Tag Archives: Daysy

#Dear Ovaries… By Holly Grigg-Spall

Fertility Awareness Reproductive Health No Comments

Crowned ‘the defender of female awesomeness’ by Cooler magazine, Lisa Lister is the author of Love Your Lady Landscape and Code Red. She’s a menstrual, fertility and reproductive health practitioner and founder of the SHE Flow system; a personal invite to celebrate the fiercely feminine, sensual pleasure of being a woman through movement, massage, mysteries and magic.  Lisa is dedicated to helping women crack their lady code, reconnect with their body wisdom and love their reproductive health.

Here, Lisa pens a letter to her ovaries for our #DearOvaries series.

Dear Ovaries,

So, you know that I talk about you a LOT to the women who gather in my circles, ceremonies + workshops, right?
I get them to place their hands on the space you hang out in + invite them to send big love to you through their breath.
I share with them that their ovaries are a powerhouse of creativity and that when they’re nurtured, fully charged + circulating with energy, they create SHE power, lady magic, creative juju. I share how they get to fully choose how to express that power in their body, through their body and then out into the world and that basically, when they connect with their ovaries, they connect with their ability to express themselves.
I bet you’re surprised that I’ve got big love for you, aren’t you?
I bet you’re thinking ‘how can she even consider sending us the big love after everything we’ve put her through? The pain, the trauma, the endless bleeding that made sofas, bed linen, bus seats look like a scene from the movie Carrie?’
It’s okay, I get it.
I didn’t at the time, in fact, at the time, I hated you.
I hated everything about you.

And when after years of misdiagnosis a dude in a white coat told me I had Endometriosis and PCOS and then in the next breath told me ‘obviously you won’t be able to have children so we might as well ‘whip it out’ referring to you and my reproductive health, I was tempted to let him.

Except, instead of feeling relief at finally having a name for all the pain you caused me, I was feeling a righteous anger where the pain had previously been. (I also realised thanks to the dude in the white coat’s five minute anatomy 101, at the age of 25, that my womb + my uterus were actually the same thing. Who knew? Clearly not me and this was NOT okay.)

So instead of allowing a dude with frankly no bedside manner to ‘whip it out’ I allowed the rage move me.

And it moved me to go on what’s been an 11 year exploration of my lady reproductive health.

We’ve had quite the adventure together, haven’t we?

We’ve experienced shamanic healing, earth based spirituality, breath work and body movement, ritual + ceremony, we released shame + guilt + blame that we’d been holding onto so tightly, discovered the sacred art of receiving pleasure – super grateful for THAT, we’ve learned how our menstrual cycle, the moon phases + mumma nature’s seasons are an an ever-unfolding map to reconnect us with the truth + potent power that lies between our thighs.

It’s been a wild ride.

And now, we work together. I no longer go against my flow, I go with it. I remember, reconnect + have total reverence for my SHE power because for the past 2000 years or more, the feminine reproductive health experience has been completely disregarded and this disconnect has caused an epidemic of stress emotional depletion + frustration, infertility + down there dis-ease in me and in millions of women in the western world.

The pain you caused was to wake me up. Was to shake me out of the 2000 year long ‘forgetting spell’ patriarchy has had us under + has taken me on a revelatory journey of what it is to be a woman so that I can now teach women across the globe how to navigate, explore, reclaim + love their lady reproductive health too.

So yeah, I get it.

Purchase Lisa’s new book and learn more about her work here. You can also check out an extract.

Holly Grigg-Spall is a fertility awareness and body literacy advocate and educator, a Daysy enthusiast, and excited to help more women come off the birth control pill and find a natural, effective alternative. holly.grigg-spall@valley-electronics.com

Breaking Down Barriers: A Guide To Barrier Contraceptives – By Holly Grigg – Spall

Contraceptives Reproductive Health 1 Comment

The pros and cons of all barrier methods of contraception

Condoms are the one and only way to avoid STDs, but once you’re past the dating stage of your life and in a fully committed long term relationship, they can become something on an obstacle to your sex life. Many people – women and men – tolerate condoms, but would rather not have to use them. It might be the feel, the look, the logistics of putting them on, the smell, the latex, the expense, or the waste that bothers you, but often we can’t wait to move on from them.

Not using condoms in a long term relationship can convey trust, closeness, intimacy or just make sex better. While condoms don’t have to be downer (there are so many brands out there now, you’re sure to find one that suits you both), it’s understandable that women and men might like to use them less

When you use the Daysy fertility monitor, you can go without condoms for 65% of the month, on average. This leaves just 35% of the month that you do need to use a condom if you have sex. To put it another way – that’s very close to two thirds of the month that you don’t need to use condoms, leaving just one third left when you do need to keep them on hand. Daysy allows you to cut back on your condom use significantly and enjoy many more days of condom-free sex. Just 9-10 days out of the whole month, instead of every single time you have sex.

Daysy calculates and indicates your fertile days and those are the days you’ll need a barrier method if you want to have PIV (penis-in-vagina) sex. With an average cycle you should have a fertile window of approximately 9-10 days. On these fertile days (when you will receive a red light from Daysy), you will need to use a barrier contraceptive if you have sex.

Condoms are just one of the barrier methods you can choose from, although amongst Daysies (Daysy users) they are the most popular.

75% of women using Daysy are currently preventing pregnancy. When you’re fertile you need to use a barrier contraceptive to avoid pregnancy. Daysy indicates your fertility with a red light on the days you are able to get pregnant. The rest of your cycle you will have green lights, which indicate that you are not able to get pregnant.

In this post we’ll compare and contrast the pros and cons of the different barrier contraceptives available. These barrier methods are options for you to use on your fertile or red light days.

Condoms (male)

Pros: Condoms (male or female) are the only way to prevent the transmission of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). So, they are an absolute necessity in most new relationships. There are many different kinds of condoms these days – vegan, sustainable, super-thin, colored, hexagonal (look it up), made from latex, sheerlon, or polyisoprene, meaning you have a lot of brands to choose from and can try out a few until you find one you both like. Condoms are easy and simple to use, most of us are taught how in high school. Condoms are also the only barrier method for men. If you like the idea of shared responsibility for avoiding pregnancy, then you might like that your partner has to take on the responsibility of choosing, purchasing, and using condoms while you’re responsible for using Daysy. Male condoms are the most effective barrier method and can be used in conjunction with a separate spermicide for increased effectiveness overall.

Cons: As said in the introduction, you or your partner may not like how condoms feel and they may impact your enjoyment of sex. If you have a latex allergy, your options are limited. Female and male condoms are the only barrier method that physically provide a barrier at almost every point of touch, which can make them feel more obtrusive.

Diaphragm

Pros: With the arrival of the new Caya diaphragm, a one-size-fits-all option with design updates to make it easier to insert and remove, the diaphragm is an increasingly popular barrier option. The Caya doesn’t require a fitting with a doctor and is designed to fit “most” women. A Caya can be purchased online direct, or you can get a prescription from your doctor and pick it up from a pharmacy. You cannot feel the diaphragm once it’s fitted against your cervix and you can wear is comfortably for up to two hours prior to when you plan to have sex. Unlike condoms, your partner should not notice you’re wearing a diaphragm. Caya is used with a natural, chemical-free spermicide – CayaGel. The diaphragm might feel like a less obtrusive barrier option that can allow for more spontaneity, not interrupt sex, and not change your enjoyment in any way. The Caya is made from silicone, whereas other older diaphragms are made from latex.

Cons: The Caya diaphragm with spermicide is not as effective as the male condom for preventing pregnancy. It needs to be kept in for 6 hours after use to be effective, but can only be kept in up to 24 hours total due on a slight risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome. Inserting anything inside the vagina can increase chance of irritations and infections. If you opt for an older diaphragm then you will need to be fitted by your doctor as they come in different sizes depending on the woman’s anatomy and lifestage.

Spermicide

Pros: Spermicide is used in conjunction with barriers to increase effectiveness. Spermicides are easy to purchase, inexpensive, simple to use, and add another layer of protection, literally, to your contraceptive plan. They can be used alone, but this is not a very effective method of contraception.

Cons: Most of the spermicides on the market contain chemicals that can cause irritations like a burning sensation or itching. They can make urinary tract infections and yeast infections more likely. There’s only one spermicide on the market that is completely natural and will not have this effect – Contragel (the same gel that comes with the Caya). Contragel can be purchased easily online on Amazon and elsewhere. You need to apply all spermicides immediately before sex for them to be effective.

Female condom

Pros: The female condom, or FC2, was recently redesigned to look and feel better. The female condom prevents the transmission of STDs. It is made from polyurethane and not latex like most male condoms. The female condom can be inserted up to 6 hours before sex, but most people choose to insert just a few minutes before. Some women say that the design of the female condom increases their enjoyment of sex.

Cons: The female condom is harder to find and can be more expensive than the male condom. Insertion might be tricky, and you must be careful to remove slowly to avoid ripping or emptying the contents. As with male condoms, there is a complete barrier between you and your partner on all touching skin surfaces, which may impair enjoyment. Female condoms also have a tendency to make noise when in use, because of the excess material.

Cervical cap

Pros: The cervical cap (or the FemCap) is available in the US, in three sizes, and requires a prescription. A FemCap can stay in for up to 48 hours. It is made of silicone, not latex, and should fit to your cervix by suction, possibly allowing for more comfort than the diaphragm. Your partner will not feel the cap during sex.

Cons: We don’t hear about cervical caps so much anymore and few doctors or healthcare practitioners know about the option or how to perform a cervical cap fitting. Cervical caps are small and can be dislodged during sex more easily than a diaphragm. You need to use additional spermicide with a cervical cap, like Contragel. It can be tricky to insert, remove, and as with anything inserted into the vagina, can increase chance of irritation and infection. Cervical caps require a prescription and it can be difficult to find a doctor who understands the option and is willing to help with a fitting. As with the diaphragm there’s a risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome, so you need to remember to remove it.

Sponge

Pros: The Today sponge is easily and cheaply purchased from your local drugstore. It’s made of plastic foam and contains regular, chemical spermicide. You can insert the sponge prior to sex and keep it in for up to 30 hours. Your partner should not be able to feel the sponge during sex, and neither should you.

Cons: Insertion and removal of the sponge might be tricky, and with all barriers but the condoms, using it can increase your risk of vaginal irritation and infection, including Toxic Shock Syndrome. The spermicide is chemical-based, not natural, and this can cause irritation, increase likelihood of infection, as well as the transmission of STDs, as it can cause tears in the vaginal wall.

 

Holly Grigg-Spall is a fertility awareness and body literacy advocate and educator, a Daysy enthusiast, and excited to help more women come off the birth control pill and find a natural, effective alternative. holly.grigg-spall@valley-electronics.com

Photo courtesy of Lady Comp and jayativoria.com

When Is A Woman Most Fertile? Get The Timing RIGHT – Daysy Blog

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What might maximize your chances in getting pregnant, besides of course being in optimal health? Well, sex obviously! Or, if we are getting technical, intercourse at the exact right time. This article will serve as a guide to women everywhere wanting to learn more about their ovulation cycle.

When Are You Most Fertile?

The best time to try to conceive a baby is during the ‘fertile window’ of a woman’s menstrual cycle; this is different for most women. When we say ‘fertile window,’ we are talking about the days in a woman’s cycle where she is the most fertile and pregnancy is possible. Technically speaking, you can only get pregnant during the five days before ovulation all the way through to the day that you ovulate.

These six days are what’s considered your ‘fertile window’ in your menstrual cycle. The fertile window mirrors the lifespan of sperm (5 days) and the lifespan of an ovum (24 hours). To put this into perspective, if a woman has sex six or more days before she ovulates, she has almost zero chance of getting pregnant.

However, having sex five days before ovulation increases chances to 10%. This increases steadily, the probability of pregnancy rising until two days before and including the day she ovulates. Once this period ends, the probability of a woman conceiving declines precipitously—12 to 24 hours after she has ovulated, a woman can no longer get pregnant during that cycle.

But…When Does Ovulation Occur?

You can, at the very least, take some of the guess work out of determining when you are most fertile by following these steps:

  1. Start Tracking Your Periods On A Calendar

Do you know if your cycle is regular? How many days elapse between periods? This crucial information is a must-know before you move any further. If you aren’t sure, you can find out by:

  • On the first day you get your period, mark your calendar. Count every day until your next period arrives. (Beginning at day one again.)
  • Do this for three to four months to get an accurate measure of both the length and regularity of your menstrual cycle. On average, a menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, but this can range from 23 to 35 days in length. Cycles can also vary in length from month to month.
  1. Calculate The Days That You Ovulate

The big secret to successfully getting pregnant is to have sex during that small window of time in the ovulation cycle when an egg is released from one of your ovaries and moves into the fallopian tube. Sounds complicated and daunting, right? Let’s break this down and make it a little easier:

  • If you determined from Step 1 that your cycles are regular, you can determine ovulation by doing simple math—in the average menstrual cycle, a woman will ovulate 14 days before she begins menstruating. So, day 14 of a 28 day cycle. Subtract 14 days from the length of your cycle, you’ll get an idea of when you ovulate every month.
  • If you determined from Step 1 that you have an irregular cycle or would just like a more accurate picture of your fertile window and ovulation you can pinpoint it more accurately by:
  • Tracking your temperature. One tip off that ovulation has occurred is that your resting body temperature (the basal body temperature) increases slightly. By using a fertility computer like Daysy, you can detect this thermal shift of sorts by taking your temperature every morning when you wake up. Daysy will help you chart your cycles and will help you see the patterns that will predict your ovulation with a 99.3% accuracy—most women have temperature spikes of about a half of a degree 24-48 hours after ovulation.
  1. Get Down! It’s Time to Have Sex (At the Right Time!)

Once you’ve gotten a clear picture of your ovulation cycle, it’s time to get down to business! Many people misunderstand this part of getting pregnant—if you have intercourse once you’ve ovulated, you may be too late. It’s best to have sex every day or every other day starting at about five days before you ovulate. Even though sperm can live as long as three to five days inside of a woman’s body, an egg’s lifespan is about 12-24 hours. By having intercourse before you ovulate, the day of ovulation, and the day after, you maximize your chances of getting pregnant.

Don’t worry about having frequent sex—it won’t deplete the man’s sperm supply. Healthy testes constantly generate fresh sperm, so daily sex shouldn’t pose a problem.

Take this time to enjoy your partner and the experience that you’re sharing together! You’re making a baby, have fun!

Courtesey of the Daysy Blog

Essential Oils For Your Menstrual Cycle – By Holly Grigg-Spall

Fertility Awareness Reproductive Health No Comments

Discover the right essential oil to match each phase of your menstrual cycle

Dr. Mariza Synder is the author of five books including “The Smart Mom’s Guide To Essential Oils,” which contains over 50 essential oil recipes. In this post, she shares the best essential oils for each phase of your menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle is comprised of four phases – follicular, ovulatory, luteal or pre-menstrual, and menstruation. As well as supporting your hormonal health during each phase, essential oils can treat common hormonal symptoms, like mood swings, anxiety, or depression. 

Essential oils for the phases of your menstrual cycle

Follicular/ovulatory: Thyme and Ylang Ylang

Luteal/pre-menstrual: Clary Sage and Lavender

Menstruation: Bergamot, Lavender and Bonus: Clary Sage

Dr. Mariza Synder’s famous Hormone Synergy Blend, for the luteal/pre-menstrual phase and menstruation:

Ingredients:

10 drops Clary Sage

8 drops Lavender

8 drops Geranium

4 drops Bergamot

4 drops Ylang Ylang

Carrier oil of choice

Directions: Place the number of drops, per recipe, in a 10 mL rollerball and then fill to the top with your carrier oil of choice (fractionated coconut oil, or almond oil). Roll the blends over your ovaries pulse points: neck, ankles and wrists 2-3 times per day.

Background on each of the essential oils:

Clary Sage

Clary Sage is effective in easing the pain caused by menstrual cramps by relaxing the smooth muscles, especially in combination with Lavender and Marjoram. A 2014 study showed that simply inhaling Clary Sage dramatically decreases the body’s cortisol – our stress-regulating hormone –  as well as improving the thyroid levels, thereby having an anti-depressant effect on the body and enhancing overall mood. This speaks to the power of aromatherapy and the instantaneous effect that it can have on our mind and body. Clary Sage can relax you to allow for a restful night’s sleep and ease any negative moods.

Ylang ylang

Ylang ylang’s nourishing properties and rich antioxidants help to protect and care for skin, especially during times of hormonal imbalance. It’s calming aroma boosts the libido and also brings calm to the mind and body.  Able to lower the heart rate and provide an overall sense of relaxation, Ylang Ylang can be an asset to anyone suffering from symptoms of depression or mood swings due to imbalanced hormones. With its ability to influence both mood and body, Ylang Ylang can offer daily support for combatting the symptoms of hormonal imbalance.

Bergamot

Aromatically, Bergamot has the unique ability to both uplift the mood while calming the mind. An added benefit of topical application of Bergamot is its ability to cleanse and purify the skin while positively affecting mood. In fact, even serious stress-induced disorders, many caused by a hormonal imbalance, can be positively impacted by Bergamot essential oil. By reducing the heart rate and blood pressure, Bergamot has proved to lower the body’s stress responses, possibly linking it with a direct effect on the adrenal glands.

Lavender

Most notable for its ability to influence a restful night’s sleep, Lavender essential oil finds popularity for its versatility in a variety of situations. During times of hormonal imbalance when skin is at its worst, Lavender can ease and calm irritated complexions.  Its light floral aroma calms the mind and body while whisking away feelings of stress and anxiety. Massages with Lavender essential oil ease the pain of menstrual cramps while simultaneously balancing the emotions. Even used in an Epsom salt bath, Lavender can transport your body to a state of relaxation and work to rebalance your emotions while you recalibrate.

Thyme

Thyme essential oil balances progesterone levels and could potentially delay the effects of menopause. It also supports natural hormonal levels to offset the effects of PMS and can energize the body during times of fatigue or stress.

Holly Grigg-Spall – Daysy Marketing Consultant and Blog Editor

When she came off the birth control pill after 10 years in 2009, Holly decided to write a blog about the experience. That blog became a series of articles, and then book, “Sweetening the Pill,” which then inspired a feature documentary, currently in production and executive produced by Ricki Lake. She is a fertility awareness and body literacy advocate and educator, a Daysy enthusiast, and excited to help more women come off the birth control pill and find a natural, effective alternative.  holly.grigg-spall@valley-electronics.com

How To Reduce Prolactin With Natural Treatment By Holly Grigg-Spall

Reproductive Health No Comments

Dr. Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor. She currently practices at Sensible-Alternative Hormone Clinic in Sydney, Australia. She is also the author of the popular troubleshooting guide, “Period Repair Manual.” For more on her work go to LaraBriden.com.  In today’s post, Dr. Briden tackles the topic of high prolactin levels and the best natural remedy.

***

 

Dear Dr. Lara Briden,  

My prolactin is slightly high at 438 mIU/L. How can I reduce it?

Bríghdín

Dear Bríghdín,

Great question. Mildly elevated prolactin like yours can cause troublesome symptoms such as breast pain, loss of libido, and irregular periods. Severely elevated prolactin is a more serious medical problem, and can cause periods to stop completely.

What Is Prolactin?

Prolactin is a pituitary hormone, and is best known for its role in promoting lactation. It also  regulates ovulation and the production of estrogen and testosterone.

What Causes High Prolactin?

Very high prolactin (greater than 1000 mIU/L or 50 ng/mL) is usually the result of a benign pituitary tumour called a prolactinoma. It requires medical diagnosis and management.

Moderately high prolactin (greater than 480 mIU/L or 23 ng/mL) can be caused by prolactinoma, thyroid disease, heavy alcohol intake, or by medications such as high dose birth control pills, stomach acid tablets, and some types of psychiatric or blood pressure medications. It requires medical diagnosis and management.

Mildly high prolactin (around 480 mIU/L or 23 ng/mL) is common, and cannot be diagnosed by a single result. Why? Because prolactin can be temporarily elevated by any of the following:

  • Sex
  • Exercise
  • Alcohol
  • Eating
  • Sleep
  • Dehydration
  • Stress
  • Luteal phase (post-ovulation)
  • Mild thyroid disease
  • Hormonal birth control

For accuracy, prolactin should be checked again under the following conditions:

  • Follicular phase
  • Between 8am-12pm
  • Fasting
  • Hydrated
  • Not directly after exercise or sex
  • Relaxed
  • Not on hormonal birth control

Natural Treatment of High Prolactin

Both moderately and severely elevated prolactin require medical diagnosis and management.

Mildly elevated prolactin responds well to stress reduction and gentle exercise such as walking and yoga. It’s also helpful to reduce alcohol, especially beer, because barley stimulates prolactin (that’s why beer was traditionally prescribed to increase milk supply). Do not exceed four alcoholic drinks per week.

Mildly elevated prolactin also responds to the herbal medicine Vitex agnus-castus (also called chaste tree or chasteberry). Vitex suppresses prolactin so strongly that it can mask a prolactinoma, and for that reason, it’s advisable to seek medical advice before taking Vitex for prolactin. The dose of Vitex is 200 mg of a standard extract, taken once in the morning. (Different formulations use different doses depending on the preparation of the extract.)

Vitex is a popular medicine for PMS and menstrual regulation, and its main mechanism of action is the reduction of prolactin. For more information about Vitex, please see: The Do’s and Don’ts of Vitex.

 

By Holly Grigg-Spall – Marketing Consultant and Daysy Blog Editor

When she came off the birth control pill after 10 years in 2009, Holly decided to write a blog about the experience. That blog became a series of articles, and then book, “Sweetening the Pill,” which then inspired a feature documentary, currently in production and executive produced by Ricki Lake. She is a fertility awareness and body literacy advocate and educator, a Daysy enthusiast, and excited to help more women come off the birth control pill and find a natural, effective alternative.

holly.grigg-spall@valley-electronics.com

Your Sex Drive After Going Off Birth Control Pills – What You Need To Know – By Holly Grigg-Spall

Fertility Awareness Reproductive Health No Comments

Tips for getting your sex drive back after going off birth control pills

One of the most commonly experienced side effects of birth control pills is low sex drive. In fact, so many women experience it, it’s become a bit of a joke, albeit a cruel one. You take a pill to have worry-free sex, only to find you no longer want to have sex!

There are a few reasons the birth control pill has a libido-squashing effect:

  • Birth control pills replace your body’s own hormone fluctuations with a stream of synthetic hormones. This flattens out all the peaks and troughs. When you’re on birth control pills you are experiencing very low hormone levels.
  • Testosterone is behind the sex drive of both men and women. Birth control pills are often very anti-androgenic, which means they suppress your testosterone levels. This can have the kind of effects that you like – for example clearing your skin, preventing unwanted hair growth – but it can also hit your libido hard.
  • Most women when experiencing their body’s own hormone cycles will have a higher sex drive around ovulation (thanks, evolution!) and sometimes also right before their period. If you’re taking birth control pills then you are not ovulating, and you won’t experience these peaks as a result.

Okay, so when you go off the birth control, your libido should just spring back, right?

Yes, it should. However, a study released in 2006 revealed that for some women when they come off birth control pills, they will find their sex drive does not bounce back. Their testosterone levels are impacted to the point that they do not regain the kind of sex drive they experienced prior to taking birth control pills.

However, most women who’ve switched their hormonal birth control for hormone-free Daysy to prevent pregnancy say this decision improved their sex lives – including their sex drive and enjoyment. They also say it has brought more intimacy and communication to their relationship.

This study did not take into account whether the women involved actively supported their bodies in producing hormones, including testosterone, again. Depending on your reproductive health prior to taking the Pill, the length of time you’ve taken it, and when you started, you sex drive once off birth control will either return as you expect and hope, or it will need some support.

Tips for getting your sex drive back after going off birth control pills:

  • Don’t stress it! It may take up to 3 months for your hormones to get back on track. You may feel some withdrawal symptoms at first, like insomnia or mood swings, which can be romance-killers. Give your body time to figure out life without the birth control pill. Start tracking where you are in your cycle – noticing when you’re ovulating and when you’re heading towards your period can bring awareness to your body. You’re probably never going to feel into sex all of the time, and that’s okay.
  • Give your body the nutrition it needs to make testosterone and balance out your estrogen and progesterone. The majority of women who’ve taken the birth control pill will be deficient in magnesium, zinc and B vitamins. Choose foods rich in these vitamins and minerals as well as taking supplements daily. You can also try the adaptogen maca root powder – put it on granola, in smoothies, or add it to hot drinks.
  • If you don’t see your real period within a few of months after coming off birth control pills, you can get additional support to get it to return – along with your libido-boosting ovulation and hormones. We now offer a special package that allows you to purchase a Daysy and get $100 off health coach Nicole Jardim’s “Fix Your Period” program. Nicole’s an expert in hormonal imbalance, missing periods, and low libido, post-Pill. You’ll need a regular cycle to experience a healthy, happy sex drive.
Holly Grigg-Spall

Marketing Consultant and Blog Editor

When she came off the birth control pill after 10 years in 2009, Holly decided to write a blog about the experience. That blog became a series of articles, and then book, “Sweetening the Pill,” which then inspired a feature documentary, currently in production and executive produced by Ricki Lake. She is a fertility awareness and body literacy advocate and educator, a Daysy enthusiast, and excited to help more women come off the birth control pill and find a natural, effective alternative.

holly.grigg-spall@valley-electronics.com

Dr. Laura Briden Describes How To Regulate Your Period Naturally – By Holly Grigg-Spall

Fertility Awareness Reproductive Health No Comments
 Dr. Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor. She currently practices at Sensible-Alternative Hormone Clinic in Sydney, Australia. She is also the author of the popular troubleshooting guide, “Period Repair Manual.”

Dear Menstruation Mechanic, Lara Briden:

Erin: I fear that because sometimes I miss my period for a month or two, I will not be able to use Daysy with confidence. For example, I will have several months when my period is normal and then I will miss a month or two out of nowhere. I am 21 years old, and height 5′ and weight 105 lbs (BMI 20.5), and I’ve never had an eating disorder. My hormone levels were tested in high school and they are normal.  How can I regulate my cycle?

Dear Erin,

First the good news: Daysy  would never give you a “green day” (a non-fertile “safe” day, if you’re wanting to avoid pregnancy) unless she is very certain that you’re not fertile that day. Therefore, you can rely on Daysy even when you have somewhat irregular cycles.

Now the bad news: With your long cycles (3 months between bleeds), you may not see any green days. Why not? Because a cycle that long is not likely to be ovulatory, which means that ovulation does not occur. And remember, Daysy works by detecting the temperature shift after ovulation. So no ovulation = no green days.

Tip: A healthy ovulatory cycle ranges anywhere from  21 to 35 days. Teens have longer cycles because they are still “growing into” ovulatory cycles.

To regulate your cycle to at least every 35 days, you must encourage your body to ovulate more often, and that means figuring out why it’s not ovulating in the first place.

You say your hormones were tested a few years ago and were “normal”, but you don’t know that your doctor tested everything, and besides, things might be different now. It’s common for teens with irregular cycles to eventually develop an anovulatory condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS. I encourage you to see your doctor again, especially if you have any other PCOS symptoms such as facial hair or acne.

Herbs_for_menstrual_regulation (2)

When you’re with your doctor, ask her: “Why do I not ovulate every month? Do you think I could have PCOS, coeliac disease, or a thyroid problem?” Also, please tell your doctor if you’re vegetarian, because vegetarians are often deficient in iron and zinc, and that can cause irregular periods. To be able to assess everything properly, your doctor will need to order blood tests.

Tip: Please don’t let your doctor prescribe the Pill to “regulate” your periods, because pill bleeds are not real periods.

After testing, your doctor should be able to offer you a diagnosis, and then you can start looking for the right treatment. For example, if you’re deficient in zinc, then supplementing zinc is all you need to do, and your periods should improve. If you have PCOS, then you can look at natural PCOS treatments such as inositol and the herbal medicine peony and licorice. See my previous Menstruation Mechanic post about PCOS.

If everything is normal on the blood test, then stress might be the cause of your irregular cycles. In that case, please consider a magnesium supplement for stress relief, as well as the herbal medicine Vitex.

Please see my book “Period Repair Manual” for more treatment ideas.

 

Holly Grigg-Spall

Marketing Consultant and Blog Editor – When she came off the birth control pill after 10 years in 2009, Holly decided to write a blog about the experience. That blog became a series of articles, and then book, “Sweetening the Pill,” which then inspired a feature documentary, currently in production and executive produced by Ricki Lake. She is a fertility awareness and body literacy advocate and educator, a Daysy enthusiast, and excited to help more women come off the birth control pill and find a natural, effective alternative. holly.grigg-spall@valley-electronics.com

The Problem With Period Trackers – Holly Grigg-Spall

Fertility Awareness 7 Comments

Period-tracker apps are becoming ever more popular. While they have many benefits, worryingly more women are attempting to use these, usually free, apps to make decisions about contraception or to plan a pregnancy. Period-tracker apps will tell you when to expect your period, but they also often tell you which days they assume you are fertile, which day you could be ovulating, and even when they assume you are not fertile. Unfortunately this information is all generated within the app solely from the only information provided – your period start and end date.

This means period-tracker apps are essentially a digitized rhythm method or calendar method.

The rhythm method or calendar method assumes all women have the same cycle – that their cycle is usually the same length every month (approximately 28 days) and that they always ovulate at the mid-point of that cycle (around day 14). Period-tracker apps make the same assumptions for every woman who enters their period data. Within the first cycle the app will tell you when to expect your period and when to expect ovulation with no previous data recorded. As you enter more period data for your following cycles, the app will continue to assume you have a steady, unchanging cycle. The app may sometimes be right in its calculations, but it’s far more likely to be wrong the longer you use it. Although some women have very regular, consistent cycles and ovulation dates, many more do not. Period-tracker apps treat women like we are all the same and as though we are robot-like in our cycle experience.

African American woman sending a text message on a mobile phone – Black people

As such, period-tracker apps can be very misleading – they can make you think your period is “late,” they can make you think you can have sex without a condom and not get pregnant, they can make you miss the days you need to be having sex if you do want to get pregnant. Unfortunately, many women don’t know this and trust these apps to handle everything for them, even believing these apps to be an effective birth control replacement. Period-tracker apps are just that, a way to track your period and provide approximate predictions for your next period.

How Daysy is different 

In contrast, Daysy is an intelligent computer that actually learns your unique cycle. She has a stored database of over a million clinically-studied cycles that are used for statistical analysis. Daysy has an integrated sensor that allows you to take your temperature every morning and she uses this data to understand your cycle. Using this data and your period data too, Daysy calculates and displays your fertility status for the day with a red, green or yellow light (red: fertile, green: non-fertile, yellow: learning phase/caution). Daysy takes your personal data and measures it against the data she has stored in her “brain” – allowing her to make smart analytical decisions about your cycle.

Daysy works by measuring, recording and analyzing your basal body temperature. This is the temperature of your body at rest – or your temperature when you wake up for the day. There are two predominate hormones involved in the fertility cycle, estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen is dominant during the pre-ovulatory phase (follicular phase) of your cycle, the time from the start of your menstruation until just before ovulation. Immediately after ovulation, during the luteal phase, production of the hormone progesterone increases and remains at an elevated level until just before the next menstruation. Progesterone causes the basal body temperature to shift by approximately 0.2 degrees Celsius. Daysy uses a complex algorithm to determine the change in average temperature values between pre-ovulation and post-ovulation. When the change is recognized, your Daysy knows that your ovulation has occurred and that you are no longer fertile.

Initially, when you first start using Daysy she determines your fertile window based on the statistical data she has in her computer database. Statistically speaking, women can ovulate as early as day 11 of their cycle, so Daysy begins her “red” (fertile) days around day 6 or 7 depending on the length of your menstruation. The red days will continue until Daysy has been able to confirm you have ovulated. In the beginning, Daysy is very cautious and it could take up to 5 or 6 days for Daysy to be certain that the temperature shift was in fact due to ovulation and not some other factor (i.e. the time you took your temperature, a fever, alcohol consumption the night prior…).

Over the course of the first few cycles, as Daysy learns your unique fertility cycle, she will slowly and cautiously reduce the number of red days she gives you. Daysy will begin to pinpoint your ovulation and start your fertile window (the red days) to 5 days before your earliest ovulation. The fertile phase will then continue until ovulation has been confirmed. So if you are a woman who generally ovulates around day 15-17 of your cycle, you will see that Daysy slowly moves the start of your red days back to day 10. Daysy always starts your fertile window 5 days before your earliest ovulation in the past 20 cycles. This accounts for the length of time that sperm can survive inside the female body (up to 120 hours) and protects those with irregular cycles. Daysy will monitor your temperature data and use her proprietary algorithm to compare the average temperature prior to ovulation compared to the average temperature after ovulation to determine when ovulation actually occurred.

This is why Daysy goes through a learning phase and gives most users a high number of red days for the first several cycles. The fact that Daysy can actually look back at your previous cycles and use her complex algorithms to fully learn your unique fertility patterns is what sets her apart.

Generally, we say that the Daysy has a learning phase of three to four cycles. This does not mean, however, that you will not get any “green” lights during that time. Daysy will start out very conservatively and base your fertile window primarily on statistical data. Over the course of your next several cycles, Daysy will begin to weigh your data more heavily against the statistical data and slowly narrow down and give less red days as it is able to pinpoint your individual fertile window. Most women will end up with 9 or fewer red days per cycle.

This is why Daysy has a medically-certified accuracy rating of 99.3% for planning or preventing pregnancy. Daysy is a stand-alone device, but if you want to use an app because that’s what you are used to, you can download DaysyView. Then simply attach Daysy to your phone with the supplied cord and your data will come up on the app. There you can visually see your charts over each tracked cycle and monitor the timing of your coming period, your fertile window, and your ovulation day and know that it is information you can trust and rely upon.

By Holly Grigg-Spall

Marketing Consultant and Blog Editor

When she came off the birth control pill after 10 years in 2009, Holly decided to write a blog about the experience. That blog became a series of articles, and then book, “Sweetening the Pill,” which then inspired a feature documentary, currently in production and executive produced by Ricki Lake. She is a fertility awareness and body literacy advocate and educator, a Daysy enthusiast, and excited to help more women come off the birth control pill and find a natural, effective alternative.

holly.grigg-spall@valley-electronics.com

Fertility Computer Or Fertility Charting – Which Is Right For You?

Fertility Awareness No Comments

In this podcast interview with “Fertility Friday” host Lisa Jack, we discuss many of the common questions that can arise about using technology such as the Daysy fertility computer for fertility awareness practice; for planning or preventing pregnancy.

Highlights from our conversation:

  • How the Daysy fertility computer works with a 99.3% accuracy
  • How we’re supporting women who want to use Daysy by partnering with women’s health experts
  • How Daysy helps women in choosing to come off the Pill when they want, to avoid unwanted side effects
  • How Daysy alleviates the burden of responsibility and/or stress for women who want to use natural birth control
  • Daysy as a gateway to learning more about your body and your reproductive health
  • How some women are using Daysy, as well as tracking other fertility signs
  • The importance of meeting women “where they’re at” to strengthen and grow the burgeoning fertility awareness movement
  • How Daysy compares to hormonal birth control in terms of convenience and simplicity
  • How Daysy differs from charting apps and why a fertility computer works better for some women
  • Issues of privacy and personal data with “free” charting apps
  • How Daysy compares to and can rival the IUD
  • The creation of a diverse non-hormonal contraceptives “menu” for women
  • How fertility awareness educators can work with fertility technology

Click here to listen in and post your follow up questions in the comments. For more information read “What You Need To Know About Daysy.”

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You’re reading The Daysy Planet. The most accurate, all-natural, fertility management solution for planning or preventing pregnancy. 99.3% accurate. Advanced tech with proven pedigree. Hormone-free, elegant, easy. Meet Daysy.

Written by on Feb. 5, 2016 in Body Literacy 101, Daysy Knowledge

The 5 Best Reasons To Go Off Hormonal Birth Control

Fertility Awareness No Comments

If you’re thinking about going off the Pill or other hormonal birth control method, you might have been thinking about it for some time. Maybe you’ve done some research (thanks, Google!) and seen some stuff that’s got you scared and apprehensive about taking that step (again…thanks Google). Maybe you’re just not sure what you’re going to do about contraception when you come off the method you’ve been using for years. Whatever the reason for your decision, and there are many good reasons to not use hormonal birth control, you might be finding you’re not getting a whole lot of support from your doctor, health practitioner, or even your partner and your friends. So, let’s take a look at the positive and everything that you have to look forward to (and don’t be afraid to share this article when you need it!).

The 5 best reasons to go off hormonal birth control:

1) You’ll enjoy sex more! It’s pretty much guaranteed that hormonal birth control has thrown cold water on your sex life in some way, at some point. Whether it’s made you less interested in sex, reduced your sexy dreams, given you less lubrication, pelvic pain or a harder time getting orgasms. Taking a pill to prevent you from getting pregnant, that then stops you wanting to even do the thing that might get you pregnant anyway is one of life’s cruelest jokes on women. We think not having to worry about getting pregnant will be the most amazing aphrodisiac (it makes sense!), but these synthetic hormones have the effect of removing the libido peaks all women would otherwise get with their non-medicated cycle. For many women, coming off the Pill is a revelation, because all of a sudden they really want sex, like physically want it, in this strong way they may not have felt since they were a teenager.

2) You’ll improve your relationship. Our body’s own hormones impact how we react to other people and how they respond to us. Many studies have shown that using the Pill causes men to behave differently around women and skews how women feel about men. Some experts even recommend women try coming off the Pill before marrying their long-term partner, just to check that they’re actually attracted to him. If you’re single, you might find not using the Pill helps you tune in better to your intuition when it comes to seeking out a date. If you’re in a relationship, coming off might cure any doubts you have. Not feeling solely responsible for preventing pregnancy is also really important for some women – sharing that part of a relationship can open you both up to more communication and intimacy.

3) You’ll experience all the feelings. Although the Pill can help some women avoid the perils of PMS (that said, there are better ways…), many women decide to come off the Pill because they feel it has caused them, conversely, to experience mood swings, depression or anxiety. The effect of hormonal birth control on your mood might be obvious to you now, or you might be questioning how it makes you feel after a decade or more of using it. For others, these methods of contraception cause a “blah” or dulled-down feeling that means they find it hard to get excited or feel really happy or enjoy life to the fullest. Everyone’s different. Going Pill-free can bring in a whole range of feelings and mood changes – some women have said it’s like coming out from under a cloud or from behind a veil. Colors are brighter, tastes better, and smells sweeter, a bit like when Dorothy switches from black-and-white Kansas to technicolor Oz! But without the weird little wizard man.

4) You’ll up your fitness game. This is a little-known fact unless you hang out with professional athletes – hormonal birth control actually prevents you from gaining muscle effectively. Some athletes have also noticed that the Pill makes them retain water weight through bloating. This all links back to testosterone – the Pill pretty much wipes out women’s testosterone levels which you need for energy, sex drive, and for building your strength and fitness. So, choosing non-hormonal birth control might actually help with your goal to tackle a triathlon this year or just to lose those 10 extra pounds. At the very least, it might make it less of a drag to get to the gym a couple of times a week.

5) You’ll stop worrying about scary headlines. Unfortunately, some methods of hormonal birth control cannot be categorized as safe. We’re seeing more and more in the media about the blood clot risks associated with the Pill and other hormonal methods like the NuvaRing and that’s because new brands with new formulations have been shown to have a significantly higher risk than the hormonal birth control methods of the past. You may have even already swapped your method because you read an article or your doctor mentioned the issue. As we get older our bodies change, we gain weight, we might be more sedentary – and as such our personal set of risks change. If the headlines have made you uneasy and you don’t feel like you should be at risk of death just because you want to avoid pregnancy (especially when there are so many other options out there for you), then coming off hormonal birth control can be a big sigh of relief.

Written by on Dec. 16, 2015

You’re reading The Daysy Planet. The most accurate, all-natural, fertility management solution for planning or preventing pregnancy. 99.3% accurate. Advanced tech with proven pedigree. Hormone-free, elegant, easy. Meet Daysy.

photo courtesy of Daysy.me