Natural Family Planning/Ovulation/ Contraception Issues

[Holistic Momma]

As I've said in the past, the Vax Group talks about much more than vaccines. Most recently the subject of tubal ligation came up. Mind you, I've always believed ('course I never researched it either) that tubal ligation was a simple snip, band or burn procedure with no physical consequences to the body. After all, you're just disconnecting the tubes, right? Well evidently, there may be more to it than just hot sex free from pregnancy worries.

I have not researched this issue thoroughly to confirm the information found at the link. However, there does seem to be a certain amount of "common sense" to the info provided on the site. I have no desire to research this issue further because a tubal ligation is not in my future. But I do feel strongly that all women should be made aware of this information so that they can make an informed choice.

I found quite interesting Susan's story under the post tubal link.

Here's something from the site:

QUOTE
If you are one of the 14 million women who have had a tubal ligation and was told (or is being told) that tubal ligation (tying the tubes) is safe and without side effects then please join our efforts to make our voices heard. Join and become a registered Member of the CPT women.
END QUOTE

http://www.tubal.org

[3 little birds]

Holistic Momma,
I found this sight about a month ago when I was searching for info on vasectomy and tubal ligation.
We have decided that we do not want anymore biological children after #3 is born and are looking for ways to prevent pregnancy.
Since, read the information at that sight I have heard from other women that they have friends with very bad symptoms as a result of their tubal.
The vasectomy issue is just as scary. One reason is that since sperm contain DNA, when they are absorbed by the body (since they can't get out) the immune system treats them as "enemies". As a result, the immune system is always on a high state of alert. (Sort of like vaccines).
If I remember the site, I will post it.

[Holistic Momma]

3 Little Birds, thank you for sharing your information. I'm still flabberghasted over the side effects of a tubal. And for some reason, I'm actually surprised that allopathic medicine does not warn most, if not all women of these possible side effects. You'd think by now I'd stop being surprised by these things.

I'm glad you brought up the subject of vacsectomy because I understand that it too needs to be researched before a decision is made to have one. That is interesting about the DNA and the immune system. The only think I can recall about vasectomy is something that I saw on a documentary once. And that was about how vasectomy causes a build-up in pressure along the roadway that carries the sperm and thus causes "blowouts". I can't remember why they said that was problematic though.

Like I said to the Vax Group, I reckon the Good Lord was serious when he said go forth and multiply.

Or one could take it as yet another example that one shouldn't mess with Mother Nature.

By the way, if you remember that website I'd love to visit it.

[Elphaba]

So weird, but I just went to a site last night that talked about these very things. It's the Couple to Couple League, which is at www.ccli.org
I was really horrified when I read their information on sterilization. I never knew....

[3 little birds]

I haven't found the site I read but I did find this site for lots of links to both tubal and vasectomy sites.

www.members.tripod.com/~sterilization_rights/

I believe the main concern is that Docs aren't providing patients with enough information about the LONG TERM risks. Therefore, patients aren't really giving INFORMED consent to the procedures.

[Elmimp]

natural birth control-Wild Yam??

: I just had my second baby(now 5 mo.) and am breastfeeding. I didnt regain my cycles with the first one till she was a year old, but I dont want to count on that. I noticed an ad in the back of Mothering about Wild Yam root for natural birth control. Does anyone have any exprience with this or other natural birth controls?? The conventional ones scare me! Thanks!

[leafylady]

Before you use any birth control supplements, natural or not, read "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler. Once you get a handle on your personal fertility cycle, then you can decide if you need some additional supplementation to manipulate the timing of your cycle.
The book is fantastic!! I borrowed it from the library when I read it.

[Elmimp]

Thanks Leaflady. I will have to check that out. It sounds like a good book.

[Rainbow]

I know alot of people who have used this as a natural progesterone for maintaining pregnancy. I think I remember reading that there are alot of impure mkaes of this product, and many are not as "natural" as it claims. So read up on it a bit. I could be wrong though...

Aly

[javamama]

I'm not sure about using it for birth control. I used wild yam cream while TTC! It must have to do with timing, oh, I remember now, I used it after ovulation. If you take it throughout your cycle, maybe it would inhibit ovulation. I think I got alot of info on a website by DR Lee. He's done a ton of reasearch on wild yam.

Good Luck. I'd be interrested to hear what you find out.

Heather

[Holistic Momma]

3 Little Birds, I haven't checked out your site yet. I just now got around to Shoshanna's Mom's ccli site. I was reading the tubal section and found this:

Apart from these immediate complications of surgery post-tubal problems are so frequent they are now called "post tubal ligation syndrome." A review of the literature on post-tubal ligation problems by Drs. Joel Hargrove and Guy Abraham revealed an incidence of long-term complications in as many as 22 to 37% of sterilized women.9 Dr. Vicki Hufnagel, a surgeon who specializes in restoring women’s reproductive organs, has written "Many post-tubal patients who come to my office seeking relief complain bitterly if more severe cramps, heavier. longer periods, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, pain with intercourse, and pelvic pain or pressure."10

Very interesting. Thanx. I was reading their info on laparoscopy. That's the procedure where they inflate the abdomen. It reminded me of something I saw on a tv newsmagazine show where a woman went in for this procedure and came out dead. For whatever reason, the surgeon chose not to inflate the abdomen which caused problems. Talk about your "side effects"!

[Raven1]

You know, we have considered this option (for HIm not ME
We were thinking of sceduling it after the birth of our dd, but never got around to it. (Didn't want him recupperating while I was dealing with post-partum/newborn/baby stuff, etc)
We use NFP and condoms (if it's safe, by my calculations, go to it, if not, use a rubber
My major concern with either procedure would be the risk of getting pg anyway(failure/reversal of the procedure). I mean, how could you ever be sure? And if not, then why bother?
Interesting to see there might be other considerations as well. Kimberly

[MeMeMama]

Supposedly if you introduce progesterone before ovulation it tricks your body into thinking it already ovulated. That is how it supposedly can be used for birth control.

As a natural family planning teacher, I would not suggest this without charting your cycle and paying close attention. I would seriously question the effectiveness of this before relying on it.

I've never known any one who has tried this.

[Elmimp]

Thanks for all the leads! I need to do more research. My midwife has told me about the 'know your timing' type of birth control and swears by it. It just seems hard to figure out when the cycles will start again!??? With my first I didnt get a period until after she was 1 yr. and even then they werent regular because of nursing. And they always were before. ??? So it seems hard to keep on doing all that monitoring(of temperatures, consistancy's, ect.)having no idea where to start. I will have to check into it some more. Anyway, as far as the wild yam goes, here is the website that was with the ad I saw for it in the back of Mothering-"WILD YAM BIRTH CONTROL WITHOUT FEAR" -for anyone who may be interested. It was pretty interesting but didnt say anything about taking it while nursing. ?? So I emailed and asked. Ill let y'all know what they say. Peace!

[Mamaste]

Interesting comment about the vasectomies. Why wouldn't all men who don't have sex or relieve themselves regularly have this problem, though, since sperm is constantly produced and then absorbed if it's not ejaculated?

[willibug]

Don't fix it!

About vasectomies...

My husband and I had planned for him to have a vasectomy after the birth of our third child. We decided against it for a variety of reasons. For one, we decided that we just did not feel psychologically ready. Also,neither of us, come to realize, fully understood the procedure and its implications. Doing research on the web, I found this site, which gives LOTS of reasons why vasectomies are not as safe as most people assume. Link below. I'd like to hear from others...maybe another thread?...who decided against vasectomies, and their reasons.

http://dontfixit.org/

[Holistic Momma]

If it works, don't fix it! :)

Well, I just saw your post and with the "don't fix it" line, I couldn't resist running over there right away.

Here's something from the first page:

Family physicians should be aware of the potential effects and complications of vasectomy so they can appropriately counsel patients seeking sterilization. Vasectomy produces anatomic, HORMONAL and immunological changes and... has been reputed to be associated with atherosclerosis, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and urolithiasis [kidney stones]. Complications of vasectomy include overt failure, occasional sperm in the ejaculate, hematoma, bleeding, infection, sperm granuloma, congestive epididymitis [post-vasectomy pain syndrome], antisperm antibody formation and psychogenic impotence.

A few days ago, I said to the Vax Group that I wonder if there might be an "as yet undiscovered" hormonal component to vasectomy. Well, maybe it's not so undiscovered after all. I don't know, I gotta read more of the site.

My hormonal comment was in response to a lady who said she knows a man who after his vasectomy lost his sex drive. He literally could not even get horny. Fortunately for this man however, after trial and error he came up with some supplements that have restored his libido. This fella owns a health food store and he says that other vasectomized (is that a word?) men have come into his store with the same libido problem.

[willibug]

Yep, the more you find out, the scarier it gets. Yet, the mainstream medical providers INSIST it's safe. Typical!

By the way, Holistic Mama, whereabouts in Texas do you live? I'm a Beaumont girl!

[3 little birds]

Willibug,
Thanks for posting this site. This is one of the one's where I originally got information about vasectomy, but I couldn't remember what it was called.

This information has definately been instrumental in our decision to not have a vasectomy or a tubal.

Although we still know that we should not get pregnant again, we are going to find other non-invasive methods in order to prevent it.

This just reinforces my belief that it is better not to mess with nature.

[Holistic Momma]

Man oh man, thanks for the "don't fix it" link! I'm over there reading right now and my eyes are popping and my jaw is dropping!

I was about half way through reading the homepage when it mentioned a forum. Well, I can't resist forums so that's where I'm at now. Wow, the poor guys that write in and all the health problems they suffer are just staggering.

I think I've learned why the "blowouts" are detrimental. Evidently blowouts then allow the sperm cells into the bloodstream and that's where the autoimmune trouble begins.