An oft-asked question is: Post-apocalyptic birth control, other than stock up on economy-size boxes of Trojans, what do we do? Well, obviously there was pre-civilization birth control. Plants, such as wild carrot, being the major contraceptives, along with prolonged breastfeeding, herbal abortion, infanticide and other happy-go-lucky methods of family planning. But in a collapse scenario things are going to be a little bit different. Much of this woman specific plant knowledge was lost during the witch hunts and, well you know, just due to civilization in general. I personally don’t believe anything gets lost forever, but it might take awhile to resurface.
When I got my intrauterine device (IUD) inserted in August, they gave me a little card saying it was good until at least the year 2020, and I can’t deny that was part of the appeal, as thoughts of collapse are always running though my mind. Scout thought it was a bad idea for me to go on birth control pills, since in his experience the side effects made the women he knew act “crazy”. I disagreed, since I had taken them before and only enjoyed the hormonal side effects: less acne, bigger boobs. Who can argue with that? Still I’m wary of anything I take into my body, especially Western drugs, and especially after reading all those alarming natural health books that connect birth control pills with Candida yeast overgrowth. So I was attracted to the IUD for those reasons, and in Oregon birth control for qualifying women is free under the Family Planning Extension Project so cost was never an issue.
I’d never known anyone with an IUD. Though apparently, it is not an entirely unpopular method of birth control, I still don’t think it has recovered from the bad rap of the poorly designed Dalkon Shield in the 70’s which caused the deaths of several women. The concept is actually very bizarre. You stick a little bit of copper wrapped around some plastic up in your uterus and somehow that works to prevent pregnancy. They still don’t really know how. I’ve heard it is Egyptian in origin but I see no evidence of that from my gods of google, so it must be untrue.
In the states you only have two to choose from. I got the Paragard which is the classic style. They also have one now called the Mirena, which doesn’t last as long but releases hormones which work to balance out those nasty side effects. Obviously I didn’t get that one since hormones were exactly what I was trying to avoid.
Well, I thought that because it didn’t involve synthetic drugs this would be a more natural approach than the pill, but now I’m not so sure. My uterus didn’t seem so much to like having that little piece of junk in it. What with all the heavy bleeding and cramping each month, seems it actually wanted to get rid of it pretty bad. I waited six months to have it removed because they said things often get better over time, but they didn’t really, and it felt draining to my general health. I admire the stalwart Chinese women who make the IUD the world’s most popular method of reversible birth control.
They tell you the removal has to be done by a qualified medical doctor, but seriously all they do is stick a little pair of pliers up your who-ha and tell you to cough as they yank on the strings to pull it out. I think it would be pretty easy to remove by yourself if for some reason (god forbid!) there were no gynecologists around. So, I’m not telling anyone to get an IUD, or not get one, but that’s my experience, and I wanted to share it with you.
I had a short and painful run-in with an IUD once. It happily lodged itself in my uterus…awesome!
Sounds pretty uncomfortable. Is it made of metal or plastic? I would imagine if it were metal the initial insertion must have been pretty cold!
My wife had one of those things, it felt like a needle was poking my junior carpenter. “Israel Pulls Out of Gaza, Gaza Not Pregnant”
I have had an IUD for the past 3 years and continue to be happy with it. I had increased bleeding at first but it levelled off. I have the non hormonal one but it’s supposed to come out after 3 years for some reason, so I get it changed later. Glad to hear getting it out isn’t too painful. I hope it isn’t worse than putting it in
They are made out of plastic with a little metal. It isn’t cold, but the insertion causes some very painful cramping. No worries, the removal is much less painful!
Well, I have had an IUD for 16 years now, and I did have to get it replaced at 10 years, and it was fine…not too much pain, maybe a bit crampy, because they are irritating the area and the body always responds by sending blood to the spot to heal it…. I say, the body is quite amazing in the way it heals itself. My understanding of the IUD is that the egg does drop like usual, but even if there is a conception, boy meets girl, the egg CANNOT attach itself with the IUD there. It makes an unhospitable region… therefore, no pregnancy. The egg just passes through as usual. This is the most amazing mystery, but I like that I’m not messing with hormones, much less remembering to take something everyday…..I would miss it, and get pregnant. And if the world ends, and I’m one of the last few… I may find an OBGyn or I may just not. Something to ponder.
thank you for the link to your excellent post on wild carrot (as well as the other sites you referenced). this was definitely more info than i was able to find when doing an online search a little while ago. i also love how you break down the verbatim warnings/descriptions one regularly hears from people, which all must have originated from some old, lazy/scaredy plant guide somewhere (this time – the poison hemlock fears…last time i think it was you confirming the fact that serviceberries actually TASTE GOOD).
oh, also, just a little semantic correction regarding erin’s comment:
collapse is actually when the world has a chance to begin once more, rather than when the world ends. no big deal (well, yes it is, but…) – i thought i’d just clear that one up. no offense intended or anything.
<3
Accupressure. You can bring on your bleeding every month with accupressure, no hormones or devices needed, just tapping. Check out the book woman heal thyself.
I’m having withdrawal! Need…more…entries!
I really didn’t like mine..I forgot what it meant to be a woman having that thing there and was constantly reminded of its presents, it felt unnatural to me. So……one day I looked up the actual pamphlet that came within the IUD itself online and saw the pages full to the brim on how to insert it, but literally, one paragraph on how to remove it. I live in the Adirondack Mnts. Miles away from the nearest doctor, so I really felt I could remove this thing myself and after reading how simple it was, I felt I was doing the right thing. I now follow the Rhythm Method which has really helped me to connect and understand my body on a primitive and biological method. I love this method of birth control, and I love how I aware I am of my body.
Big thanks, you have best articles and this one I liked the most!
If You are so much interested in Yoga, I advise You to buy new Acupressure Mat – Pranamat.
Please visit this site to learn more about Pranamat. This is so simple in use mat for acupressure massage techniques on our site and is made from 100% natural materials.