FAM, hirsutism, and anovulation

Greetings!

Another message I thought you might enjoy! My response follows below....

Dear Ms. Singer,

I was introduced to your teachings and expertise via the Weston A. Price Foundation's website. I would like to begin practicing FAM but am concerned about my personal circumstances. I am 25 and was placed on birth control at 15 due to anovulation with mild symptoms of hirsutism. As part of my dedication to an all natural lifestyle I would like to stop taking birth control but am concerned of what the consequences will be and what my options are for helping my body to begin ovulating normally, assuming this is possible. Have you heard of women controlling hirsutism and anovulation through natural methods or is my situation hopeless? Also, should I expect any side effects from going off the pill?

I appreciate how dedicated you are to helping women and their partners become more aware of their natural fertility.

Thank you for your dedication.

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My response:

You've raised a lot of questions that are common to many women. Let me clarify a few things and raise more questions for you.

Most prescriptions of the birth control pill suppress normal menstrual cycle functioning, including ovulation. You can see some of the effects of the Pill on the cervix at this page on my website.

If you have been on the Pill for ten years, then your body has not cycled for all of those years. When you come off of the Pill, your body will need to learn how to cycle. It's hard to say how long you'll need for that. Every woman is different, and many factors -- including your diet --affect your return to health. Your main job is to be gentle with yourself. Gentle, gentle, gentle.

I recommend using condoms for birth control until you can discern regular, ovulatory cycles.

Many women have benefitted from decreasing or eliminating soy, sugar, white flour and caffeine; and by eating plenty of organic, free range eggs, organic butter, cod liver oil, lots of green leafy vegetables, organic raw dairy, and
other foods suggested by the Westin A. Price Foundation.

The night lighting techniques that I describe in my books, The Garden of Fertility and Honoring Our Cycles, are also very helpful to women coming off of the Pill. Moderate and frequent exercise is also very important.
Acupuncture and homeopathy can also be very helpful. You'll have to experiment and do what's right for you.

I wish you the very best of luck,

Katie Singer