I took the Pill on and off for years to relieve my debilitation symptoms of endometriosis. When I was on it for the last time, awaiting surgery for my endometriosis, which had caused infertility, the Pill caused me more pain than endometriosis ever had, almost killing me with blood clots in both lungs, as I recounted a few weeks ago on this blog.
Even so, my greatest fear at that time came from learning that I would never again be able to take the Pill, because I saw no other option to going back to living my life in pain. The memories of my endometriosis came flooding back. All the days that I had spent throwing up and passing out. I thought of the moments when I had come close to passing out in a public place and how I had suffered from iron deficiency anemia from blood loss. How could I go without the Pill?
A friend of mine heard about my situation and recommended NFP (natural family planning). A part of me thought, “I could never do that. I need something more scientific and something that will prevent pregnancy effectively.” I approached NPF with the common misperceptions.
But I was desperate. I told my friend that I was concerned that there would be no treatment for my women’s health issues. She immediately told me about NaProTECHNOLOGY and how NFP charting works with it to diagnose and treat women’s health issues. I also found that my insurance actually covered most NaPro treatments, while it would not cover most conventional fertility treatments. My desperation finally turned to hope.
I met my first Creighton coach and began the long process of learning to chart my cycles. She taught me to use vaginal mucus to track my fertility. I started using the charts to listen to my body. I learned that the length of my cycles, my bleeding and my pain were all clear signs of abnormality.
Early on, I realized that the developers of NaProTECHNOLOGY have discovered ways to not only treat the symptoms of many women’s health issues, but to identify the root causes of many issues and treat them. As I spoke with the doctor and my Creighton coach, I discovered that NaProTECHNOLOGY is, in fact, based in science. I remember listening to my doctor discussing some of my mood swings at unusual points in my cycle and he said, “I haven’t found a cure for that YET.” I had never had a doctor talk to me as if he was actively searching for treatments for my issues.
My doctor has helped me find ways to manage pain from endometriosis. He has also prescribed supplements that have helped strengthen my body’s ability to function naturally. I began taking progesterone to lengthen my post-peak phase, and I look forward to working with my doctor to find solutions to my many issues. My journey continues to evolve as I learn about my body and work closely with my doctor.
I hope that other women will give NaProTECHNOLOGY a chance and discover that there is hope outside of the Pill. The truth is that the Pill is not the answer. Women deserve the right to have power over their bodies and their health. We deserve to be told how our bodies work and what certain medications can do to our health. We deserve to know the truth about the Pill and women’s healthcare and about more effective, less risky solutions to our health problems.
