Birth Control Pills Linked to Lupus

Read the article here.

Suissa's team found that oral contraceptives were associated with a 1.5-fold increased risk of developing lupus. The risk was greatest during the first three months after starting "the Pill" -- when there was a 2.5-fold increased risk.The researchers speculated that increased estrogen from oral contraceptives could be responsible for the increased risk. Estrogen can affect the body's immune response, which could trigger a genetic predisposition to the disease, the scientists said.

And here is my plug, albeit annoying to some:

Natural Family Planning!!

NFP is not just beneficial for Catholics or religious folk.
NFP offers so many health benefits, especially a deeper knowledge and understanding of your body. In fact, that is the primary reason I prefer NFP. Probably it should be religious reasons, but in fact it's the health aspect of it.

Not to mention that NFP, in all of its various forms, has come such a long way. It is so much more reliable today than in years past, and there are so many materials out there to make it more user-friendly, even if you have an irregular cycle.

Voila!
Click here to see the many different methods of NFP.

Both an Aid and a Penance *Edited*

*Edited to offer the link for the Creighton Method of NFP (which is always on my sidebar under Links) Click here for the Creighton site.

That's how NFP was described in this article I read (thanks to Vicki for the link).

Don't get the wrong idea. It was a breath of fresh air, this article. No beating around the bush. I think any true NFP practitioner would agree that it's bluntly accurate. Thank God for that.

Here are my thoughts:
1.) "You can't talk to experienced older couples, either, or you'll get an earful about the bad old days of rhythm-and-blues and 23 children."
Boy have we run into that numerous times. Starting with my own parents, too. They married in 1960, and at that time, NFP mostly consisted of circling dates on your calendar, guesstimating. Being extremely unreliable, no wonder they scoffed at NFP.
What I scoff at, though, is there unwillingness to listen to how NFP has truly changed, and it can be used successfully. (requiring much patience).

Oh, and to add in, many old fogies seem to believe that being fully Catholic= having as many babies as your body can squeeze out. NOT TRUE. The Catechism teaches no such thing. The Pope has never told his audience or written an encyclical stating that faithful Catholics have baby after baby after baby...
Rather, the correct teaching is that we stay open to the gift of life (even when it doesn't seem like a gift), and allow the twofold purpose of marriage to manifest between a wife & husband. For some couples, they feel large (and very large) families are apart of God's plan for them. For others, they feel they have grave reasons to limit their family size (and for some that number may be just one child).

2.) Nor can you talk to your doctor, who will write "family planning: nothing" on your medical record (especially if you've caught that Sexually Transmitted Disease known as "pregnancy").
Something else I've experienced. Finding a doctor when we moved here was a challenge, being that my first OB was an NFP-only physician. Not only did he support it, he also taught a mucus-only method. I felt so lucky to have that doctor.

We moved here and there was no such doctor closer than an hour away. I found a great OB, but only after firing one. The first one argued with me about NFP. She, an OB/GYN, actually pulled the old "you know what they call people who practice NFP? PARENTS!". Gosh, I guess she really wants to limit her patients (as well as my patience).
Making medical suggestions is one thing, but she showed no respect for my choice of family planning. She did not accept NFP as a credible form for child spacing.
I found that to be so disappointing on an intellectual level. She went to med school to learn and master the female body, yet she (herself a female) couldn't grasp the natural cycles of a woman, using it to manipulate it for or against conceiving?

3.) But for many of us, uniting our wills with God's sounds more like "Uncle."
Nothing else to say about this other than a big"WORD".

4.) It doesn't help that some proponents of NFP pretend that it's all togetherness and respect, profundity and cuddles.
Oh my, this could be the longest of my thoughts yet.
I remember when we were first learning Creighton, and our instructor was teaching us about SPICE. I wanted to bust out laughing. For the sake of respect I did not, but I couldn't believe the sugar-coated blur that seemed to be. Not that I don't think it makes sense, but I was beyond believing people when they said NFP was all honky-dory and rose petals.
What planet were they from?
One without sex drives?!
I mean, I advocate NFP too (or at least used to...I'm coming back around in my faith here), but I've always tried to be honest about it. I've also always tried to relate it to the fact that any form of birth control (not saying NFP and birth control are one in the same) can have its tribulations and frustrations. Nothing is exempt from that. So long as humans are the ones practicing a method, human nature will allow for error, misjudgement, forgetfulness, or misinterpretation of a bodily sign.
I think the nice thing is that if two people are working truly together for charting, then you do actually develop a whole new level of respect in that relationship. One you didn't have before adding in intimacy and shared responsibility for possible pregnancies.

5.) Talk to your priest.. But don't reject out of hand a celibate man's ideas about sex: After hearing 46 million confessions, he probably knows more than you do
I've been guilty of this. And this is the argument I hear most from fallen Catholics or non-Catholics. "The Church doesn't belong in my bedroom". I've even said it myself.
The problem is once you've learned something, you can't unlearn it.
Why does the Church interfere in the bedroom?
Same as any church.
God's ministers are meant to teach us right from wrong, and the value of a life. Obviously the first value of a life is at the moment of conception. Conception is a [possible] consequence of sex, so it's perfectly sensible. I don't think the Church is trying to tell us ow to have sex or when to do it. I think the Church is trying to show us the spiritual depth of what we're doing. It may be frustrating, but most incredible things in life are at times.

6.) Try to understand why God wants this for you. He doesn't intend for you to be subserviently miserable
Something I've often caught myself thinking. You know, that He was making me suffer or punishing me, or simply not wanting me to enjoy sex or this life. Sounds immature, doesn't it? Maybe it is. But it's the truth.

7.) As long as it's acceptable for everyone else to talk about sex these days, why should Catholics be shy?
I've wondered this since I had "the talk". If we're supposed to be respectful of sex and its two-fold purpose, why should we be taught about it in a dirty or hushed manner? TALK ABOUT IT!
I have always been very open in this area. Maybe too open, but I don't get how you can be married and act like you don't know sex. Come on. I'm not trying to be perverted. I swear.
I'm very, very thankful for my NFP friends and the ones I can talk about it with openly. So so thankful.
I think we should have many more homilies on sex. More classes. Heck, we should have NFP support groups through our parishes! (ha ha...somewhat kidding here)

8.) Many disenchanted couples are suffering from a lack of honest information about NFP.
Yes yes yes. I notice it even among my own siblings.
More as to why we should talk about it, get the word out. Yo.
---------------------------
Sorry for this crazy long post. Let's just say I feel the fire burning, so I had to go with it while I could. If you're still reading, I thank you. I hope it was worth it.

Too Good To NOT Share (back on the NFP Bandwagon)

Those of you who have been reading my blog for some time now know I've made many posts regarding NFP.
I go through phases with liking it-I just had about a one year phase of hating it, while waiting for my cycles to resume after Brennan was born. (Yes, an entire year later!) I hated NFP during that time because charting was quite complicated and signs of fertility obscure. I can't do complicated and obscure when it comes to the thought of having another baby right after delivering one, if you know what I mean. I wasn't quite "myself", let's say, but I'm hopeful for things to feel normal again (and more positive over all).

Back to my post here-
I just read an excellent post regarding NFP. I enjoyed this post because I think it may offer some clarification on the fallacy out there that NFP means Catholic couples are obliged to have baby after baby after baby, so long until the mother hits menopause. God knows that if that was the truth, I would not be Catholic. Click here to read the post over at As Many as We're Given. Kudos to her for sharing with us and writing such a great piece.

And in case any of you missed it-Jen also made a great NFP post recently, too. That one was more energizing for me on a personal level, since I've known this girl since the 6th grade. ;) Thankfully we've come a long way.

Last but not least, I just learned of the NFP Carnival going on-click here for details. I may add in one of my prior posts. I'm still thinking about this one.

Alright, now exit my blog and go check out one of those links! Go on...outta here! (then come back and tell me what you think:)

On Family Planning--What do you do?

It's hard to make a post like this without seeming judgemental or nosey. So let me say here, at the beginning, that neither is why I write and ask you to share with me, if you are so comfortable.

I'm in a somewhat odd place right now as far as family planning goes. It's no secret I've written much about Natural Family Planning. Dh and I have learned 2 different methods, and we've practiced them successfully. Even though I know that, I get tempted at times to throw in the cards and go a different route.

Being Catholic, that doesn't exactly "fly", if you know what I mean.

And I respect that and do understand why the Church teaches what it teaches. Actually, in reading on history, all churches taught similar teachings on artificial birth control up until the 1930's.

I'm getting off topic here. Regardless of moral reasons for practicing NFP, regardless of being Catholic or not, I'd hope to sway in that direction for health reasons.

The pill scares me. Same as IUDs, the patch, etc.

I get scared, but in times of insecurities, I am tempted to go a different route. I'm tempted to do as the general public does...

So if you're still with me at this point, (thank you!), and you're comfortable sharing, please tell me-what do you do for family planning? If you use artificial means, do you worry about the health risks associated with that? Side effects? Cost?

Furthermore, if you are non-Catholic & attend another church, what does your church teach on this matter? Did you have marriage prep courses? What did they teach at that time?

Promising this is no slap in the face...another thing that perplexes me is women who are so natural in areas-breastfeeding, organic foods, products, etc-but then they will be on artificial hormones to control their fertility. I don't get that. Any insight?

I think I'm trying to learn something here from you all, and hoping that your answers will help me learn something about myself, once again.

Thanks in advance. I hope this did not come off as judgemental. I am curious. I am confused. I am appreciative for your feedback.

It's NOT a Curse

Aunt Flo...Mr. Monthly...periods...menstruating.
Inconvenient at times, sure. Annoying, yes. Even painful at times. But being a woman and having a period is not a curse. (& I've had my fair share of bad periods!)

This topic has become very dear to my heart. I always get into discussions about it with someone I am very close with. It seems to me that the way we feel about our periods (and consequently deal with them) stems from the way we are taught about them.

Think back to your first period. Think even further back to the time you had "the talk" about what a period is and why we get them.
Were you even taught that there is a reason behind it? Or were you just told "women get periods on months they don't get pregnant"? It sounds caddy, but believe me, I know girls who were told that.

Women from generations past (many) grew up at a time when you didn't talk about these things. For whatever reason, it was considered inappropriate and dirty. I see it in my own mother, who is in her late 60's. Her mother never really explained the menstrual cycle to her, and growing up it seemed she never was comfortable discussing it with me or my sisters. I remember times she didn't even want those "feminine products" out in the open (unused and unopened, of course).

I consider myself fortunate to have gained a deeper understanding on how the female body works. When you come to learn and understand why our bodies do what they do, it makes more sense. I gained a lot of patience with my body when I learned the reasons for its actions, and I also learned better ways to cope with the annoying aspects of it all.

I attribute 99% of that to us learning NFP. In the course of learning Natural Family Planning, we not only learned to identify ovulation and times of fertility, but we also learned why there is bodily mucus, why the body temperature rises...as well as how to identify an imbalance of hormones within your own body. (For example, after my miscarriage we were able to look back at our charts for a short post-luteal phase, which can indicate low levels of progesterone in the body). I could go on and on, but this post isn't intended to only promote NFP. (if you're interested, though, let me know. I'd be happy to discuss it more!)

I find it sad how many girls are growing up to view their cycles as a curse. It's not that I particularly enjoy my period, mind you. But it's that the periods are apart of being a woman. Womanhood, and all it embraces.

I worry for young, impressionable girls growing up today. They're constantly bombarded by commercials and advertisements for some form of the birth control pill which can take your period away. Does that really sound healthy? There is no natural way to do that! With the media alone they are being sent the message that having a period is a bad thing. "You don't want it!"

What triggered this post, you may ask? This article on yet another form of birth control that will "eliminate periods". Eliminate them! Sure, take these artificial hormones in the shape of a pill, but then years later wonder why you're hitting early menopause, or why you can't conceive your own child, or why you're at higher risk for cancer.

I was grateful for the article, because I learned of a great organization, The Red Web Foundation. From the article, "...some women question whether monthly periods should be rejected wholesale as a matter of convenience. Instead, women should embrace the natural cycles of their bodies, they say.
"Do you really want to do that? Do you really want to not have a period?" said Anna Yang, director of the California-based Red Web Foundation, which promotes a positive societal view of women's menstrual cycles. "The reality is, this isn't happening to me. It's part of me. It's a very natural thing."

As you can imagine, I am so impressed with this organization. They are "dedicated to supporting a positive societal view of girls' and women's bodies and menstrual cycles from first menstruation (called menarche) through menopause."

It's the same way I feel. It's the way I hope to teach it to my daughter, should we ever have one. It's the way I hope my nieces learn about it, so they maintain a positive outlook. It seems to be the natural, most sensible way to view those cycles we go through as women.

We're not cursed because we're women and get periods. If we're cursed in any aspect, it's because we remain uninformed on why our bodies do what they do. We're only cursed if we buy into the media and marketing aimed at us.
We'd be putting a curse on ourselves if we deliberately chose to hurt our bodies. Let's not do that. Let's embrace what it means to truly be a woman.

Natural Family Planning as Effective as The Pill

The article is from a month ago, but it's not too late to spread the word, in my opinion. :)

A natural family planning method is as effective as
the contraceptive pill, German research suggests.
For a contraceptive method to be rated as highly
effective it should lead to less than one pregnancy per 100 women per year when
used correctly.
Lead researcher Dr Petra Frank-Herrmann said: "We
maintain that the effectiveness of STM is comparable to the effectiveness of
modern contraceptive methods such as oral contraceptives, and is an effective
and acceptable method of family planning."
Toni Belfield, of the Family Planning Association
(FPA), said: "Natural family planning when taught properly and carried out
correctly is a highly effective method of family planning."

My favorite part: "Natural family planning when taught properly and carried out correctly is a highly effective method of family planning."

I often blog on this issue. It started out primarily for moral reasons (as the Catholic reputation often indicates). Once we started practicing it, however, and researching the ingredients and harmful effects of artificial methods, we have come to believe that moral reasons aside, we'd opt for this natural, non-harmful way of family planning.

I tell you, too, that is a great feeling. I don't worry about the extra hormones, or the artificial lubricants....and the responsibility is equally on both of us. It really strengthens our marriage.

So before I ramble on (as I often do in this area, as well), let me conclude by noting that this article refers to the Sympto-Thermal Method (using both body temperature checks with cervical mucus).

There are a few other methods, as well. (Much different/more reliable than the "calendar-rhythm" method that surfaced around the '60's. That gave NFP a bad rep)

Interested?
Click the links of the method for more info. :)
Creighton Method (mucus only...the method we prefer)
Billings Method
Marquette Model (friends of ours successfully use this method!)

Some birth control may raise clot risk

WASHINGTON - Certain low-dose birth control pills increase a woman's risk
of a potentially deadly blood clot more than others and should be pulled off the
market, a consumer group said Tuesday.

All contraceptive pills carry a very
low risk of blood clots that, even more rarely, can travel to the lungs and
kill. It is a side effect of the pills' hormones, estrogen and progestin.

The pill may raise odds of having allergic kids

Mothers who have previously used oral contraceptive pills seem more likely to
have children with nasal allergies, Finnish researchers report.
The team
found that, compared to children whose mothers had not used oral contraceptives,
those who had taken the pill within a year of becoming pregnant had a 67 percent
greater likelihood of having a child with allergic rhinitis, or nasal allergy.

I won't say much, other than there are other options! There are more and more risks being found with the artificial hormones found in the pill.
Any chance I get to educate on NFP, right?

More Problems with the Patch

Women Sue Over Birth Control Patch
SAN FRANCISCO -- More than 40 women sued the makers of a popular birth-control patch Wednesday, claiming the contraceptive caused serious illnesses and at least one death.
One lawsuit alleges that 43 women suffered from blood clots and other health ailments after taking Ortho Evra, one of the fastest-growing forms of contraception in the U.S.

Personally, I don't know why any woman (moral reasons aside) would want to get herself involved with something that "...Is a birth control patch that delivers the hormones estrogen and progestin directly into the bloodstream through the skin." Directly into the bloodstream. Now most women are not starting this patch due to a lack of hormones being level in her body. So these are being pumped into the bloodstream as an excessive amount. An overflow. As one attorney said, "This product should not be on the market," said Shawn Khorrami, an attorney for the plaintiffs. "When you put out a product that gives women more hormones than they need, then you're increasing their risk of developing those ailments."

Of course this wouldn't be a true post of mine if I didn't write that these women were not forced to use the birth control patch. They were not without the option to practice abstinence or another form of birth control.
As women, I feel we really need to step up and take care of our bodies. The best way for that, I believe, is to take charge of our bodies. And yes, once again, I am going to push Natural Family Planning. Any form. No chemical interference with the body. You learn so much and become so much more aware. It's truly empowering to gain that knowledge and control. So many health problems would not only be avoided, but also corrected. (the knowledge you gain and way you learn to read your body significantly contributes to this!)

Without fail, I'll lastly add that I shame the medical profession. They of all people should have an understanding and appreciation of how effective NFP is and can be. They should be teaching it more and offering it more. (classes, instruction, charts). Offer a chart instead of a prescription. Now there's a concept.

This Week...

...Is NFP Awareness Week! Natural Family Planning.
My husband and I have always practiced this in our marriage, and we both have wonderful experiences with it.
Here are some reasons why I like NFP:
-I love knowing my body and being in control.
-No chemicals or false hormones to mess you up.
-No "wait" time for harmful ingredients to leave your body when you want to conceive.
-It's in line with Christ's teachings!
-It's empowering

I have come across many people that just assume things about NFP. (I've posted about this before, click here and here). People assume it means no sex life, or planned sex, or that sex is only for making babies (ha! yea right!). Well, you know what they say about assuming, right? You make an -ss out of "u" and me". ;)

Don't just assume.
Don't just assume it's not for you. Don't just assume it's too hard. Don't just assume that artificial birth control is better, or healthier. Look into it. What can it hurt?
You can click here to read about it from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. If you go there, I highly recommend reading couples' stories.

On my side bar I also link to NFP, in particular the Creighton Method, which my husband and I now practice. (We learned the sympto-thermal method while engaged).

There are many options and choices. I am so thankful there have been people in my life to lead me to Natural Family Planning. People often fear they'd lose freedom if "only" using NFP. Tell me, how much freedom do you really have if you have to rely on a pill every day? The pill is then in control, not you. That's not freedom at all.
Same with condoms. People would rather trust latex than themselves...That's not saying much about what people think of themselves.
I don't want to seem like I am condemning. I want to be a source of reference for people to learn a little bit more. After all, we can only make the best decision after researching all our options, right?

So to anyone who appreciates it, Happy NFP Week. Help someone become more aware.

H/t: Heart, Mind and Strength Weblog

Artificial Birth Control & NFP- Gambling Game?

Christina over at Confessions of a Hot Carmel Sundae has some great thoughts on NFP and artificial birth control:

"...one argument I rarely hear is about how artificial
birth control affects us psychologically."

"My baby isn't the result of losing at the craps table. My
baby is the result of my love for my husband being stronger than my desire to
avoid pregnancy. And that is an effect you rarely get with other methods of
pregnancy and birth prevention."

Join me in praying for Christina as she is only 10 days away from her due date!

Doctors back off the birth control patch

"Many doctors have stopped writing prescriptions for a popular form of
birth control after the Food and Drug Administration warned earlier this month
of increased hormone exposure to women who use it."
"... number of practitioners and major health-care providers say they
don't want to take any chances. In Memphis, Tenn., obstetrician and gynecologist
Henry Sullivant says he has stopped writing new patch prescriptions and suggests
that his roughly two dozen patch users try other forms of prescription
contraceptives, such as the pill or a monthly vaginal ring."

Why not encourage them to learn Natural Family Planning? It is the safest, least expensive, and most natural. (aside form being the best morally) Dr. Sullivant, along with all those other artificial birth control-prescribing OB-GYNS, ought to be prescribing NFP.

Another Great Reason for NFP

Why take the chance?
I'm emphasizing Natural Family Planning here.

Catholic pharmacists in Spain refuse to sell condoms

Maybe it's a bit extreme, but I like it!
It makes me quite proud. :)
(and I doubt you'd see this much in our country, though I wish you would!)
And like the spokesman said, if a customer doesn't like it, there are plenty of other places to go!
http://www.catholic.org/cathcom/international_story.php?id=17216

Practicing Natural Family Planning doesn't mean we're prudes!

Shock!
Couples practicing NFP actually have a decent sex life!
Wow!!

Obviously if I truly found this to be shocking, I would not be posting this.

Let me go back to the time when I was engaged to be married.
I was going to the doctor for a well-visit, just setting up my PCP, etc.
As we go through the appointment, she asks me the usual questions- family history, illnesses, allergies, last cycle, last Pap, and of course, she ended by asking when I needed a prescription for birth control pills. She assumed I would "need" them because I would be married in a few months.

I proudly told her we will be using NFP. She scoffed at me! My doctor was there- right in front of me- denying the effectiveness of NFP. She is supposed to be a doctor? You don't need to be an OB/GYN to know the female reproductive system! She should have already known that YES- NFP CAN BE EFFECTIVE!!!

From the article:
'"It's important that the healthcare community let women know that these methods are available, growing in popularity, and that users continue to be satisfied with them."' YES!!!

I knew then that I would look for another doctor.
Regardless of a PCP, however, we still have to constantly defend our choice for practicing NFP. This is with family, friends, co-workers, and almost anyone who shares their intimate life with me.

I proudly tell of NFP. It is usually followed with an uneducated remark about how we must only have sex once a month- or about how we're going to "wind up with" a ton of kids! (as if that would be such a horrible thing!)
Worst of all, people's reactions indicate that they feel sorry for my husband and I. They feel like we are depriving ourselves of adult pleasure.
It is the other way around. I feel sorry for them!
Like the study reveals, "They found that couples who use fertility awareness-based methods of family planning to prevent pregnancy engage in more frequent sex before and after the fertile time, and have less sex during fertile days. Frequency of intercourse over the course of the women's cycle is comparable to those of couples using other methods of family planning."

It is most of married society that is participating in the marriage act without fully giving themselves to each other. They are putting chemicals and latex between them! Physically putting it between them! Yup- that sure sounds more romantic and exciting. :( (umm, not quite)

Read the article. It may be an awakening for many of you. At least I hope so.