For most women, adolescence is a time of bodily changes and awkward conversations, often accompanied by a basic, and sometimes insufficient, education on reproductive health. We learn about menstruation, are introduced to various forms of birth control, and maybe get a vague idea of how pregnancy happens. But many of us are left with significant gaps in our understanding—gaps that can take years to fill.
I spent much of my early adulthood navigating these gaps. Like many women, I was handed birth control options without a deep understanding of what they really did to my body. I was vaguely aware of emergency contraception like Plan B, but didn’t really grasp how it worked, let alone the intricacies of ovulation, insemination, and the complexities of pregnancy itself.
The Misguided Reliance on Hormonal Birth Control
For years, I thought my only viable option for avoiding pregnancy was to take birth control, offered in a myriad of forms—pills, patches, injections, and more. Each method came with its own set of side effects, many of which I didn’t fully comprehend at the time. I simply trusted that these hormones were necessary to maintain my autonomy and avoid being tethered to an unwanted pregnancy.
What I didn’t realize was the toll this would take on my body. Hormonal birth control alters your natural cycle, floods your system with synthetic hormones, and can have long-term effects on your health and wellbeing. But I didn’t question it—because who was I to question the established norms?
Entering the “Second Puberty”
In my late 20s, something began to shift. I started to question everything I had been told about reproductive health. I began seeking information and tools that would help me understand my body on a deeper level—beyond the simplified “just take the pill” advice I had been given in my teens. This period of discovery and empowerment felt like a second puberty, where I was finally taking control of my body and my health narrative.
One of the most significant changes in this journey was embracing natural family planning (NFP)—or as I like to call it, body literacy. I started using tools like the Oura ring to track my cycle and understand my body’s natural rhythms. What surprised me most was how little I actually knew about my own body. The realization that my reproductive health could be managed without pumping myself full of synthetic hormones was both liberating and terrifying.
Natural family planning is often associated with those who want to conceive, but it’s just as relevant for those of us who don’t want children at all. The term “family planning” doesn’t quite capture the essence for women like me, who are more interested in understanding their bodies for the sake of health and autonomy rather than preparing for pregnancy. The goal isn’t necessarily to plan for a family, but to plan for life—on our own terms.
The Power of Curiosity: Asking Questions and Seeking Answers
Another crucial part of this second puberty is the curiosity that drives us to ask questions and seek answers. I began scheduling appointments with my doctors, not just to check off a box, but to actively engage in conversations about my health. I asked questions—lots of them. Why am I taking birth control? What are the long-term effects of these hormones on my body? What other options are available to me?
But it didn’t stop at birth control. I started questioning everything—Why am I shaving? Why do I use tampons? Why do I do any of the things I do when it comes to my body? These questions aren’t just about challenging norms; they’re about aligning my actions with my values and ensuring that the choices I make reflect what I truly want, not what society expects of me.
If the answer to “why” is rooted in something I love or need, great. But if it’s based on outdated expectations or external pressures, it’s time to reconsider. This process of questioning and self-reflection is empowering and helps ensure that my decisions about my body and health are fully aligned with the life I want to lead.
The Path Forward
For those in their late 20s or beyond who are just beginning to explore this “second puberty,” I encourage you to question, learn, and seek out the tools and knowledge that resonate with you. Whether it’s through wearable tech, natural family planning, or other means of body literacy, this journey is about empowerment.
We deserve to understand our bodies fully, to make choices that are informed and intentional, and to live lives that are not dictated by outdated narratives or incomplete information. This revolution in reproductive health isn’t just about avoiding pregnancy—it’s about taking control of our bodies and our futures in ways that are holistic, informed, and true to who we are.