I read a lot online. And I can’t help myself but to ready pretty much everything fertility awareness is mentioned in (I get alerts in my inbox).
Did it actually represent modern (and effective) methods of fertility awareness? Did they correctly identify the components to practicing it properly? Are they talking about anything other than apps or the notion that women’s fertility declines after 35?
Sometimes I end up in random forums and I just want to *headdesk* from the information people are giving each other (and yes, sometimes I even sign up just to put the issue to rest).
I was recently in one for DC parents and I really didn’t want to sign up because… I mean… DC? I’ve already signed up for enough mommy forums and I’m not a mom. I think feigning being across the country would be pushing the limits, even for me.
But, I got the bright idea to screen shot the terrible info and share it here.
Disclaimer: I don’t blame anyone for having altogether crappy information or knowledge. It’s just not taught and not talked about enough for people to have a good understanding of hormones, birth control, and anything to do with the reproductive system. I share it here with the hope to help you out because you are seeking good information about birth control and your reproductive system.
To give you some background, someone asked if anyone effectively used natural birth control methods, basically talking about withdrawal but you could tell they weren’t super sure about anything. People who weren’t anonymous got their names cut off, I don’t want to reveal anyone.
1.
What does this mean? What method did you use (I am assuming withdrawal) and how did it fail? Did you not pull out or did the method actually fail?
2.
Statistics do not equal the stories your friend have told you. When learned well and used correctly the sympto-thermal method of fertility awareness is as effective as the pill (also when used correctly).
3.
It’s actually less effective even with perfect use before ever having kids. Not saying it’s a bad choice for these people, it’s just that the information is poor. This forum is also comprised of parents, meaning the effectiveness of cervical barriers like the diaphragm are lower.
4.
This one was the big one for me. Vasectomy and hysterectomy are not analogous! Vasectomy and tubal ligation is more like it.
Unfortunately, forums aren’t the only place for incorrect info. I found the below piece on a popular webiste (the picture is part of the screen shot, they are saying “oops” because they think fertility awareness is tricky, but I left it in because “oops: that’s not how the menstrual cycle works at all“):
I just want to know: where did the author get their information? I am hoping that they just thought that they knew it pretty well and typed it up, because if they actually fact checked and came up with this I’ll be a little depressed.
1. Don’t assume a 28 day cycle. So untrue for most women (though they do seem to know this piece, at least).
2. A 28 day cycle definitely does not mean ovulation on day 11. At the earliest it’d be day 12 and that would only be if you had a 16 day luteal phase, which is pretty rare.
3. Whoa, there! The egg only lives for 12-24 hours, not 10 DAYS. Holy mother.
4. Yikes, the egg doesn’t get to the uterus. The egg dies when it is still in the top part of the fallopian tube, assuming it hasn’t been fertilized.
5. And it’s worth it to mention that is you had a 28 day cycle your uterine lining would start shedding on day 29, not 28.
What are the most ridiculous things you have head about your cycle or birth control? How did you hear them and did you believe them before learning how everything really works?
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That is actually something I have wondered about for a while, so thanks for writing about it! I was unsure of what happened to the egg if it was not fertilized during the time it’s alive. I just thought it wandered its way down the vagina and we peed it out or it just landed on our panties or something… I was sceptical of that thought though because I remember reading that the egg cell is the biggest human cell there is and that it’s actually visible to the naked eye (I don’t remember if that holds true for an infertilized egg or just a fertilized egg though). “Strange that I haven’t ever noticed it”, was the accompanying thought. Do you know what color the infertilized egg is? If you have any links about what happens to the egg after it died, I’d be very grateful because it is an interesting topic and I think more women need to know exactly what it is that happens.
I will write more about it!
You’re right about it being a visible cell but it’d probably not make it onto our radars, because it’s about as big a a period at the end of a sentence.
I’ve heard and read in several places where people say they ovulated at two different times in their cycle. Again, that’s not how the menstrual cycle works.
I hear that all the time. I always want to see their charts!
The notion of 2 ovulations muddied that waters for years, when a study showed that hormonal events during ov come in waves that can be delayed by stress/illness thus pushing a building ovulation back. Some uninformed took this as a shortcoming of FAM, but in fact FA methods have always taken this phenom into account which is precisely what makes them diff from rhythm. Talk about going online to clear up confusion! We had to explain that of course there can be more than one “fertile phase” as defined by mucus obs, but only one true ovulation. Exception wld be in the case of some twins when 2 eggs are released within 12 hrs of each other because LH and other hormonal conditions need to be in place. The potential for this happening is also covered by the Count of 3 rule in FAM.
Definitely, Lisa, I remember reading that study (and the silly interpretations of it). Thanks for the comment!