a new cycle bookcoverIn celebration of the launch of A New Cycle, our period-positive guide to a healthier period, we’re introducing you to the contributors! We hand-picked our favorite women’s health experts to write chapters for A New Cycle on their area of specialty. Read on to get know this week’s featured contributor, or click here get a free preview of the book when you sign up for our newsletter!

 

 

Meet Ashley Annis, author of Chapter 1: Fertility Awareness!

Why is menstruation important?

Menstruation is important because it's part of the female experience. Much of our culture is based on linear ways of thinking and being, and I think it's important that women understand and appreciate their cyclical nature. I think if we understood and honored menstruation more, there would be less hatred between women and more respect for our needs, emotions, intuition, and differences.

Why do women need to know about Fertility Awareness?

Fertility Awareness is a wonderful gift! As a birth control method, it is effective and has no side effects. It can also help women and their partners enter into important conversations and balance responsibility for birth control between both people (the women chart their signals and communicate their fertility status to their partner, the partner has to be supportive and willing to work with the woman's fertility patterns).

The more I use Fertility Awareness though, the more I find benefits other than natural birth control. I've learned to accept the different phases my body goes through and use my cycle to my advantage (i.e.: needing more rest during menstruation, writing and making to-do lists during my ovulation energy, cleaning and organizing and letting go during the pre-menstrual phase, etc.). One of the more important parts of understanding my cycle has been that I don't try and push myself as hard when I'm bleeding because I know I am more sensitive and slow during that time. Instead of thinking, "Gee, why aren't you being more productive right now? This is terrible!" I can now say, "It's okay, Ashley. Be who you need to be today. In a week things will be different and everything that needs to get done will get done." I'm much more at peace with myself now that I honor my cycle.

Do you have a personal story about menstruation you’d like to share?

I remember one day in junior high using a pad that was too small and having some blood soak through to the outside of my jeans. I was so embarrassed and frustrated and confused. After that day, whenever I got my period I would think, "This is so stupid. I never want to have kids and I never want to have a period and I hate being a girl. It's not fair!" I kept this mindset with me for a long time.

I had been coming to appreciate my cycle more and more once I got older, but learning Fertility Awareness is what really solidified the change in me. Any hatred and anger towards my period was completely eliminated once I understood the bleeding was part of an even greater monthly cycle, and the monthly cycle was part of an even greater life cycle. I didn't have the depth and connections I needed to love my body and my cycle until I learned Fertility Awareness. I'm so thankful to be a woman now, and even thankful for my bleeding. It gives me a chance to slow down, to contemplate my body, and let go.

What kind of menstrual protection do you use?

I've been using cloth menstrual pads since 2009 and a menstrual cup since 2011. I couldn't believe no one had told me about reusable menstrual products sooner! They were more comfortable, cheaper, and gave me a much more aesthetically pleasing menstruation. There was always something sort of weird and disconnected about seeing my bright red blood on a completely white, sterile pad. It felt unnatural. It felt like something was "wrong" or that I should see a doctor. Bleeding on cloth feels much safer, as strange as that may sound. I feel much more at home with my body.

For awhile, I would mainly use the cup since it seemed easier and cleaner. I didn't like feeling the blood, so the cup was great. Lately though, I've found that I have far less cramps if I use only cloth pads during my bleeding, and I also find that I am much more calm and balanced if I just let the blood flow and accept my menstruation. My period is always a learning experience, so I try to be open and do what feels right for me at the time.

ashleyA modern-day Xochiquetzal (goddess of fertility, female sexual power, pregnancy, childbirth, and household crafts), Ashley uses her knowledge and passion to educate and empower women at all stages of life. Along with natural birth control classes and selling handmade menstrual pads, Ashley also aspires to work as a birth doula, lead feminine healing retreats and young women’s circles, and become an expert on herbal medicine. To contact Ashley, please visit lovelyfertility.com.