Natural Contraception: Why I Love Tracking My Cycle through Basal Temperature and Cervical Mucus

For a long time, it wouldn’t be uncommon for every woman you know to be taking the pill. Historically, it’s been prescribed almost universally to women to help “cure” a variety of hormonal issues in addition to effectively preventing pregnancy.

But lately, women are starting to wise up about the side effects of the pill which are often poorly communicated, or worse, not communicated at all.

And as women start to reject the idea of pumping their bodies full of synthetic hormones, there is a revival going on. Natural contraception is having a real moment.

Why Guud Woman co-founder Morgane is a fan of natural contraception

Morgane uses Natural Cycles and Sensiplan - two natural family planning methods that do not rely on any artificial hormones. It’s all about tuning into the natural rhythms of your body and using things like basal temperature and cervical mucus as your guide.

How does it work?

Natural Cycles is the first fertility awareness app that comes with a basal thermometer. It’s also the only app that has been approved for use as a medical device. All you need to do is use the thermometer to input your daily temperature alongside the date and length of your cycle. The app will then predict your ovulation and fertility and it will become more accurate over time as you add more information. The app shows you the status of each day: green for “it’s OK to have unprotected sex,” and red for “not unless you want a baby!” You can also switch modes in the app, so the data can be used to tell you when you are most likely to be able to conceive, if you are trying for a baby. If you are using Natural Cycles to avoid getting pregnant, you do need to ensure you measure your temperature on a daily basis.

Sensiplan is a method of natural family planning that promotes an awareness of your own body to tell when you’re fertile and when you’re not. It involves monitoring your temperature and your cervical mucus. (You can read more about how to do that in our blog post here). Together, temperature and cervical mucus are extremely effective ways of telling when you’re ovulating - you just need to know what you’re looking for!

“I love this approach to contraception,” says Morgane. “It means I never need to take artificial hormones again and I’m not afraid of menopause.”

“So many women are fed artificial hormones for huge parts of their lives. As a teenager, you might get your first few periods and struggle with heavy bleeding, an irregular cycle or hormonal acne. Rather than look at the root cause, doctors are quick to prescribe the pill to sort everything out.

Years later, you might be thinking about having a baby so you stop taking the pill. But if you struggle to get pregnant right away, you get all kind of hormonal treatments to boost your ovulation.

And then, as soon as you have a baby, you’ll be given the pill right after giving birth.

Oh, and it doesn’t stop there! Down the road, when your babies are growing up and you enter into perimenopause or menopause, you might start to experience some not-so-nice side effects as your body starts to adjust to the wildly fluctuating hormonal levels. What’s the solution? Artificial hormones. Again.

Many women could find that they’ve been stuffed with artificial hormones like a foie gras, on-and-off their entire life! That’s why I love tracking my cycle through basal temperature and cervical mucus. I feel completely in tune with my body and I feel really good, even as my period approaches. A natural approach is so much healthier and so many menstrual issues can be solved through high quality supplements and simple lifestyle changes.”

How to Start Natural Contraception

So, if you’ve been on the pill for years and want to stop taking it, let us help.

1. First, check out our blog post that gives you a step-by-step guide on how to quit the pill and get your body back on track. It will tell you what to expect and how to prepare.
2. Second, check out Natural Cycles and Sensiplan and see if they’re right for you.
3. Then, talk to us. We can help you pick out the right supplements to get your hormonal health in perfect balance so you can start feeling guud, every day of the month.