CAKE Byte - Au Natural

"Are you on the Pill?" — a familiar question most women invariably ask each other during ‘dishing’ sessions or get asked by their sexual partners when the mood is right to get it on. The answer is usually a resounding "yes" though most women will tell you they have serious issues with the Pill, as well as other hormonal methods, as they can supremely mess with our bodies, sex drives, libidos, moods, and overall desire to get it on. While there are 60 million U.S. women of reproductive age and 7 in 10, or 42 million of these women, are currently sexually active and do not want to become pregnant, there is little development and research of new, reliable methods of contraception that do not reek havoc on our sexuality. Furthermore, there is a complete lack of options for men besides the condom, which let’s be honest, we all profess to use, but we privately all hate. With so few satisfactory options, what is a modern-day, sexually active girl to do?

While CAKE ardently advocates for more research, more money for development, more access to information, education and existing contraceptive methods, we also say it is time to know all of our current options — it is time to let "Fertility Awareness Methods" of preventing pregnancy out of the closet and into your potential contraceptive menu.

A bit of background - the female condom, Depo Provera, Norplant, the Pill, the IUD, tubal ligation or sterilization — injectables, implants and latex — are all designed for women to prevent pregnancy. Fascinatingly enough, tubal ligation is the most popular method of contraception in the U.S. with the Pill and the male condom coming in close 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Fertility Awareness Methods (FAMs) such as the "calendar" or rhythm method and cervical mucous method, combined with withdrawal and periodic abstinence weigh in with a combined total of approximately 5% of women of reproductive age using these methods as contraception. The dirty little secret that some feminists, public health experts, and conservative groups alike don’t want you to know is that fertility awareness methods actually work, if practiced reliably, and provide a valid alternative option to other methods of contraception.

The issue of fertility awareness has been used as a political football with polarized ideological groups finding themselves on the same side, agreeing not to entrust women with adequate information on the subject, fearing that unintended pregnancies, STDs and abortion will run rampant if fertility awareness is not practiced correctly. But in preventing the information from being accessible, these groups have succeeded in denying women the right to a valid alternative, that when used correctly is extremely effective. For instance, it is still very difficult to get information on the subject — try a search on the Internet for fertility awareness and you will find a deluge of anti-choice propaganda and on the flip side a dearth of information from feminist groups and public health sites, but rarely adequate information on the subject.

Traditionally associated with and co-opted by Catholics as both a way to ensure pregnancy (by becoming aware of and optimizing the fertile times of the month) as well as an anti-choice method of birth control for married couples, "natural family planning" is an underreported option in actually preventing pregnancy. While there is nothing "natural" about it, there is much to be said about fertility awareness as a valid method of contraception that most women have never had the chance to contemplate due to lack of information. Fertility awareness not only allows women to become aware of our fertile potential to prevent pregnancy, but it is also a great technique to get in touch with our sexuality. The "calendar" method and the cervical mucous method both allow women to understand her body’s menstrual cycle, take control of her body’s functioning as well as present the opportunity to explore, touch, feel out her body. Fertility awareness is a "hands-on" approach to contraception that cannot be taken lightly, but when embraced offers a non-invasive, non-hormonal, alternative choice.

The basics are pretty simple — women are "fertile" approximately 6-10 days of their entire menstrual cycle. This means that if you are in a monogamous relationship in which both of you have been tested negative for HIV and screened for other STDs, you can reliably monitor this "unsafe" period and make adjustments to your sexual activities accordingly. This does not however, give you and your partner license to act foolishly. On the contrary it gives you the option to either abstain from vaginal intercourse with internal ejaculation, use another method of contraception while having vaginal intercourse during that period or experiment with other kinds of sexual activity during that period including lots of oral sex, mutual masturbation and anal intercourse. Of course, these techniques can and should be employed throughout your monthly cycle, but are especially useful as pleasurable substitutes during the "fertile" time.

Fertility awareness is something CAKE can get behind — a contraceptive choice that enhances a woman's right and need to be aware of our fertility, promotes knowledge about our bodies and our sexual and reproductive capacities and gives women power over our sexual lives. If you and your partner are committed to the methods as well as have a thorough understanding of your body, your cycle and have good communication skills, FAMs may just be your answer to the proverbial question — "Are you on the Pill?" — to which you can assuredly say — "Fuck No!" Take it from one CAKE.Girl who wrote:

"All you have to do is track your vaginal secretions and learn the simple rules for when you can and cannot have unprotected sex. and voila - freedom from hormones, freedom from contraceptives, and a greater knowledge of the body. what's more - total freedom from politics, cause no one can take away knowledge, and that's all you need!!!"

For more information on Fertility awareness as well as other contraceptive methods check out the POLITICS section.

CLUB.CAKE

EYECANDY was Fan – fucking – tabulous. Thank you, thank you to all of you who rocked it, locked it, and very much cocked it. And yes indeed, we are doing it again! It is just too much fun to pass up. A room full of beautiful CAKE people living it up on eyecandy delights while grooving out in the warmest environment we have seen since the days of the Striptease.a.thon. Take it from one satisfied CAKE.Girl – " I had a blast and I felt really comfortable, safe and erotically stimulated."

Be sure to check out the extended coverage of Eyecandy in the Feature section. And to facilitate your experience, CAKE has recruited fabulous, righteous guys and girls to move you and groove you. Who's your favorite candy? Check out the all new 'CLUB.CAKE Dancer Trading Cards' yippee! in the FEATURE section of CAKE - www.cakenyc.com/eyecandy.html. They are cute, delicious and ready to please. Pick out your favorite dancer's trading card or collect them all - we will be expanding our troupe as we go, so check back for more trading cards in the future.

Tip of the Week:

Always, always wipe from front to back.

Question of the Week

On average, how many times per week do you engage in sexual activity, and what is your preferred method of contraception? Give CAKE the juicy details. Submit and read responses from last week's question in the REPORT section.

Love,
CAKE