Story Index — Birth Control

I have a nexplanon on implant. When I first got this put in the hope was to be able to regulate me because after coming to college I completely stopped taking my birth control. Up to that point I had be on birth control since I was in 8th grade. With this new implant everything was good til I ended up bleeding for months straight. Online research i couldn’t tell if this was normal and I didn’t want to necessarily talk to my mom since we are not close. Now with my implant it is working fine but with my boyfriend and I, I get very anxious about being pregnant. I know my implant works but I’m still always scared that it’s going to fail and I will be the 1 in 100. My boyfriend gets frustrated with me because of this because I work myself up so much til I get sick at the idea. I want kids one day but I know in college is not the time for me. I struggle everyday with battling my own mental state with keeping myself calm and collected regarding this topic.

To start, I have been receiving birth control through the mail for about 5 years now. I have never had an issue with my birth control coming into the mail until this one time last year. I remembered that my doctor had my specific birth control in my chart so that they know what medications I am taking. So I decided to call my doctor's office (OSF HealthCare) to see if they would be able to send a prescription to my pharmacy quick since I was low on pills. When I called I asked them if they could do so and instead I received a very snotty remark saying that because OSF is a Catholic organization in itself, they do not prescribe birth control. Although I knew it was a Catholic organization I was appalled that as a health care facility they do not put women's safety into consideration. I have been trying to find a way of finding a new doctor ever since, but it's hard when I also have to take health insurance into consideration. I believe I should not have to worry whether or not I will get the healthcare I need if I was, for instance, in a dangerous situation and needed contraception. This impacted my day-to-day life because I felt unsafe with my current providers for health care. I still feel not genuinely thought about by them as I try to find a new provider.

I have been formally diagnosed with Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), determined by an internal ultrasound and physical exam, for over 10 years. Through the ultrasound, my doctor was able to find over 26 'large' follicles in each ovary - a high but "normal" amount is about 10-12. Because of this diagnosis I began taking hormonal birth control to treat PCOS quickly after puberty, and continued to take various forms up until I was 28 years old. I've taken pills and most recently, had the Mirena IUD for about a year, which took away my periods entirely. When I turned 28, I had my IUD removed and discontinued birth control. I was considering the possibility of having kids and wanted to spend some time off to get my periods back. Several months without hormonal birth control go by and my periods return with no issues. I started noticing fewer PMS symptoms like depression, anxiety, and digestive problems. My skin cleared up and I didn't have brain fog. I felt like a new woman. Alongside these changes, I felt I had the energy again and started making even more alterations to my lifestyle. I began taking medication for ADHD. I got my deviated septum surgically fixed. I separated from my (now) ex-husband. I started planning and getting excited about my future in a way I had not since I was young. And yes - I do still want kids, just not with the person I thought! I am not saying birth control caused any of these issues for me necessarily, but I do think prescribers jump to give young women hormonal birth control very quickly without considering the potential effects it can have long term. Even down to picking a partner - I firmly think my 'type' changed, as in who I'm attracted to, after getting off BC. My ex and I had a lot of problems but I was willing to put up with more when I was attracted to him. Don't get me wrong, I believe in and fully support women's rights to all options when it comes to sexual health and wellness. I think we can be supportive of this right while also acknowledging the very limited amount of research done on the risk of long term hormonal birth control. I was prescribed it to treat PCOS - now after stopping BC for a full year my PCOS has not changed at all, but everything else has changed for the better.