortunately, tools exist for teenage girls and adult women to manage their fertility without impeding their bodies' abilities to reap the nutritional goodness from the food they eat or supplements they take. That is why f ertility awareness methods (FAM) are an excellent family planning and health management option for the woman looking to " " in a comprehensive way, in order to better her health and wellbeing.

When this article refers to fertility awareness methods (FAM), or natural family planning (NFP), we are referring to Fertility Awareness-Based Methods, evidence-based methods of cycle charting which can be used as effective forms of natural birth control when learned by a certifie d instructor.

References:

[1] Massey L, Davison M. Effects of oral contraceptives on nutritional status.  Am Fam Physician. 1979;19(1):119-23. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/760421/. Accessed January 5, 2021. [2] Palmery M, Saraceno A, Vaiarelli A, Carlomagno G. Oral contraceptives and changes in nutritional requirements. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2013;17(13):1804-13. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23852908/. Accessed January 5, 2021. [3] Khalili H. Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Oral Contraceptives and Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Current Evidence and Future Directions. Drug Saf. 2015;39(3):193-197. doi:10.1007/s40264-015-0372-y [4] Lussana F, Zighetti M, Bucciarelli P, Cugno M, Cattaneo M. Blood levels of homocysteine, folate, vitamin B6 and B12 in women using oral contraceptives compared to non-users. Thromb Res. 2003;112(1-2):37-41. doi:10.1016/j.thromres.2003.11.007 [5] Imbard A, Benoist J, Blom H. Neural Tube Defects, Folic Acid and Methylation. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2013;10(9):4352-4389. doi:10.3390/ijerph10094352 [6] Palan P, Strube F, Letko J, Sadikovic A, Mikhail M. Effects of Oral, Vaginal, and Transdermal Hormonal Contraception on Serum Levels of Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin E, and Total Antioxidant Activity. Obstet Gynecol Int. 2010;2010:1-4. doi:10.1155/2010/925635 [7] Reinagel M. How Birth Control Pills Affect Your Nutritional Needs. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-birth-control-pills-affect-your-nutritional-needs/#:~:text=Well%2C%20this%20week%2C%20I%20want,C%2C%20magnesium%2C%20and%20zinc. Published September 23, 2015. Accessed January 5, 2021.

Coming off the Pill with Good Nutrition

A Case for Organic Birth Control

3 Simple Tips to Limit Endocrine Disruptors and Balance Hormones Naturally

The Crohn's-Birth Control Connection: More Gut-Wrenching News About Contraceptives

Is the Pill wrecking your gut?

The Surprising Link Between Birth Control and Skin Cancer

Woman's Depression and Mental Illness Symptoms Disappear After Getting Off the Pill

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Hormonal birth control depletes your body of key nutrients

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You like to eat right. You take pride in shopping at farmers markets, where the produce is fresh and nutritious-and preferably grown without the

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How Birth Control Messes Up Mutual Attraction. Natural Womanhood. 

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How Birth Control Messes Up Mutual Attraction. Natural Womanhood. 

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How Birth Control Messes Up Mutual Attraction

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For many women on birth control, it’s pretty obvious that it has effects beyond simply preventing pregnancy. After all, birth

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Birth Control Fails More Often Than People Realize. Natural Womanhood. 

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Birth Control Fails More Often Than People Realize. Natural Womanhood. 

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Many medical professionals tend to look with skepticism at the effectiveness rates of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods (FABM) to prevent pregnancy, despite the research to back them up. As I was told at my six-week after birth followup by my OB-GYN: "you do know you can get pregnant on that [FABM]?"

After my first baby, I was confident in our decision to use the Sympto-Thermal Method for natural family planning, but still wasn't ready to correct my doctor's underlying assumption that I would only be "safe" from an unexpected pregnancy if I used contraception. I blithely dismissed her concerns with a defense of how it's possible to navigate postpartum with extra attention to the particular FABM's guidelines (which is true). But I could have simply pointed out how someone can also get pregnant when they are using any form of contraception.

Does contraception really work?

Initially, this seems an absurd question to ask in our modern era. The assumption that we have an abundance of effective contraceptive options undergirds any and all discussions of reproductive health, both domestically and internationally. An individual's ability to access contraceptives may be in question, but not their existence.

I'd like to look at this question of whether contraception works from two different angles: first, does contraception effectively reduce births on a societal level? Second, does it effectively prevent pregnancy on an individual basis? Then, let's discuss why it's beneficial for couples who choose a Fertility Awareness-Based Method, an evidence-based method of natural family planning (NFP), instead of a hormonal contraceptive method or device, to understand the answers to both of these questions.

How effectively does contraception reduce births on a societal level?

I once made the claim, during a discussion on Facebook about the effectiveness of contraceptives, that all birth control methods have the potential to fail. This claim was hotly contested, even outright denied. One participant candidly shared that she had been using hormonal contraceptives for ten years and had never gotten pregnant; therefore, she was the obvious exception to my assertion. I soon left the discussion when I realized we were talking past one another. But I have never forgotten it, as it highlighted to me a few misconceptions many people have of how a contraceptive's effectiveness is evaluated.
How birth control effectiveness is calculated
For a pharmaceutical or medical-device company to market a contraceptive, they must have effectiveness studies showing that in the study population of healthy, sexually active women the natural birth rate was reduced as close to zero as possible during a given year of use. In a healthy population of sexually active couples who are not trying to prevent pregnancy (meaning that they are having "unprotected sex"), and who are also not targeting their intercourse to fertile times of their cycle (meaning that they are having "random sex"), about 85% will be pregnant in a given year, according to the Guttmacher Institute. That is, if there were 1000 couples having random, unprotected sex in a given community, researchers would expect about 850 of them to get pregnant within the year.

When a potential new contraceptive is being investigated, the researchers are seeking to determine the answer to this question: over the course of one year of using this drug or device, how many of the sexually active study participants conceived a child? They will record how many women began the study, used the drug/device for the entire time, and if they conceived (as well as other pertinent data). They will also note if the women who conceived were using the drug/device according to the correct protocol. From there, researchers calculate a method-effectiveness or "perfect use" effectiveness rate (when the correct protocol was used) and a "typical use" effectiveness rate (whether or not the correct protocol was followed). These are the rates one will see on posters and websites.

These studies are accurate, but they reflect the use of the contraceptive on a particular population as a whole. The Pill, according to its effectiveness studies, has a method effectiveness greater than 99%, which means that for every 100 women who took the Pill exactly as instructed for the entire year, researchers saw no more than 1 woman get pregnant. In contrast, the "typical use" effectiveness rate is 91%, meaning that 9 out of 100 Pill users would be expected to conceive each year.

So to answer the first question above-does contraception effectively reduce births on a societal level?-yes, we as a society have a way to effectively reduce the number of overall births among sexually active couples, from 85/100 down to 1/100.

How effectively does birth control prevent pregnancy on an individual basis?

But when we look at the second question-does it effectively prevent pregnancy on an individual basis?-the answer is: sometimes.

In the Pill example above, for 99 of the 100 women in that scenario, the Pill 100% prevented pregnancy. But for the 1 woman, it 100% failed her. She's left wondering, what went wrong? She did everything correctly and yet she is still pregnant when she did not plan to be. Looking at more realistic usage accounting for human error (the typical-use rate), the effectiveness of the Pill stands closer to 93%, which means that 7 out of 100 women using the Pill in a given year find themselves pregnant (1). For these women, the contraceptive failed.

FABMs are based on a woman's ability to understand- and cooperate with- her natural patterns of fertility and infertility

One aspect that differentiates a FABM from a contraceptive method of family planning is that using a science-backed method of natural family planning equips a woman to truly understand how her body works and to begin to see how her body is biologically geared toward conception during her reproductive years. It allows her to understand the way she functions and appreciate what her body is capable of, including pregnancy. Mastering use of a Fertility Awareness-Based Method gives every woman the ability to see her reproductive system as an integral part of her health and cooperate with this knowledge of her fertility to postpone pregnancy when needed, while recognizing that she will never be able to thwart or suppress her reproductive capacity entirely (prior to its natural conclusion at menopause) unless her uterus is removed.

How effective are fertility awareness-based methods?

At the same time, when we look at the effectiveness studies done for Fertility Awareness-Based Methods, we discover that the pregnancy prevention rates (both typical use and perfect use, depending on the method) are on par with contraceptive drugs and devices on the market, without suppressing or intruding upon a woman's fertility cycle. So we can be confident that we aren't foolish to rely on one of the modern fertility awareness methods even while we recognize that, just as with other birth control methods, effectiveness rates are based on averages for a group, not an individual couple's likelihood of conceiving. That means some couples correctly using a FABM to avoid pregnancy will conceive a child. FABM users can increase the likelihood of their method working effectively by learning the method from a trained FABM instructor, being diligent in their charting and following the rules of their method for postponing pregnancy, and by checking back with their instructor when new or unusual charting patterns emerge.

It has been years since my OB-GYN reminded me I could get pregnant while using a Fertility Awareness-Based Method. Now, years later and after having learned more about the science behind fertility awareness and becoming a FABM instructor myself, I am more confident in my understanding of how FABMs effectively prevent pregnancy. I also have grown stronger in my understanding of how a healthy woman's body allows all of her bodily systems to thrive at optimal wellness.
This article was updated on December 15th, 2022 for improved readability with revised and additional headings. References
[1] Trussell J, Aiken ARA, Micks E, Guthrie KA. Efficacy, safety, and personal considerations. In: Hatcher RA, Nelson AL, Trussell J, Cwiak C, Cason P, Policar MS, Edelman A, Aiken ARA, Marrazzo J, Kowal D, eds. Contraceptive technology. 21st ed. New York, NY: Ayer Company Publishers, Inc., 2018.

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Carcinogenicity of Hormonal Contraceptives. World Health Organization.

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St. John Paul II

The "Theology of the Body" is St. John Paul II's integrated vision of the human person. The human body has a specific meaning, making visible an invisible reality, and is capable of revealing answers regarding fundamental questions about us and our lives:

Is there a real purpose to life and if so, what is it?

What does it mean that we were created in the image of God?

Why were we created male and female? Does it really matter if we are one sex or another?

What does the marital union of a man and woman say to us about God and his plan for our lives?

What is the purpose of the married and celibate vocations?

What exactly is "Love"?

Is it truly possible to be pure of heart?

All of these questions, and many more, are answered in the 129 Wednesday audiences popularly known as the "Theology of the Body," delivered by St. John Paul II between 1979 and 1984.

His reflections are based on Scripture and contain a vision of the human person truly worthy of man. Emphasizing the theme of love as self-gift, they counteract societal trends which view the body as an object of pleasure or as a machine for manipulation.

Instead, the body shows us the call and gives us the means to love in the image of God. His earlier book Love and Responsibility, and other papal documents, such as Familiaris Consortio and Mulieris Dignitatem also touch on these and related themes.

John Paul II encourages a true reverence for the gift of our sexuality and challenges us to live it in a way worthy of our great dignity as human persons. His theology is not only for young adults or married couples, but for all ages and vocations, since it sums up the true meaning of being a person.

A six-part series that delves into the riches of John Paul II's Theology of the Body, presented by Christopher West.

An Encounter with Christ the Bridegroom - An introduction and overview of Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body

Original Man - Who man and woman were created to be in the beginning, as found in the book of Genesis

Historical Man - Who we are now after the fall and in the light of the redemption

Eschatological Man and Celibacy - What we are destined for in heaven and how it relates to the celibate vocation

Marriage and Humanae Vitae - Living the Theology of the Body in the vocation of marriage

Questions and Answers - Ways of implementing the Theology of the Body in everyday life

Throughout this series, Christopher continually stresses the beauty and possibility of truly living as we were called to live in the beginning, as persons made in the image and likeness of God.

Listen now on CatholiCasts

OFWC Media's Theology of the Body Resource Center offers books, CDs, MP3s and DVDs on the Theology of the Body, and more.

CatholiCasts offers hours of talks on the Theology of the Body, marriage, family, and single life, that can be listened to online.

Articles and Publications

Text of St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body Online
The full text of St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body, hosted by ewtn.com.

The Vatican
Contains the texts of many of the Papal documents and St. John Paul II's writings on the Theology of the Body.

Salvo Magazine
Salvo Magazine: Science, Sex and Society. Critiquing art, music, film, television, and literature, interrupting mass media influence, and questioning the sanity of our consumerist lifestyle and debunking the cultural myths that have undercut human dignity, all but destroyed the notions of virtue and morality, and slowly eroded our appetite for transcendence.

JP2
Wonderful resource for further study of St. John Paul II's writings, especially his book Love and Responsibility.

Speakers and Organizations

National Catholic Singles Conference
Annual conference for singles, with a strong focus on the Theology of the Body.

Cor Project
Learning, Living & Sharing John Paul II's Theology of the Body with Christopher West.

Teologia do Corpo
A website in Portuguese hosted by the Theology of the Body Brazil Team.

The Alexander House
The Alexander House offers Catholic teaching about marriage to married couples through Catholic counseling and/or marriage discipling to give hope and encouragement to hurting marriages, education and formation in the areas of human virtues for the entire family, and opportunities for reflection and formation for couples wanting to foster better relationships.

CANFP Ask the Expert
Experts answer questions regarding Natural Family Planning. Read questions and answers from others or post your own question here.

Catholic Marriage Preparation, Inc.
CMP's commitment is to help engaged couples build their marriage on the rock of Christ in a pagan society, through the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Catholic Match Institute
Articles on the Theology of the Body applied to dating and relationships.

E5MEN
Men dedicated to a life of intercessory prayer and fasting on behalf of future and present wives and families.

Family Honor
Family Honor was created in 1987 to provide opportunities for parents and children to learn to communicate effectively on important life values, with a special focus on the truth and goodness of God's gift of sexuality and the virtue of chastity.

Freedom Coaching
Setting the blind free from darkness. Personal coaching freeing men and women from addiction to pornography.

International Institute for Culture
The International Institute for Culture (IIC) is a non-profit educational and research center which seeks to promote international understanding through cultural means. Started in 1989 in response to the Holy Father's call for the re-evangelization of culture, IIC is engaged in international conferences, language and cultural programs, lectures series, educational seminars, art exhibits and musical performances which reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Catholic Church and which may serve to bring people to the Person of Jesus Christ.

Into the Deep
Outdoor Theology of the Body Retreats with Jen Messing

Pope Paul VI Institute
Among other great contributions to the Church, Pope Paul VI authored one of the greatest documents of the 20th Century - Humane Vitae. In it he prophesied about the threat to human life and dignity by the gradual compromise of faith and through rationalized thinking spurned on by a culture deviant from God.

Reclaim Sexual Health
This Catholic web site is dedicated to ministering to those who desire to break their addiction to pornography.

Ruah Woods
Ruah Woods provides Theology of the Body training and resources for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Tabor Life Institute
The Tabor Life Institute is dedicated to promoting the sacramental-liturgical worldview of the human person and the entire created order. Their mission is to help transform lives through the Theology of the Body.

Theology of the Body Evangelization Team

Theology of the Body Institute
The mission of Theology of the Body Institute is to educate and train men and women to understand, live and promote the Theology of the Body.

Women of the Third Millennium
Women of the Third Millennium (WTTM) is a lay organization that promotes the dignity, vocation, and mission of women and men through retreats, talks, articles, and books. Katrina Zeno, an international speaker on Theology of the Body, hosts this website.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
St. John Paul II The "Theology of the Body" is St. John Paul II's integrated vision of the human person. The human body has a specific meaning, making visible an invisible reality, and is capable of revealing answers regarding fundamental questions about us and our lives: Is there a real purpose to life and if so, what is it?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
St. John Paul II

The "Theology of the Body" is St. John Paul II's integrated vision of the human person. The human body has a specific meaning, making visible an invisible reality, and is capable of revealing answers regarding fundamental questions about us and our lives:

Is there a real purpose to life and if so, what is it?

What does it mean that we were created in the image of God?

Why were we created male and female? Does it really matter if we are one sex or another?

What does the marital union of a man and woman say to us about God and his plan for our lives?

What is the purpose of the married and celibate vocations?

What exactly is "Love"?

Is it truly possible to be pure of heart?

All of these questions, and many more, are answered in the 129 Wednesday audiences popularly known as the "Theology of the Body," delivered by St. John Paul II between 1979 and 1984.

His reflections are based on Scripture and contain a vision of the human person truly worthy of man. Emphasizing the theme of love as self-gift, they counteract societal trends which view the body as an object of pleasure or as a machine for manipulation.

Instead, the body shows us the call and gives us the means to love in the image of God. His earlier book Love and Responsibility, and other papal documents, such as Familiaris Consortio and Mulieris Dignitatem also touch on these and related themes.

John Paul II encourages a true reverence for the gift of our sexuality and challenges us to live it in a way worthy of our great dignity as human persons. His theology is not only for young adults or married couples, but for all ages and vocations, since it sums up the true meaning of being a person.

A six-part series that delves into the riches of John Paul II's Theology of the Body, presented by Christopher West.

An Encounter with Christ the Bridegroom - An introduction and overview of Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body

Original Man - Who man and woman were created to be in the beginning, as found in the book of Genesis

Historical Man - Who we are now after the fall and in the light of the redemption

Eschatological Man and Celibacy - What we are destined for in heaven and how it relates to the celibate vocation

Marriage and Humanae Vitae - Living the Theology of the Body in the vocation of marriage

Questions and Answers - Ways of implementing the Theology of the Body in everyday life

Throughout this series, Christopher continually stresses the beauty and possibility of truly living as we were called to live in the beginning, as persons made in the image and likeness of God.

Listen now on CatholiCasts

OFWC Media's Theology of the Body Resource Center offers books, CDs, MP3s and DVDs on the Theology of the Body, and more.

CatholiCasts offers hours of talks on the Theology of the Body, marriage, family, and single life, that can be listened to online.

Articles and Publications

Text of St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body Online
The full text of St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body, hosted by ewtn.com.

The Vatican
Contains the texts of many of the Papal documents and St. John Paul II's writings on the Theology of the Body.

Salvo Magazine
Salvo Magazine: Science, Sex and Society. Critiquing art, music, film, television, and literature, interrupting mass media influence, and questioning the sanity of our consumerist lifestyle and debunking the cultural myths that have undercut human dignity, all but destroyed the notions of virtue and morality, and slowly eroded our appetite for transcendence.

JP2
Wonderful resource for further study of St. John Paul II's writings, especially his book Love and Responsibility.

Speakers and Organizations

National Catholic Singles Conference
Annual conference for singles, with a strong focus on the Theology of the Body.

Cor Project
Learning, Living & Sharing John Paul II's Theology of the Body with Christopher West.

Teologia do Corpo
A website in Portuguese hosted by the Theology of the Body Brazil Team.

The Alexander House
The Alexander House offers Catholic teaching about marriage to married couples through Catholic counseling and/or marriage discipling to give hope and encouragement to hurting marriages, education and formation in the areas of human virtues for the entire family, and opportunities for reflection and formation for couples wanting to foster better relationships.

CANFP Ask the Expert
Experts answer questions regarding Natural Family Planning. Read questions and answers from others or post your own question here.

Catholic Marriage Preparation, Inc.
CMP's commitment is to help engaged couples build their marriage on the rock of Christ in a pagan society, through the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Catholic Match Institute
Articles on the Theology of the Body applied to dating and relationships.

E5MEN
Men dedicated to a life of intercessory prayer and fasting on behalf of future and present wives and families.

Family Honor
Family Honor was created in 1987 to provide opportunities for parents and children to learn to communicate effectively on important life values, with a special focus on the truth and goodness of God's gift of sexuality and the virtue of chastity.

Freedom Coaching
Setting the blind free from darkness. Personal coaching freeing men and women from addiction to pornography.

International Institute for Culture
The International Institute for Culture (IIC) is a non-profit educational and research center which seeks to promote international understanding through cultural means. Started in 1989 in response to the Holy Father's call for the re-evangelization of culture, IIC is engaged in international conferences, language and cultural programs, lectures series, educational seminars, art exhibits and musical performances which reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Catholic Church and which may serve to bring people to the Person of Jesus Christ.

Into the Deep
Outdoor Theology of the Body Retreats with Jen Messing

Pope Paul VI Institute
Among other great contributions to the Church, Pope Paul VI authored one of the greatest documents of the 20th Century - Humane Vitae. In it he prophesied about the threat to human life and dignity by the gradual compromise of faith and through rationalized thinking spurned on by a culture deviant from God.

Reclaim Sexual Health
This Catholic web site is dedicated to ministering to those who desire to break their addiction to pornography.

Ruah Woods
Ruah Woods provides Theology of the Body training and resources for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Tabor Life Institute
The Tabor Life Institute is dedicated to promoting the sacramental-liturgical worldview of the human person and the entire created order. Their mission is to help transform lives through the Theology of the Body.

Theology of the Body Evangelization Team

Theology of the Body Institute
The mission of Theology of the Body Institute is to educate and train men and women to understand, live and promote the Theology of the Body.

Women of the Third Millennium
Women of the Third Millennium (WTTM) is a lay organization that promotes the dignity, vocation, and mission of women and men through retreats, talks, articles, and books. Katrina Zeno, an international speaker on Theology of the Body, hosts this website.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
St. John Paul II The "Theology of the Body" is St. John Paul II's integrated vision of the human person. The human body has a specific meaning, making visible an invisible reality, and is capable of revealing answers regarding fundamental questions about us and our lives: Is there a real purpose to life and if so, what is it?

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# data[].attributes.subject
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# data[].attributes.headline
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# data[].attributes.subject
Humanae Vitae after 25 Years - Responses to Common Difficulties.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
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# data[].attributes.subject
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# data[].attributes.subject
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# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
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# data[].attributes.headline
Why NFP Differs from Contraception. Pope John Paul II.

# data[].attributes.subject
Why NFP Differs from Contraception. Pope John Paul II.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
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# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
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# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
The National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
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What is the Creighton Model? (Video) - Dr Gavin Puthoff

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