Injection vs Fertility awareness methods (FAM)

When I was 15, I started using the injection to manage my menstrual pain (due to Endo). It worked like magic and stopped my periods and pain right away! However, it also had a downside - it really impacted my mental health. Recently, I was diagnosed with endometriosis, and I tried different pills to manage it, but I kept forgetting to take them on time. So, I decided to give the Depot Provera injection another try. I was a bit hesitant at first, but I went ahead with it anyway. It took some time for my body to adjust, and I experienced some spotting and pelvic pain until my most recent injection. (I've had 5 injections now). Now, things have settled down, and I only get occasional twinges. The day after the injection, I experience some period-like pain, but it usually goes away after a couple of days. Overall, I would recommend this contraception, although everyone's experience is different. For me, it has finally given me what I wanted - freedom from pain.

It did it's job in preventing pregnancy but the side affects weren't pleasant - No sex drive, vaginal dryness, caused acne, moody and irritable. I got put on it at 16 as I couldn't be trusted to remember to take the pill. It stopped my period which was great! I came off it during COVID due to not being able to get to the doctor for it and the bleeding aftermath wasn't nice - a lot of heavy periods which calmed after a while. However, what caused me not to go back on it was I didn't realise how it affected my personality until I came off it. Off it I was no longer depressy or irritable, vaginal dryness went away and I suddenly had a sex drive. Overall it wasn't awful as I was none of the wiser to what I was like not being on it.

The injection definitely stops pregnancy but does affect the body in different ways

I didn't really do this properly and only used it here and there! So I am definitely not an expert on this, but if you have regular periods and are organised I can see why this may be beneficial! Especially as no hormones

Started using Natural Cycles after having my first baby. I exclusively breastfeed and my first few periods after giving birth were all over the place. Tracking using the app just gave me a bit more info on my body and how long I was going between cycles etc. I’m just over a year post partum now and periods have returned to normal and I put knowing that down to the app. Baby still wakes a bit in the night so it can be a bit difficult to know exactly when to measure my temperature but the app has some helpful articles on this. Overall, love that it’s hormone free and that I can see helpful information on my cycle in an eat to use app! If considering, try finding a friend or someone with a referral code to get a discount on app subscription x

After bragging about the natural cycles for a while, and following it religiously, checked everyday, noted everything, I fell pregnant twice. I was someone who was super regular as well, so the app knew my cycle very well. I thought the first was an outlier then it happened again. Stress, exercise or changes in the normal routine can change your natural cycle, so the app can’t see what’s going on inside your body. So, this method is great if you’re not worried about falling accidentally pregnant and having a baby. If not, use contraception.

I LOVED this app, it was truly the best option as someone with a medical condition hormonal contraception was not possible and the side effects of others seemed too problematic. However after 13 months of bragging about how great my experience has been with the app I fell pregnant. This was devastating as I followed the app religiously and was an outcome I did not want. I even think I know what green days caused this as around my 10month in it began to green light the day after my period had ended, which was new. Having trusted the app so far I began having unprotected sex on these green days after my period not long before the pregnancy. Since this has happened I have research further and I believe this app is not being investigate enough and it’s far less efficient than we are led to believe. Despite of this I am still using the app however ,we now use condoms even for most of the green days as I feel I cannot trust it. I am seeking alternatives but with my medical background it is slim pickings. My take away- there are no side effects accept the very real possibility of getting pregnant. If you see any ad on Instagram rn it is swamped with comments with women having got pregnant from the app and I suspect those of us who had to have an abortion have kept quiet. I wanted this to be a true alternative to all the havoc other forms of contraception cause but have been let down in the worst way.

I am so pleased to find this after years of side effects from other contraceptives. Doing this method takes work- ovulation testing and I use an oura ring to accurately measure temperature. I wouldn’t recommend this for someone who doesn’t understand how it works, doesn’t understand their body or does not have restraint to use barrier contraception or abstain during red periods. It really works for me and I’ll be using it for the foreseeable.

Literally no side effects, no fake hormones affecting my body or mental health. Use symptothermal - 11 months in and find temping and checking cervical mucus easy and not at all laborious. We use condoms during fertile window (for me that’s usually about 9 days) and unprotected the rest of the time. No scares and I feel confident and secure with this method. I’ll never go back to hormonal birth control!

Natural cycles seemed promising when I first came across it in 2017 and read the reviews. I got the NC app along with the most expensive (hence hopefully most accurate) thermometer I could find to enter my readings. My partner and I decided to try it in place of condoms. I entered my thermometer and period readings religiously and only ever had unprotected sex on the ‘green: not fertile’ days when it says it’s safe to have sex. The next month I was pregnant. We were devastated. To add insult to injury, Natural cycles deleted my reviews about their product, offered ZERO help or acknowledgment of my situation and rather suspiciously my iTunes review of their app (tried from 2 separate accounts) was never published, despite my trying several times. Which is odd as I hadn’t said anything untoward, I’d simply stated my experience of using it and getting pregnant.

After feeling like I’d tried every hormonal contraception and not getting on with anything, Natural Cycles was such a breath of fresh air. I was nervous at first as it feels like there is more risk of pregnancy, but after taking the time to research I felt confident in this method. You have to be strict with yourself and use protection/ abstain on red days but it’s worth it. I feel so much more like myself without using hormones and I have also learnt a lot about my body. Highly recommend if you’re willing to spend some time getting used to the app, learning to take your temp correctly and being responsible throughout your cycle.

Came off contraception methods due to all the side effects. I’ve been on 5 different pills and had the implant) so far this is the best for me. Been doing NC for over a year and it has worked for me and my partner. You will have to stick to no sex or protected sex on red days. Took me a little while to understand my body but after 6 months I feel I know my body a lot better in terms of when I ovulate and when my period is coming.

Coming off hormonal contraception is probably the best thing I have ever done. I was on the combined pill for 5 years and the Mirena coil for nearly 2. The coil gave me horrific acne (never had acne in my life). I had it taken out in January this year, it’s now July, and WOW. My skin has completely cleared, I feel more mental clarity, I’m more in tune with my cycle, it’s regular, my PMS isn’t as bad, and overall I just feel really in control of myself. I’m in a long term relationship so using condoms for 1 week each month is fine for us. I’ve never had a pregnancy scare despite having unprotected sex most of the time! Who knew being natural could be so incredible! I would recommend to anyone in relationships and no underlying gynological issues to definitely try going hormone free!