Article on Contraceptive Odyssey

		A Contraceptive Odyssey: Discovering Natural Fertility Management

		Blythe Tait, Brisbane 1995

		Early in my relationship with my partner, we chose to use condoms as our contraception method. On one occasion, the condom broke, and I visited my general practitioner in a state of panic, requesting the morning-after pill. He provided me with the hormones and proceeded to question me about my choice of contraception. When I informed him that my partner and I were using condoms, he responded, "So when are you going on the Pill? You can't expect him to use condoms all his life?" So began my three year course on the Pill. Although I did not suffer any apparent side effects, I am an extremely health-conscious person (as many of us are these days), and I detested the thought of putting synthetically constructed hormones into my body. Furthermore, I came to resent my partner for the fact that he was not required to take any responsibility for birth control. Looking back, I can see the huge injustice that my general practitioner did by me. Not only had he encouraged me to take a contraceptive with many unpleasant and often dangerous side-effects, but he had also contributed to my feelings of resentment towards my partner by implying that it was my duty to take the Pill for my partner's sake. After three years of continuous use of the Pill, my partner and I agreed that I should have a six month break from the Pill to give my body a rest. Originally, I truly planned to recommence with the Pill after the six month period. However, I found the longer I stayed off the Pill, the more reluctant I became to start using it again. I began my search for a natural contraceptive. Three months after I stopped taking the Pill, I came across The Billings Method by Dr Evelyn Billings in a bookstore. I was so excited that I read the book immediately and attempted to put the technique into practice. I was considering becoming a Billings instructor when a wonderful woman friend advised me about Francesca Naish's combination of contraceptive techniques. I sent away for the NFM Kit, for contraception, and was soon promoting the methods to anyone who would listen. Initially, it was a real quantum leap for both my partner and myself to have "unprotected" sex after having been told all our lives that sex without the use of condoms or the Pill inevitably resulted in pregnancy. In my medically oriented university course, even learned lecturers taught that condoms, the Pill, and other invasive, unnatural contraceptive methods were vital for avoiding pregnancy. It took some courage to ignore these voices of authority, both for my partner and myself. However, we came to trust the method implicitly, and feel a glorious sense of liberation, control, and a newfound sense of personal awareness. I'm absolutely thrilled with the Natural Fertility Management methods. In addition, my partner has found that not only does the chart show him when I am fertile and when I am not, it also has a space for mood, and he's able to tell when to keep well out of my way! Because I'm so enthusiastic about these methods, I recently completed the Natural Fertility Management course. It was a fabulous, informative weekend with a lovely group of people. During the course, I learned how to recognise the signs of fertility problems. In fact, I was convinced after examining my own charts that I had not ovulated for two months until I learned that my darling partner had thoughtfully washed my thermometer in hot water, rendering all of the readings meaningless! Despite these occasional hiccups, I feel that my partner and I have become a lot closer since using the natural fertility methods. Now, the responsibility falls on both our shoulders. Choosing natural contraception was one of the best things I've ever done. I would encourage any woman to try it, whether for contraception, conception or simply for self-awareness. In these times when so much else in the world seems to be escalating out of control, it's a relief to know that through being informed about all of our fertility management options, we still do have control of our own bodies. back to Articles page Back to top