Thank you for sharing your story, Carly. When I first got married at 24, I went on the pill for a year. I didn’t like the idea of pumping my body with hormones and the side effects like weight gain, dryness, and lower libido. I got off the pill after a year and anyway I started a grad program that was long distance. Ever since I’ve used the natural cycle awareness method you mention. I had two healthy kids and was never on birth control. I am 46 and divorced now and in a relationship. I just can’t afford to get pregnant again. I am back on the pill, but in the last 20 years there’s been advancements in medicine and I am taking a low dose pill which does not have the effects I’d experienced before.

Like you said each body is different but I love how you are able to listen to your body now.

It’s a whole other story about how the onus is on the woman to prevent pregnancy. Don’t get me started there. It warrants its own story.