So I’ve been on the pill for 4 months now and I have noticed some things about it I would like to share, honestly. Before going on the pill I read up on my options and decided that going on the pill was the best contraceptive for me. Other birth control choices just didn’t seem appealing to me at this given time. Being a 16 year old girl who uses the pill for 2 reasons 1. To calm period pains and decrease my heavy flow and 2. As a contraceptive against pregnancy. I felt that I didn’t need or want the other choices given to me, but I highly suggest looking into the different types of contraceptives before going the doctors. Here in the UK going on birth control is free and I believe is funded by the government. I was subscribed ‘Microgynon 30’ which is the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP). It contains two hormones: Oestrogen and Progestogen. With this pill i get 3 months worth at a time and each pill strip contains 21 tablets which I take 1 per day at a set time, after 21 days is up i take a 7 day break and go into the next strip. In that 7 day break is usually when you bleed.
When I went to the doctors to get a subscription for the pill, the doctor weighed me, worked out my BMI and took my blood pressure. Along with a private examination similar to the kind you would get at the gyno.
Little bit of information on this particular pill
‘ About 3 in 1000 woman using the pill correctly will become pregnant each year.
WHEN NO CONTRACEPTION USED MORE THAN 800 IN 1000 SEXUALLY ACTIVE WOMAN WILL GET PREGNANT EACH YEAR’.
So moving on the pros and cons of the pill.
Pros:
- The pill has cleared a lot of my spots/ache.
- You can go straight from one pill strip to another and miss the 7 day break once so that you do not bleed. This is great if you have an important exam coming up or maybe even your wedding day or holiday.
- It has really relieved the horrendous back pain i used to get during my menstrual cycle.
- I do not bleed as heavily any more and only for a few days a month instead of a whole 6-7 days.
- It can reduce the risk of pelvic infection (as the mucus plug prevents bacteria, as well as sperm, from getting to the uterus).
- It prevents eggs being produce an egg. As well as causes mucus in the neck of the womb to thicken and form a mucus plug to prevent sperm from getting through. And lastly it makes the lining of the womb thinner, this makes it less likely that a fertilised egg will be able to attach to the uterus.
- The pill is very small and easy to swallow.
Cons:
- Can cause nausea and diarrhea.
- If you are physically sick within hours of taking the pill or have diarrhea within a couple hours of taking the pill, then the pill may be pretty useless for that day and you will have to use condoms for the next 7 days.
- If you forget to take a pill, again you will have to use condoms for the next 7 days.
- It can give you headaches, making you feel tired, having sore breasts and change your mood.
- Being on the pill has been said to make you put on weight but my doctor said people generally get the urge to eat more while on the pill, hence why they are putting on a bit of weight.
- It in some rare cases cause a blood clot( your doctor will talk you through this when you go to the doctors).
Overall, aside from the cons. Going on the pill has been a really great decision and it has helped alot. Not only is it a great contraceptive it is also has helped with my back pain and heavy cycle as well as cleaning up some of my spots/ache.
To see other forms of contraceptives or more about this one. Click HERE > http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/contraception-guide/Pages/contraception.aspx
DISCLAIMER : *Information used is either personal experience of being on the pill or information I have been given by the NHS*.
Life With Shan 