The KInd Life Community Forum

Guess I'll start with my story. I've been on various types of bc since I was 15. A few years ago I switched to Nuvaring, and got TERRIBLE hives for over 6 months. For some reason, after going to 3 different conventional doctors, all of them thinking I was allergic to something else, and prescribing me MORE medications to COVER up the hives instead of finding the underlying problem, I went to a naturopath who told me to try switching to a different bc, so I switched back to the patch (that I was on before. No more hives!

Anyway, It got me thinking about all the other medications I was on and what kind of effect that were having on my health. I had been on antidepressants for almost 8 yrs - I was put on them after having depression for years that worsened severely after my father passed. But after 8 yrs, I thought, do I REALLY need to be taking these? My psychologist moved, and I saw another one that was so mean, I vowed never to see another one again. So I decided to go off the meds myself. I did a ton of research, learning that weaning slowly was the best bet. So I did it and it's been over a year and a half and I feel great!

So my one and only medication I am still taking, is the ortho-evra (birth control) patch. Which pumps something like 60% more estrogen in my system than I need. Reading into it, high doses of estrogen cause cancer. I WANT OFF OF IT! Does anyone out there use natural birth control methods that they are successful with?

Another issue is vaccinations. I didn't think I'd have to worry about them until I have kids and have to fight with the pro-vaccine people. But my lifelong dream of going on an African safari is coming true (in APRIL!!) so I'm required to get some shots. I know there is mercury and other disgusting stuff in the vaccines besides the actual disease-preventing stuff and I want it out of my system asap- should I do a detox? I got some chlorella tablets.. Will that work?

Sorry so long!! TIA!!! :)

I don't think I have much advice to offer you. I don't know much about vaccines and such. Like you, I don't think I have to worry about it til I have kids. And I'm not traveling right now, so there's no issue with me. Doesn't it suck that people are *required* to get vaccines to travel to certain parts of the world? There's not even a choice! That's the problem I have with it. As for the birth control, I just use condoms currently (well, my boyfriend does, technically). I used to use orthotricyclene (years ago), but don't want to get on any hormones so I'm personally not on anything.

Thanks Hazel- I am going to check out that book for sure!

Dani- I wish I would've done the IUD 10 yrs ago- I'm 30 now and MIGHT want a kid in the next couple years, but just not NOW. :)

Thanks!

Hi Brooke,

I use CycleBeads. If you have a 26-32 day cycle, you can use them. They are a non-hormonal birth control method that's over 95% effective so that's pretty reassuring. CycleBeads basically track your fertility & let you know which days you can get pregnant & which days you can't. They are a string of colored-coded beads. There is a red "start" bead for the first day of your period, colored beads, and white beads. I movea rubber washer to a new bead every day. Depending on the bead's color, I know if today I am fertile or not. If I am fertile, I use a barrier method (usually VCF) & if I'm not fertile, I'm good to go! haha. Usually, I mark the 1st day of my period on the calendar. So if I ever forget if I moved the washer, I can double check.

They just came out with an iPhone app - iCycleBeads. If I had an iPhone, I'd get it because there is pretty much zero effort required! ha! Anyhow, if you're interested & have an iPhone or iPod Touch, which I belive it works on, you can check out your cycles with the app. I think it's a great idea just to get to know your body better, regardless of what kind of birth control you use.

It's been a good fit for me. It's been very empowering to learn about my body & work with it naturally to avoid makin babies. :)

Like Dani - I have a copper IUD and its been great. I did have some increased cramping the first few months and my periods overall have been heavier, but otherwise, its really worry-free. And, as Dani said - while you can leave them in for 10 years, you don't have to. They can remove it anytime you feel that you're ready/wanting to get pregnant. I am not sure, but I don't think there's even any waiting time - you can begin trying to conceive as soon as they remove it.

As far as the vaccinations go, I don't really have much advice. You're pretty much stuck with getting them I think. One thought - I take my dogs to a holistic/natural vet, and she gives them some type of homeopathic remedy when they get their rabies vaccines (since we can't get away from giving that one- required by law). The idea is that the homeopathic remedy will counteract as much as possible the negative impact of the vaccine on their bodies. Maybe you could research and see if there's something similar a human can take?