In a practical sense, "body literacy" is about:
knowing how to observe, chart, and interpret an ovulatory menstrual cycle
learning to listen to your body and respond to its needs
For Catholics, we must add a third component:
knowing how our bodies speak God's Truth about who we are created to be
But ALL girls, women, and men deserve access to this information, regardless of vocational or fertility status.
✓ age-appropriate,
✓ incremental,
✓ lifelong body literacy model
...beginning even before a girl's first period—extending into adulthood for single women— and continuing with fertility education for couples through perimenopause!
Our resources are rooted in the Truths of our Catholic faith, touching on all THREE aspects of body literacy in various ways as we grow & change.
You deserve programs & resources you can trust!
Girls, women, and couples all deserve accurate education about menstrual cycles and fertility!
For all ages and stages, we have resources to help you learn about God's design for the goodness and dignity of our bodies, whether you are a:
parent of preteens or teens
couple wanting to learn NFP
single woman wanting to chart for health
perimenopausal woman
Bring body literacy to your communities!
We are stronger when we learn together! By offering this support, organizations can help build communities where the nature and dignity of our bodies is known, love, and respected. Catholics of all ages and stages can know they are not alone!
Our group-based resources allow organizations like parishes, schools, scouting troops, health centers, campus ministries, or even small groups to share body literacy in community settings.
Providing you beautiful, ready-to-go materials to easily share!
Are you a cycle educator, hormone coach, or healthcare professional who is looking for ready-to-use materials to expand your educational offerings?
From polished slide decks and speaker notes to program facilitator training, Pearl & Thistle has the tools cycle educators need to make a big impact!
Our materials allow educators to focus on connecting with their audience, rather than reinventing the wheel.
God created your body good— cycles, fertility, all of it! When we know ourselves better, we come to know Him better, too. Our mission is to help you discover this.
We boldly proclaim the goodness of our bodies, even when it doesn't always feel good.
We believe that body literacy is for all ages and stages, not just family planning.
We teach how our cycles aren't just a part of our physical make-up, but are part of the way women uniquely image God.
At Pearl & Thistle, we provide education for Catholics about menstrual cycles, periods, and fertility at all ages and stages.
We believe that body literacy takes time, so we've curated everything according to developmental stage.
Our lifelong body literacy education model:
Begins with accurate (age appropriate!) cycle education even before girls get their first period...
Extends to charting for health...
Invites young women to learn and reflect more maturely as they grow...
Adds in fertility for NFP...
And continues in the form of robust parish support to meet all the changing needs of couples through their fertile years.
Hi, I'm Christina, and I never thought I'd become the Catholic menstrual cycle lady, but here we are.
In my decade+ of being a fertility and cycle educator, I've worked with so many women felt unnoticed by the Church when it comes to NFP.
The conversations tend to center around family planning and chastity, which are two extremely important topics, but don't always match our own experience and needs (or our children's).
My experience? Getting thrown out of a doctor's office for refusing birth control postpartum. Learning so much about my body as an adult that I should have learned about as a kid. Navigating awkward conversations about periods and fertility with my own daughters.
And I wanted to create a space - and resources - for others experiencing these same things.
Everyone says the Church needs to do more to support NFP. So here I am, doing my part. Welcome!