Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Chanana McGarry

We recently had the chance to connect with Chanana McGarry and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Chanana, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I am writing this interview from Africa, where I am exploring for 3 months.  For the last 20 years I have made an annual pilgrimage to Botswana to reconnect my roots, my family, and the ancient wisdom of the land.  It’s so much more than a vacation; it’s something that shapes my legacy, life and the way I approach healing.

Some of the things that bring me joy recently are exploring the Chobe river, and Victoria Falls, connecting on the deepest levels with the waters of this land.  I also went on an epic journey to South Africa to work hand in hand with the indigenous Bushmen to learn ancient womb wisdom which fills my heart with joy.

Resting and resetting so that I can bring back all of this wisdom back for my clients is something I am excited about.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I came into this work by learning the hard way that so much of what I had been taught about reproductive health was untrue. Even though I was deeply into living a healthy and holistic lifestyle, I was told that hormonal birth control was the only “real” option for avoiding pregnancy. But that never sat right with me – especially after learning that, according to research by the World Health Organization’s IARC, hormonal contraception is in the same risk category with substances like plutonium, asbestos and lead!

That disconnect between what I believed to be true and what was actually true led to two unplanned pregnancies. But it also lit a fire in me. I knew there had to be a better way – one rooted in the values I hold dear. That search led me to the sympto-thermal fertility awareness method (FAM), and it changed everything.

I discovered that, when used correctly, FAM is as effective as the pill – without any harmful side effects. In fact, its “side effects” are all positive: deeper understanding of your body, better reproductive health, and greater sovereignty. A woman in touch with her womb is unstoppable, and I help holistic-minded women learn the language of their wombs so they can make empowered, informed choices about their fertility – whether they’re avoiding pregnancy, conceiving, or simply reconnecting with their cycles.

This is our birthright. And it’s something we should have been taught from the start.

That’s why I created The Natural Birth Control Blueprint – a 6-week online journey that guides women step-by-step in learning to use a natural contraception method that’s 99.6% effective and 100% aligned with their health and values. This course is about birth control redefined – not just avoiding pregnancy, but reclaiming sovereignty, body literacy, and feminine power.

Whether you’re craving a more natural approach to contraception, preparing for conception, or ready to deepen your connection to your cycle, this work will support you. I teach online, in person, and at select retreats and events. If you feel called, I invite you to join me in this movement of women redefining birth control and reclaiming their womb wisdom.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was perfect, divine, and enough. As a young girl and woman, I received a lot of messaging about who others felt I needed to be. The world told me I had to live by productivity standards designed for men. I had to make others happy, smile, and “do, do, do.”

The older I get, the more I realize the truth: I am still perfectly and divinely made, and simply by existing I am enough. I now take time each week to just be – not producing, not proving, not pleasing – simply existing. In that space, I remember my inherent worth, soften into my femininity, and find that I actually accomplish more with ease.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
My two unplanned pregnancies, leading to over 20 years of single motherhood, have been the biggest defining wounds of my life. As painful as this path has been, it also shaped my purpose.

Beginning in my teenage years, I tried to avoid pregnancy “naturally” by piecing together misinformation. I had never been told that there was a simple, scientifically validated, good-for-you form of natural birth control that had been researched for decades and proven to be as effective as the pill.

I healed by surrendering to the bigger picture of why this path was placed before me. I found gratitude for always having been spiritually provided for, even while parenting on my own. And I healed by discovering reproductive sovereignty for myself – and by committing to share it with other women who are seeking a truly effective, natural contraceptive method. My wounds became the doorway into my calling.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie is that hormonal birth control (HBC) is the gold standard. While it may be the right choice for some circumstances, it is also ranked by the WHO as a class 1 carcinogen. And yet, women are rarely told that a natural alternative exists – one that has been proven to be just as effective based on over 40 years of research.

We’re also told that HBC “heals” things like acne or irregular cycles – but it doesn’t. By its very nature it is anti-fertility, which means anti-health. It suppresses ovulation, and in doing so, it shuts down the hormonal symphony that supports our bones, brains, hearts, and overall wellbeing.

We are misled to believe women are “at risk” of pregnancy every day, when in reality, the fertile window is only about a week. Learning to identify it is simple, intuitive, and takes less than 5 minutes a day.

The truth is this: birth control doesn’t have to mean hormones. Birth control can be redefined as a practice that empowers women with freedom, body literacy, and better health.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
That your menstrual cycle is not a nuisance or flaw – it’s a powerful and intelligent tool to help you move through the world as a woman.

Most women are taught that our cycle is just about bleeding once a month and trying not to get pregnant. But I understand that the menstrual cycle is a vital sign – dubbed the 5th vital sign alongside pulse and blood pressure – and it gives feedback on your entire system. From your hormonal balance to your thyroid health, as women, we are privy to a monthly report card of our sexual health.

I also understand that ovulation – not menstruation is the main event in our cycle. Ovulation triggers our estrogen, progesterone and other reproductive hormones to work in balance. The effects of this go far beyond making babies to the health of our bones, brain, heart skin and overall health. HBC shuts this all down.

Most people don’t realize that by suppressing ovulation they’re not just pausing fertility – they’re flatlining key aspects of their endocrine system with full body repercussions.

That’s why I teach fertility awareness – not just as contraception, but as a life skill. When a woman understands her cycle, she stops outsourcing her wisdom. She lives in alignment with her values, makes empowered decisions, and reclaims her power. Because a woman in touch with her womb is unstoppable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wombliteracy.com/pages/naturalbirthcontrolblueprint
• Instagram: https://www.wombliteracy.com/pages/naturalbirthcontrolblueprint
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wombliteracy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wombliteracy