Lunaception

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Lunaception is a form of birth control that depends upon the woman practicing it to align her menstrual cycle with the phases of the moon. The method was developed by Louise Lacey in 1974 through her book, "Lunaception : a feminine odyssey into fertility and contraception." The fundamental premise of the method is that nature and the universe are full of rhythyms and cycles. Women can come into balance with their own fertility by paying attention to the evolutionary connection between menstruation and the moon. The method has never been tested under controlled scientific conditions and is therefore termed a pseudoscience.

The theory is primarily based upon personal testimonies of the author and anthropological studies of various ancient cultures that drew a link between menstruation and the moon. Lacey claims that hundreds of different references to connections between women and the moon, and between menstruation and the moon, have been documented. Furthermore, Lacey documented that many languages have a common root word for "moon" and "menstruation." For example, in English, "menstruation" comes from the Latin word "mensis" which means "month" and is related to moon. Lacey also claimed that in many cultures, menstruation arrived with the new moon and fertility came with the full moon.

Lacey posits that before electricity, most women had their menstrual cycles with the phases of the moon and at more or less the same time as all other women. The method uses light to control ovulation. In practice, all light should be blocked from coming into the bedroom at night. During the three fullest days of the moon (the day of the full moon and the days preceding and following), a small light should shine throughout the night in the room. This can be as simple as a small nightlight or desk light. After several months, the menstrual cycle should come into balance with the light. When attempting to conceive, intercourse is had on those three nights when the moon is fullest.

Tom Robbins made lunaception a subplot in his novel, "Still Life with Woodpecker." Barbara Kingsolver makes reference to it in her novel, "Prodigal Summer." Elizabeth Matilde Maderal choreographed a dance piece entitled "Lunaception" (2003) during her time as a BDA dance student at the University of Michigan.