The Downstairs Project:

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Petitioning Government to keep our purpose at the fore of conversation and consideration for funding.  

Currently there are no free public resources for women who wish to learn more about natural methods of period management and family planning. Doctors are not taught natural methods of contraception in university. Natural contraceptive methods are proven as effective as the OCP, however religious connotations and pro-life political affiliations hold back the development of better research evidence in the area of biological, natural fertility management and preservation. Our research efforts are gathering momentum and our longitudinal research is ongoing.  We aim to prove that natural family planning methods taught early results in better fertility outcomes and fewer medical gynaecological interventions

Research has found that hormonal contraceptives affect the brain. Many teenage and pre-teen girls choose hormonal contraception as a form of “period management”. With little knowledge of the broader neurological issues surrounding hormonal drugs doctors are unable to inform their patients of these impacts. We work to support more extensive research in this area as a matter of urgency.

Doctors are not taught natural methods of contraception in university. Natural contraceptive methods are proven as effective as the OCP, however religious connotations and pro-life political affiliations hold back the development of better research evidence in the area of biological, natural fertility management and preservation. 

We lobby for government funding for the instruction of natural methods of contraception and natural family planning. Currently there are no free public resources for women who wish to learn more about natural methods of period management and family planning. 

We see a world where fertility preservation and female social equity are not at odds.  Feminist movements have emphasised different social values at different times in history. The suffragettes moved for work equality and pioneered our sexual freedoms.  Eco-feminism analyses the relationships of gender to ecological values. Gyne_ecology is the movement towards better educated women so they can choose to work or stay at home, have kids early or later, choose natural or pharmaceutical contraception from evidence based, well researched sources and have a trusted resource supported by industry professionals without political religious affiliation. 

We provide methods to begin this communication at the earliest age possible with the most appropriate material in a chronological method.  

Development of safe and supportive forums for girls, and women to ask questions that are not associated with social media platforms or economic motivations. In a google age, our kids have access to information about sex. What is lacking is the quality of information. We support the development of sex education that is biologically, anatomically and functionally appropriate for each life stage and is not based merely on fear of pregnancy and STD's.  

Linking women to appropriate health care and resources in a non-secular, non dogmatic manner.

Infertility has many causes.  IVF is a stressful and incredibly complex process. Often women are poorly advised about the side effects & risks on their overall health when synthetic hormones are introduced.  We lobby for more transparency in the IVF industry who need to regard the whole woman throughout the process.

"The shared core of behavioural norms among health professions are all grounded in core moral principles this points to many opportunities for building effective inter-professional communication and collaboration regarding the development, management, and use of health information resources and technologies"  G Bryd et al.

We advocate that period/cycle tracking technology should be carefully considered by users and regulated as medical for medical devices offering it's users complete transparency on how ones data is used and how predictive insights have been tested and measured. Many phone applications offer women insight into their periods and offer advice. However these services are all based on selling products. We support the sharing of information as long as it is offered in a transparent and non-maleficent manner.

Side effects and adverse effects of interventions are very seldom given enough time in consultation with women presenting for reproductive management in non primary care settings and in general practice.  

Interactions with hormonal contraceptives need to be explicit and further studied.  Better collaboration with pharmacy and general practice to ensure women know all of the facts well past pregnancy avoidance is crucial to the developing woman she is becoming.  A salutogenic approach to fertility preservation should be considered when prescribing hormonal contraception to all women of reproductive age.

Especially in the highly marketable menopausal demographic where polypharmacy is an issue.