My Experience With Birth Control by Emily Martin-Taylor
My experience with birth control has been nothing short of a nightmare. What I initially hoped would be a simple solution turned into a series of devastating symptoms. Almost immediately after starting, I noticed my hair began to fall out in alarming amounts. This was just the beginning; I soon faced extreme mental health issues that I had never encountered before. Anxiety and depression became constant companions, overwhelming my daily life.
Additionally, my skin became a constant source of frustration, breaking out frequently and leaving me feeling self-conscious and uncomfortable. I felt ill more often than not, grappling with various symptoms linked to birth control. I struggled with chronic fatigue and persistent headaches that disrupted my daily life.
Perhaps the most challenging aspect was the emotional instability I experienced throughout this time. My body simply couldn’t process the hormonal changes, leading to mood swings that left me feeling like a stranger in my own skin. Overall, my journey with birth control has been a frustrating and disheartening experience, prompting me to rethink my approach to reproductive health.
My Experience With Birth Control by Charlotte Chantler
I have been on birth control for over a year now. I take Desogestrel, which is more commonly known as the 'mini-pill' or the progesterone-only pill. I take this at the same time every single day with no breaks. I decided to go on the pill as I had very heavy and painful periods that would restrict me from doing anything for days.
For me, I have been lucky not to have experienced too many side effects. For the first couple of weeks of taking the pill, I felt myself become easily agitated, but after my body got used to taking this hormone, things died down. I now do not have periods, which has, therefore, taken away any period pain I used to get. I occasionally have spotting, but it doesn't give me any sort of cramps or pain like my period used to. Being on the pill has also benefitted my skin, as my period used to bring with it a huge breakout. Other than the odd spot every now or then, my skin has been very clear since.
The only struggle I have encountered with being on the pill is that I am very forgetful, and without setting lots of reminders on my phone, I can easily forget to take it. However, after taking it for so long, it is now integrated into my daily routine, and I almost never forget to take it. The good thing about Desogestrel is that as long as you take it within 12 hours of the time you should normally take it, you are still classed as protected.
All in all, I have been lucky with my birth control experience and am grateful to have not needed to switch pills or find an alternative method.
It's important to remember that experiences with birth control methods vary from person to person, so there's no guarantee it will be easy or challenging. If you're considering birth control, take time to explore your options. If the first one doesn't suit you, there are many alternatives that might work better for you.
