What if the birth control that’s supposed to help you is actually making you feel worse?



In this episode, we sit down with Carly, a holistic reproductive health practitioner and certified fertility awareness educator. After spending nearly 15 years on hormonal birth control and struggling with mood swings, thyroid issues, and hormone imbalances, Carly discovered the fertility awareness methods and completely transformed her health.

We talk about her journey from being told she could get pregnant “any day of the month” to learning the science of cycle tracking, cervical mucus, and body literacy. Carly shares exactly how she got off birth control, avoided pregnancy for years, and later used the same methods to conceive, plus why she believes informed consent is the missing piece in how we talk about reproductive health.

You’ll Learn:

• The changes Carly experienced in mood, libido, and energy after coming off hormonal birth control
• Why informed consent around birth control side effects is almost nonexistent in conventional care
• How cervical mucus tracking works and why it’s one of the most important signs of fertility
• Why you shouldn’t rely on cycle app predictions
• How to avoid pregnancy without hormones and without anxiety
• The link between hormonal birth control and attraction to different partners
• Why heavy periods, cramps, and acne don’t have to mean a lifetime prescription for the pill
• How to start a fertility awareness method of birth control that actually works
• How these fertility tracking skills can be used to conceive, avoid pregnancy, and navigate perimenopause

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction

[05:18] Carly’s personal journey getting off birth control and the changes she noticed

[09:58] The lack of informed consent around hormonal birth control risks

[14:02] Understanding fertility awareness methods and why cervical mucus matters

[18:54] Why popular fertility apps often give misleading fertile window predictions

[22:48] Using fertility tracking to avoid pregnancy, conceive, and postpartum charting

[25:45] How cervical position changes and what it reveals about fertility

[27:08] Tracking through perimenopause and the lifelong value of cycle knowledge

[31:53] The pros and cons of wearables, temp tracking devices, and hormone test kits

[38:57] Why LH strips alone can’t confirm ovulation and better ways to track

Resources Mentioned:

Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler | Book

Read Your Body app | App

Tempdrop Temperature Tracker | Website

Mira Fertility Tracker | Website

If you want to learn more from Carly, visit her website and follow her on Instagram.  

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Kate @thatcrunchymomkate

Jordan @themoderncrunchymum

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