Some of us love it. Some of us hate it. You may well have had countless chats on the merits/side effects of various brands (“Rigevidon? That sounds like a disease“) (“but look how good it’s made my skin, I’m basically photoshopped“) (“oh that one just made me hungry, like, all the time“), so we decided to open up the floor…
The pill is currently prescribed to 3.5 million British women; one quarter of all 16 to 49-year-olds. One simple step to contraceptive peace-of-mind, boasting a 99% reliability rating if taken correctly. Easy, right?
Here at HCN we’ve decided to start hosting series of ‘talks’- getting our real life views on the real life stuff that affects us.
The pill can be a simple, fuss-free choice of contraception for many women today. It certainly does carry risks, but lots of women have no issues whatsoever if given the professional go-ahead. Upon discussion however, we’ve come to understand that finding the right type of contraception- whether it’s the pill or an alternative method- can be a struggle.
Yes, some of us do indeed study medicine, but we’re not doctors (yet!). Be sure to voice any concerns or queries to a professional. For now, here’s some practical girl-to-girl advice on our experiences surrounding the pill. Names have been changed.
Natalie: I feel as though the internet is ridden with horror stories surrounding the pill. If your doctor has told you you’re safe to take it, don’t Google ‘the risks of the pill’- you’ll end up booking a nurse’s appointment the next morning with a checklist of conditions you have most certainly developed overnight (that may have been me…multiple times). Despite this, my worries weren’t always just useless fretting. The first pill I ever tried turned me into a mean and miserable demon from hell whose anxiety went through the roof. I put up with it for a year, accepting it because I didn’t know what was normal. My only piece of advice is if you don’t feel like yourself, go and see a doctor! (don’t self diagnose, no one needs that kind of stress). Nowadays I take a pill that I get on just fine with (Gedarel). I used to suffer from really problematic skin but this pill has really improved it. I find it easy and simple to take; I rarely think about changing my method of contraception.
Katherine: I was on the pill for about 4 years and I thought it was great! However, I’m not really allowed to be on it any more as I could potentially have the breast cancer gene and so can’t take any contraception that contains oestrogen. To be honest I haven’t yet found a method of contraception that measures up! I think they need to do more research into the link between the combined pill and breast cancer- as at the moment it’s mostly speculation- in order to give people like me more information on whether we can or can’t take it.
Hayley: I really struggled with the pill. It gave me constant spotting and awful migraines, so I switched to the implant which I personally find to be a much more hassle-free method of contraception. I’d recommend it if the pill is giving you grief!
Jess: I f*cking hate the pill- it gives me headaches and mood swings- but I trust it so I’m willing to stick with it. I like the process of taking it and knowing that I’m protected. I sometimes take the pill back to back to keep my period at bay if my boyfriend is visiting, and I like having the freedom to do that if I want to.
Olivia: I think the pill is great, especially as a long-term contraceptive when you’re in a relationship with someone. However, when you’re single it can sometimes have negative consequences. I know lots of people (including me) who have neglected to use forms of contraception that prevent STIs (i.e. condoms) when we’ve been on the pill, simply because the obvious short term consequence of pregnancy is eliminated. My friends who aren’t on the pill and have one night stands are much better at using condoms because they’re terrified of getting pregnant! The pill containing oestrogen did not work very well for me- I had migraines and crazy mood swings- but the daily progesterone only pill (sometimes called the mini-pill) has worked brilliantly for me. I haven’t had a period in a year and a half and have had no ‘spotting’ or constant bleeding which is one of the reported side effects. Some friends have asked me why I don’t go on the implant to save me the hassle of remembering to take a tablet each day, however this is working so well I don’t feel the need to make the change yet!
Libby: I take the pill, but I didn’t begin taking it as a method of contraception. My doctor prescribed it in order to ease my painful periods, which did indeed work but also gave me headaches. The pill I started with isn’t the one I’m currently on- lots of girls have to experiment in order to find the one that produces the fewest side effects for them. These days I’m totally happy with the pill I take, and now that I’m in a relationship it has also become my chosen method of contraception. It can be a long process finding the pill that’s right for you, but it’s definitely worth it.
Contact us (email nottingham@hercampus.com) if you have any thoughts on this topic. Look out for more HCN Talks…coming soon!
Sources:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-health/7728971/The-Pill-womans-b…
http://www.hercampus.com/school/ufl/5-birth-control-reminder-apps-download
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/body/health/a33316/coming-off-the-pill-wha…