There’s a growing awareness to the problems that hormonal contraception pose to women’s health. But there is still a great deal of women who are blind to the risks.

Dr. Donna Harrison has been a practicing gynecologist for 15 years. During this time, she’s researched and witnessed the harmful effects hormonal contraception can have on women. These effects include an increased risk of stroke, breast cancer and cervical cancer. But what’s most alarming to her is many women aren’t aware of these side-effects.

Amy Sedgwick is the owner of Red Tent Sisters, a fertility awareness company she runs with her sister, Kimberley, in Toronto, Canada. It promotes natural, healthful approaches to contraception, fertility and reproductive health. Negative viewpoints on hormonal contraception come from all type of backgrounds. Amy supports abortion, but is concerned with the risks hormonal birth control pose.

Ryan and Michelle Samuelsen have been married for two years. Before the wedding, Michelle decided to use NuvaRing as birth control. But within a few months, she began experiencing emotional and physical side effects that not only affected her health, but also began to take a toll on their new marriage.

After experiencing emotional and physical side effects from the birth control pill, Seth and Rachel Hiser decided to use a more natural family planning method. They’ve found it to be an effective and much safer approach for Rachel’s physical and emotional health.