What did you wish you knew about your ute pre-TTC?

[rablissful]

Hi everyone!

So I'm attempting to create a reproductive system unit in my anatomy class. That being said, since it's all girls I want to tailor it a bit for them.

I know many of us were kind of sad how little we knew about our utes until we started TTC. I want to make sure these girls don't have that feeling should they ever get to that point. I probably have all the info I need but I just want to make sure!

So... What do you wish you knew about your ute before ttc?

[requiressnacks]

I keep thinking of things that end up sounding like a commercial for unprotected sex. Haha
Ex. There's only a couple days a month you can actually get pregnant.

I think a good thing (which you probably already have covered) are the different phases of the cycle. I don't recall learning anything beyond the menstrual phase in school.

[apunicorn]

I'm just frustrated at this point so all of mine seem negative/ads for unprotected sex, like requiressnacks said.

I think a really good one to mention would be the cycle length variations. I think it's one of the biggest "OMGZ" moments women have when they start TTC. And for girls who are not getting pregnant it could be useful for them to know that their period coming a little early or late can be normal.

[teraiin]

I think it's important for girls to learn that they may NOT be ovulating and how you could determine that. I was taught that if you had cycles you were ovulating. No matter how irregular they may be.

[notthedroids]

That everyone's cycles are different. Not everyone gets cramps or bleeds like crazy or has a 28 day cycle.

I would also discuss different options of birth control. When I was younger I feel like it was the pill. I knew nothing about shots or IUDs.

[rablissful]

Thanks so far for the input ladies!

Things I was planning on talking about
-Varying cycle lengths
-When you can actually get pregnant
-Temperature shifts (detecting ovulation) and charting (not too much on this since they aren't actually TTC but I do want to mention it, just that you can detect ovulation and can see a pattern)
-The different phases
-Different forms of BC (I think all 7 girls are on BC of some sort or another)
-Different ways of dealing with AF (mostly cups... they already use pads/tampons- they were interested in the cup when I brought it up earlier)

I totally didn't think of CM- thanks @underdog25!

We will spend a day or two on the guys- how their anatomy is, how long sperm can live, etc.

I want to try to make this more of a "unit you should really know about going into the real world" (since 5/7 of them are seniors) versus "stuff you may want to remember if you choose to take anatomy in college" so I appreciate all the feedback so far!

[shadesofgold]

This is all so tricky, because you should give them honest information, but don't want to endorse unprotected sex! But honesty is the best policy. You should underscore that every body is different and cycles can be unpredictable (especially for teens).

I agree with notthedroids - please talk about how birth control works and the different types. And please please please mention that hormonal BC does not prevent against STIs and drive home the importance of condom use. If you'd like to discuss their risk for disease, here is some great information: www.advocatesforyouth.org/stis-home STI rates among young people are very high.

I, like @underdog25, knew nothing about CM until last year. Would have been helpful information.

It isn't totally clear from OP - is this their sex ed component? What grade? I know most evidence-based sex ed includes an interpersonal component about healthy relationships, boundaries, self-respect and respect for others, etc.

You may also consider putting out an anonymous question box the week before the lesson. They can submit their anatomy-related questions and you can answer them at the end of your prepared lesson. (Just be sure to read them in advance so you're prepared.)

[joy]

I would assume that they know nothing because most women I talk to don't know anything. So...

Follicular phase - CD1 to ovulation, can be any length

Ovulation

Luteal phase - ovulation to CD1. Typically 10 to 16 days. Marked by high progesterone that drops and signals a period.

Implantation - happens 7 to 10 days after ovulation and then takes a few more days to build up enough hCG to turn a teat positive

I'd explain how a pregnancy test works, what hCG is and its relationship to progesterone

I'd probably make a worksheet that gives different cycles and ask them to identify things, ex - ovulation on Cd16 and period on CD27, how long was her luteal phase? If she ovulates on Cd14 next cycle, when should she expext her period (Cd24). Defining words is fine but they need to be able to apply the info for it to be helpful. This is real life.

One last thing - explain where the AVERAGES of ovulation on Cd14 and luteal phase of 14 days comes from. If you polled 1,0000 girls on when they ovulated last cycle and averaged them, then you'd get 14. But if you look at the individual answers, you'll see cd10, Cd18, cd14, cd23, etc.

[joy]

I assumed the girls were high school age.

I love the idea of explaining how birth control works, eapecially after you've described the parts of a cycle. Dual pills, progrsterone only pills, Mirena IUD, copper IUD, condoms - they all have their own mechanism of action.

I personally would not explain temping or OPKs. I would say that methods exist to identify your ovulation day at home leave it at that.

I'm not a teacher and do not know what is kosher with parents of minors, however.

[wanderingheart]

Going with the whole "not every cycle is 28 days", I'd mention that cycles past 60 days should be consulted about with a doctor.

What I wouldn't give to go back 10 years and see a doctor then. I seriously compromised my uterine lining all that time by not shedding it regularly.

[Deleted]

I think it's important for them to know what a "normal" period should be like if they are not on birth control. Average number of days of flow; knowing what is too light and what is too heavy.

[rablissful]

These girls are actually fairly knowledgeable already. Most of them are not minors (I only have 1 under the age of 17).

I'm not sure how comprehensive their sex ed is in regards to females. The girls specifically requested I go through this unit though (usually reproductive system is either skipped or breezed over).

I wasn't planning on endorsing temping as a birth control method, just that you can use it to show you ovulated. I wasn't going to mention OPKs at all. Most of the girls are on BC already (I think all but one is on the pill, the last one is on the patch).

joy, that is a GREAT idea about the worksheet! Thanks for the idea I was also going to have them make a big chart that tracks temperature, lining, hormones, follicles/ovulation, and possibly CM.

[cabgirl]

I think everyone pretty much has it covered. As far as not wanting to advocate unsafe sex is concerned, I would stress that even if you track ovulation and it's consistent from cycle to cycle, your cycle can change drastically without warning at any time, and that plenty of women have gotten pregnant that way. You could also mention that tracking ovulation is never a valid BC option for teenagers, since teens are more likely to have unpredictable cycles.

@underdog25 had a great point about CM. I wouldn't have thought of that, but now that I think about it, I remember getting a phone call from my very freaked-out best friend when we were 12 or so. I understood about arousal fluid back then, so it didn't worry me, but it wasn't until I started TTC that I actually knew about CM, that it was different from arousal fluid, and what it had to do with reproduction. It would have explained a lot if I'd known that sooner.

You're awesome for taking such a thoughtful approach to teaching these girls. Kudos to you!

[jags8]

1) the different phases of the cycle
2) you can get pregnant up to 5 days before you ovulate
3) luteal phases isn't always exactly 14 days
4) the concept of BBT
5) spotting isn't the start of your period (full red flow is)
6) how all types of BC work (my sister thought you could take ONE BC pill to prevent pregnancy that day)

[apunicorn]

May 4, 2015 8:45:09 GMT -5 jags8 said:

1) the different phases of the cycle
2) you can get pregnant up to 5 days before you ovulate
3) luteal phases isn't always exactly 14 days
4) the concept of BBT
5) spotting isn't the start of your period (full red flow is)
6) how all types of BC work (my sister thought you could take ONE BC pill to prevent pregnancy that day)

This is a really good one! I used to think that the first day that you see even the tiniest spot of blood was the start of your period. I had no idea that you can spot mid-cycle, that you can spot with ovulation, or that the first day of actual red flow is your period. I used to flip my shit as a teen when I'd see spotting any time other than during my period. Basically I assumed I was getting my period several times a month. 

[Deleted]

This is wonderful, rablissful! I wish you had been my teacher! It's truly ridiculous that I didn't have a good grasp on this info until half way into my 30s! Your students are lucky to have you!

[TheEleventhHour]

Everyone mentioned things I was thinking of but this is a great idea! I learned none of this stuff until I discovered TTGP and TCOYF!

And I am sure you have thought of this already but you mentioned them all being on BC but unless they are in a monogamous relationship and/or know their partner's history they should still use condoms to protect against STDs.

[pismoduo]

May 4, 2015 6:22:00 GMT -5 @underdog25 said:

Maybe something about cervical mucus being normal. I thought that there was something seriously wrong with me, and stuffed my underwear in hoodie sleeves and pant legs so that my mom wouldn't see whatever it was.

+1

I even asked my doctor about it and she never said anything about it being normal, just that it wasn't a problem unless it had an odor.

[squeakyduck]

I would stress the importance of condoms, even while on hormonal bc. Also that cycle tracking is not appropriate birth control for teens because their cycles can be very irregular.

I'd also go over healthy relationships and consent. Also a quick bit on alcohol and other date rape drugs.

[joy]

May 4, 2015 10:21:40 GMT -5 squeakyduck said:

I would stress the importance of condoms, even while on hormonal bc. Also that cycle tracking is not appropriate birth control for teens because their cycles can be very irregular.

I'd also go over healthy relationships and consent. Also a quick bit on alcohol and other date rape drugs.

Is this documented somewhere?  I'd believe that for a 13 year old or someone who just started menstruating, but an 18 year old who's had their period for five years?  That seems like a very inaccurate statement.

[squeakyduck]

May 4, 2015 10:25:50 GMT -5 joy said:

May 4, 2015 10:21:40 GMT -5 squeakyduck said:

I would stress the importance of condoms, even while on hormonal bc. Also that cycle tracking is not appropriate birth control for teens because their cycles can be very irregular.

I'd also go over healthy relationships and consent. Also a quick bit on alcohol and other date rape drugs.

Is this documented somewhere?  I'd believe that for a 13 year old or someone who just started menstruating, but an 18 year old who's had their period for five years?  That seems like a very inaccurate statement.

Everyone's different. Mine weren't regular until after I'd been on birth control for 7 years. And I'd had my period for 5 years before I went on the pill. And even now, I wouldn't use or recommend NFP to avoid pregnancy unless I was 100% okay with having a baby.

[rablissful]

May 4, 2015 10:21:40 GMT -5 squeakyduck said:

I would stress the importance of condoms, even while on hormonal bc. Also that cycle tracking is not appropriate birth control for teens because their cycles can be very irregular.

I'd also go over healthy relationships and consent. Also a quick bit on alcohol and other date rape drugs.

They go over this in health class. This is anatomy, not health, so the focus is on what happens during your cycle with a few extras (like how to prevent it using birth control and what not). But I'll probably still mention it.

[rablissful]

May 4, 2015 10:27:14 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

May 4, 2015 10:21:40 GMT -5 squeakyduck said:

I would stress the importance of condoms, even while on hormonal bc. Also that cycle tracking is not appropriate birth control for teens because their cycles can be very irregular.

I'd also go over healthy relationships and consent. Also a quick bit on alcohol and other date rape drugs.

This +1,000

Also, that antibiotics interfere with hormonal birth control. Worth a mention.

This would be great, didn't think of it! 

[rablissful]

May 4, 2015 9:11:13 GMT -5 @303sunshine said:

This is wonderful, rablissful! I wish you had been my teacher! It's truly ridiculous that I didn't have a good grasp on this info until half way into my 30s! Your students are lucky to have you!

Thanks! Honestly, being here has made me realize how much school DOESN'T cover our lady parts. We honestly didn't even do reproductive system IN COLLEGE anatomy/physiology/pathophysiology. Stupid "taboo" topics.

[joy]

May 4, 2015 10:38:14 GMT -5 squeakyduck said:

May 4, 2015 10:25:50 GMT -5 joy said:

Is this documented somewhere?  I'd believe that for a 13 year old or someone who just started menstruating, but an 18 year old who's had their period for five years?  That seems like a very inaccurate statement.

Everyone's different. Mine weren't regular until after I'd been on birth control for 7 years. And I'd had my period for 5 years before I went on the pill. And even now, I wouldn't use or recommend NFP to avoid pregnancy unless I was 100% okay with having a baby.

Yeah, but I think a blanket statement of "Your periods are irregular, teens!" is just as fear-mongering as "You will get pregnant the second you have sex!"

The whole point of this is to spread awareness and understanding.  It's fine to say that "some of you may experience irregular periods at times during your life or all of your adult life while others will be far more regular."  That's way more useful information and less skewed.

[rablissful]

May 4, 2015 11:04:13 GMT -5 joy said:

May 4, 2015 10:38:14 GMT -5 squeakyduck said:

Everyone's different. Mine weren't regular until after I'd been on birth control for 7 years. And I'd had my period for 5 years before I went on the pill. And even now, I wouldn't use or recommend NFP to avoid pregnancy unless I was 100% okay with having a baby.

Yeah, but I think a blanket statement of "Your periods are irregular, teens!" is just as fear-mongering as "You will get pregnant the second you have sex!"

The whole point of this is to spread awareness and understanding.  It's fine to say that "some of you may experience irregular periods at times during your life or all of your adult life while others will be far more regular."  That's way more useful information and less skewed.

All of what joy said.


I would never tell them just because they're teens their periods are super irregular, especially since they're all in their later teen years. Unless I get a few papers showing me that the blanket statement is correct, it's safer to just say "irregular periods can happen during your life, and they are more likely to be irregular at some points of your life than others (such as when you first start getting your period) since there are so many factors at play in regards to hormones".

[valie]

So much of the previous, and:

Changes in your cervix during your cycle.
Changes to your body during pregnancy.
Permanent changes from pregnancy/childbirth.

I'd also be interested in learning about when things are not typical and what interventions are available.

Side note: Why do you know what BC your students are on?

[morwen]

May 4, 2015 7:31:15 GMT -5 wanderingheart said:

Going with the whole "not every cycle is 28 days", I'd mention that cycles past 60 days should be consulted about with a doctor.

What I wouldn't give to go back 10 years and see a doctor then. I seriously compromised my uterine lining all that time by not shedding it regularly.

Yeah, my cousin went 6 months without her period at 17 (after regularly having it for like 5 years) and didn't think about it. It would be good to know hey that might be an issue.

[joy]

morwen - haha. Nice ecard!

[Deleted]

I, very much, identify with the statement that irregular cycles can happen at any point.
I got my period for the first time when I was a month shy of 11. I went on the pill at 15 and did not develop any cycle irregularities, other than ovarian cysts, until I was in my late twenties.
I think it would be important for these girls to know that cycle irregularities can still happen even when you are on birth control.

edit: I meant cycles, not period.