Overcoming the Fear of Using Fertility Awareness for Birth Control (Episode 489)

Full Transcript: Episode 489

Lisa: Welcome to the Fertility Friday Podcast, Episode 489. Today, I’m sharing a brand new episode in my FAM Reality Series. I’m sharing an interview with Nadia, who is a member of our most recent Fertility Awareness Mastery Live group coaching program. She shares her experience on hormonal contraceptives, what prompted her to come off, her journey transitioning to the Fertility Awareness Method for birth control, and what that’s been like for her.

I love doing these episodes because they provide encouragement by showing that it is possible and that many women are making these decisions. It’s not uncommon to have a negative experience on contraceptives or to reach a point where you’re thinking about pregnancy and want to prepare your body. There are many reasons women transition off hormonal birth control and switch to non-hormonal methods like fertility awareness. It can be terrifying, but these episodes help show that it’s possible.

Without further ado, let’s jump into today’s episode with Nadia.

Lisa: I’m really excited to be here with Nadia. Nadia was a member of my most recent FAM Live program, and at the time we’re recording, we actually finished the program about a month and a half ago. This is a nice time to reconnect and touch base. Welcome to the show, Nadia.

Nadia: Thank you, Lisa, for having me. I’m very excited to be here and share my experience.

Lisa: I’d love to jump in by asking one of my favorite questions. Tell us about your first period. Maybe take us through what those early years of cycling were like, whether you used birth control, and what led you to switch to the Fertility Awareness Method.

Nadia: Definitely a trip down memory lane. In the beginning of my cycle years, I didn’t use any contraception. That didn’t come until my mid-twenties. I think I was at the end of elementary school or the beginning of middle school, which was already a difficult time.

I remember starting my period one afternoon and telling my mom, “What is this?” She explained it and handed me a pad. It all felt very strange. After that, I knew it was something I’d be expecting every month. I had to learn how to deal with it because no one really tells you what to expect.

Lisa: How old were you when you started your periods?

Nadia: Probably at the end of fifth grade or maybe sixth grade, so I was around ten or eleven years old.

Lisa: That’s young. That can feel really isolating. Were you the eldest in your family?

Nadia: Yes, I was the oldest. At the time, it was just me and my sister. I was also the first grandchild. I hadn’t heard anything about periods before that.

Lisa: What were your cycles like as a teenager?

Nadia: They were fairly consistent. They came when I expected them. I remember a period where my flow felt very heavy, but it eventually regulated. In my early twenties, I started working out heavily, and that’s when I noticed I would skip periods. At the time, I didn’t see that as a problem. I actually thought it was a good thing.

Lisa: At what point did you realize those missed periods might be an issue?

Nadia: Not until I started your class. That was a big lightbulb moment for me.

Lisa: Did you ever seek medical support during those missed periods?

Nadia: No, I didn’t. I didn’t see it as a big enough issue to talk to a doctor about.

Lisa: Did you ever use hormonal contraceptives?

Nadia: Yes. I started taking the pill at the end of age twenty-five and continued until I was thirty-three, so about seven years.

Lisa: What prompted you to switch to fertility awareness?

Nadia: I didn’t like taking medicine unless I had to, and birth control felt like the one outlier in my life. I started questioning why I was making my body do something that didn’t feel natural. I began listening to podcasts, and I think yours was one of the first that introduced me to the idea of a natural option.

I was on the fence for about two years because I was fearful of getting pregnant and didn’t feel like I had enough information. A lot of that fear came from my upbringing. My parents always warned me about getting pregnant too young, and that fear really stuck with me.

Lisa: How did that fear evolve once you started learning and practicing fertility awareness?

Nadia: It’s still a process, but each cycle makes me less fearful. I’ve charted six cycles since coming off the pill, and now I wish I had done it two years ago. Once I had the information, I realized I just needed to start, even if I wasn’t perfect.

Lisa: Did you feel confident by the end of the program?

Nadia: Yes. I dove into the videos, prepared before classes, and attended all the live sessions. Being part of the discussion and getting my questions answered really helped. I just needed to start and get the reps in.

Lisa: Any last words for listeners who might be in the same place you were a year ago?

Nadia: Take the class. You’ll be so happy you did. You’ll gain a method and a tool you can use for the rest of your life and share with others. There’s science behind it, and it’s not as scary as it seems.

Lisa: Thank you so much for being here, Nadia. It was a pleasure speaking with you.

Nadia: Thank you, Lisa. I really appreciate the opportunity to share my story.