This graphic, courtesy of Justisse Healthworks for Women, shows the ebb and flow of estrogen and progesterone during an ovulatory menstrual cycle. Neither ovulation nor this cyclic hormonal activity occurs while using hormonal contraception.
Everybody seems to be talking about ovulation these days in one context or another.
ScienceDaily reported that women’s faces get redder when they ovulate, but it is imperceptible to the human eye.
The Pharmaceutical Journal reported on a small study that showed the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain killers (NSAIDs) may prevent as many as 75% of fertile women from ovulating.
And over at Bustle we can read about 6 Strange Ways Ovulation Affects Women in an article that does what so many articles about ovulation do, imply that all women ovulate by failing to mention that women using hormonal contraception–i.e. the pill, patch, ring, implant or shot–DO NOT OVULATE.
Why does it matter? Because many women do not know that they DO NOT OVULATE while using hormonal birth control.
So, kudos to Jody Smith who wrote 10 Interesting Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Ovulation for EmpowHer. Fact No. 9 states: Contraceptive pills stop the process of ovulation.
Calling all writers and editors, if you write or publish a story about ovulation in any context, please include this proviso: Women who use hormonal contraception of any kind DO NOT OVULATE.
horray for Ovulation – the silent, hidden, internal event that women couldnt possibly identify without some sort of high tech gizmo and a team of doctors. Oh wait, I meant to say horray for Ovulation – the frisky and fun full body event that is obvious to 100% of women once they learn that a slippery sensation and mucus on the tissue after wiping is a reliable sign of being close to ovulation and a temperature shift confirms it afterwards.
This is a great collection of items and important to share. It’s strange and sad that so many women don’t know how the pills they take work.