What you may not know about natural birth control

Vegetarian Times, July, 1998 by Norine Dworkin

When it comes to birth control, medical science has presented women with a kaleidoscope of choices: the pill, insertable Norplant capsules, injectable Depo-Provera, the female condom and, of course, those old staples--the condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, intrauterine device (IUD) and sterilization (or "getting your tubes tied").

For the most part, these methods work. They're easy. They' re convenient. But for many women, convenience has a price: Mood swings, migraines, yeast infections, vitamin deficiencies, ectopic pregnancies and increased risks for cardiovascular disease and cancer have all been linked to the use of artificial contraceptives. Consequently, many women are going au naturel, opting, instead, for something that has no chemicals, no side effects and a surprisingly low risk of pregnancy.

Something, ironically, that the Catholic Church has been pushing for years--natural family planning, a.k.a, natural birth control.

The concept of regulating fertility is ancient. Even the Bible makes reference to it. But while widely used in Third World countries, where contraceptives are often scarce and expensive, modern methods of natural birth control do not have a strong following in the United States. Just 3 percent of all contraception users here choose natural birth control, according to the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth, the last year for which figures are available, compared with the dominant three methods--sterilization (27.7 percent), the pill is low or feel they're at high risk; or those who either started menopause before age 40 or have had their ovaries removed. Women who do go on OHT are usually kept on it for five years, with dosages slowly decreased every year.

But no one knows the long-term effects of taking hormones. Even Wright concedes, "We've only been doing HRT since the 1960s and all that was available until recently was from horses and other species, so there are no long-term studies on effectiveness and risk." This is why it is vital that anyone considering it do so under the watchful eye of a trained physician.

Advocates of bisphosphonate drugs like alendronate say bone growth from hormone use is temporary and that bisphosphonates are the only thing proven to permanently build bone mass. An article in the March 10, 1998, edition of HealthNews, an offshoot of the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that the relatively new drug "is now an option for preventing osteoporosis" along with "adequate calcium, vitamin D and vigorous exercise."

SO WHAT'S A GIRL TO DO?

It's important to remember that despite the high odds, not everyone will get osteoporosis--or even be at risk. Therefore, the first thing you should do is assess your own risk factors: genetics, diet, lifestyle habits, etc. Then you should make an effort to cut back on the foods and behaviors that are associated with osteoporosis and add dark leafy greens and other whole foods to your diet. A balanced calcium supplement may not be a bad idea. And start doing weight-bearing exercises. That doesn't just mean weight-lifting--though that is important. Weight-bearing includes anything that forces your body weight to resist gravity: walking, running, cycling, doing yoga, tai chi or water aerobics (but, alas, not swimming). Exercise is the one area of life where stress is good. By applying it to your bones and tissues, you stimulate growth.

Many doctors suggest that women getting a baseline test for bone density sometime between the ages of 35 and 44. The two most common tests are the DEXA, or dual photon X-ray absorbtiometry, and a urine test, abbreviated NTX, which measures a protein specific to bone loss. Once you know where you're starting, it's easier to track loss over the years. Bear in mind, however, that premature bone loss is becoming increasingly common given the standard American diet and lifestyle.

WHEN IN DOUBT, TAKE A CHILL PILL

Frequently overlooked, but a vital factor in bone health is our stress level. UBC's Prior has conducted numerous studies on the effects of stress and says, "I've found an overall increased risk of osteoporosis with women who were overly worried about their weight, were too thin, were stressed-out or did too rigorous workouts for their training level." She also cites a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine a few years ago that showed women who'd had a major depression--one that required therapy and antidepressants--had lower bone density.

"The measure of a woman's success is still, tragically, how thin she is," says Prior. And yet her most recent research indicates that women who severely restrict their eating probably have increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which causes the leaching of calcium from the bones.

Her prescription includes something that the diet-and-supplement-and-exercise experts leave out. "High achievers would benefit from relaxation training," she says. "They should stop and appreciate the moment. They should eat healthily and learn to enjoy themselves."