Why I believe more research should be done into natural contraceptives so that we don't potientially damage our fertility.
All the way through teens and young adult life, the emphasis is on NOT getting pregnant. Women are encouraged to delay motherhood and pursue careers and since the release of 'the pill' in the 1960's, this gave them both liberation over their sex lives and the chance at climbing a professional ladder, along with their male counterparts.
However, since then a number of concerning health problems have been discovered in association with 'the pill', including the risk of blood clots, strokes, cancers and amenorrhea. While most women get pregnant soon after stopping the pill, some can be temporarily infertile for up to 6 months, waiting for their period to return, which can be frustrating when you're trying for a baby.
Some women just leave it too late to have children, as more and more are electing to stay on the pill until they are 35 or 40, when natural conception becomes increasingly more difficult. Considering that the hormones contained in the pill are proven to be carcinogenic, this surely must have an impact on any potiential pregnancy or embryo? If the body has been bombarded with carcinogenic substances for months or even years then it is not in the optimum condition to concieve and grow a healthy baby. Maybe that is why our miscarriage rate is now 1 in every 4 pregnancies?
As WHO are fully aware of the serious health risks associated with hormonal contraceptives, wouldn't it be better if they researched into more natural means of family planning? While the depo injection was being developed and hyped up, virtually nothing was said of Persona, the natural contraceptive which tells you when you are fertile and when you are not, so you can plan your love life. It involves absolutely no chemicals and works in harmony with your cycle. Why are we not working towards more methods such as this, which may safeguard the health of future generations?
Persona, of course, has the added benefit of being able to be used in reverse as a fertility aid for those couples who are trying for a baby as they will make love on their fertile days instead of avoiding it.
