So you’re 15 years old and told you need to start taking ‘The Pill’ – you kind of know about it – some of your friends are on it and it is supposed to a) help with your acne, b) regulate your teenage periods and most importantly c) stop you from falling accidentally pregnant.
All pro’s – wewwwww – you don’t second question it – especially if the GP see no issues.
Everything is good – your periods and pimples are well under control and you are not auditioning for MTV’s TeenMom.
You know no different and continue taking it for the next 10, 12 hell even 15 years….
That’s what I did – that’s what we all do right? If there were any effects on the body surely our GP wouldn’t just keep giving out this medication no questions asked??
RIGHT?
Before we even get into that side of the story do you even know what that tiny little pill is? Or what it is doing to your body? Or your daughters body when used long term?
Most birth control pills are “combination pills” containing a mix of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone to prevent ovulation (the release of an egg during the monthly cycle). A woman cannot get pregnant if she doesn’t ovulate because there is no egg to be fertilized.
AGAIN – NO EGG RELEASE!!!! It literally stops your body from doing what it was designed to do. (The thought of not letting my body naturally ovulate for 12 years made me cringe.)
The Pill also works by thickening the mucus around the cervix, which makes it difficult for sperm to enter the uterus and reach any eggs that may have been released. The hormones in the Pill can also sometimes affect the lining of the uterus, making it difficult for an egg to attach to the wall of the uterus.
I honestly didn’t know either of these things. I had been taking this medication for 12 years and did not know this. I didn’t even second question the pill I popped for 12 years straight – I was completely oblivious to how it worked.
It wasn’t until I become sick with my bowel disease I starting digging a little deeper into the long term effects the pill has on the body because my Naturopath had questioned how long I’d been on OC (oral contraceptives) for and if I’d ever given my body a break.
‘Break?’ I thought to myself? Why would I need a ‘break’?!
The more I read the more convinced I was it was making me sick.
The more I read the more concerned I was for what I’d been putting my body through.
The more I read the more I thought why is no one talking about this??
Fact: Women who take the pill are nearly ten times the risk of dying from pulmonary embolism (a blood clot reaching the heart) than those who aren’t taking it.
A normal dose of the pill is four times the amount of oestrogen normally present in the body. Pills are a “one size fits all”, however if no two bodies are the same, it becomes easy to recognise why so many women experience negative side effects.
Like myself.
In my next appointment with my naturopath after lots of reading and researching I questioned her about the negative impact the pill could be having on my body particularly my gut and bowel disease.
She explained – the pill is toxic – therefore it directly affects the liver.
Your liver goes into overdrive and your body does what it can to protect it.
Leaving your gut open game for all sorts of infections, diseases and issues.
This made total sense to me and made me think of how many women out there actually suffer from gut issues that could be OC related!
I stopped taking the pill that day.
It felt very weirdly liberating. I can’t explain it but I instantly felt like I had more energy, I was sleeping better and my UC improved significantly within the first month.
I felt free.
The only thing I was paranoid about was falling pregnant but after downloading the app ‘flo’ it was a real game changer it logs my periods so I’m able to see when I’m ovulating and when I’m due for my period… I learnt so much about my own body it was really cool expect when ‘flo’ reminded me my period was now 3 weeks late….
Omg I’m pregnant, what am I going to do?!? I can’t look after a child, I’m not ready – omg omg omg.
The Naturopath did inform me that my period may be a bit off as your body forgets how to produce hormones naturally due to the fact it has been given artificial hormones for 12 years.
Yup – your female body forgets how to produce hormones because of the long term use of OC.
For me this was the case – no pregnancy just a lack of hormones.
It took me 4 months to get my period – I had like phantom periods with horrible cramps like it was trying to come but never did…. everyone is different some girls come off the pill and instantly get their period others won’t see it for a good year.
Because your body is basically that fucked up from artificial hormones.
If I wanted to get pregnant I couldn’t of. All because a lack of education. We assume to take the pill (have all these side effect which we assume are normal and just our bodies) then when we want to start a family go off it, have sex and fall pregnant.
It just does not happen like that.
I’m now 12 months off the pill and am only just getting regular periods – meaning I can now begin to pin point and know my cycle.
I’m a strong believer that OC contributed to my bowel disease, moods and energy levels.
I can confidently say I’ll NEVER go back on OC again.
This post it not saying do not use Oral Contraceptives – this blog is merely saying just be mindful – do your research on different options and what they are doing to the body and be sure to give your body a break if you do choose to stay on OC, be smart and listen to your body. Hopefully this post makes you more aware and saves you any long-term grief like I know so many women have gone through just because we are not educated on the topic.
Stay Strong & Stretch,
Tel x
talkingwithtel 