The Comfort of Contraception
I have made a huge change in my life.
In August, I finally had my mirena coil removed after 5 years. In that whole time, I did not have one single period, which was a bliss and a dream but maybe that was just an illusion.....
Since the age of 17, I have always been on female contraception. I started on the pill when my periods became unbearable!
I was having 7 days of heavy, painful and just plain dreadful periods. I had missed sex education when I was at school, so I had no idea how to track my period, which sometimes meant I was caught unaware when it would start. At just 17, I already hated being female and the thought of having to deal with this once a month, EVERY month for, God knows how many years to come. In my eyes, being a women sucked and contraception was the answer.
Here's what happened
It was obvious that I was having bad periods, from the pale white skin, the tiredness, the look I had like I could just faint at any point. To a man, this might sound dramatic, but in the words of Rachel Green
"No uterus, no opinion!"
Eventually my sister suggested I should go on the contraceptive pill, as it had been proven to:
Make periods shorter
Make the flow lighter
The pain would be less
I would have a clear idea of when my period would arrive each month
It was the perfect solution to a girl of my age who didn't know any better.
Now at the age of 30, I, like so many women, have woken up to the fact that there are real long term effects that hormonal contraception can do to our bodies.
The societal pressure on women to ALWAYS be on contraception UNLESS we are trying for a baby is unreal. The pressure even comes from other women, who like me, have been fearmongered into believing that contraception is a woman's responsibility and her moral obligation.
I'm calling b*llshit on the whole thing!
Until the day men decide to step up and take as much responsibility for using protection as women, I won't be on it. The options men have do NOT alter or affect their body in anyway (other than a possible dampening of pleasure, but what woman gives two hoots about that).
There is enough research and knowledge out there now for us ladies to learn about our periods and how to work with them in a way that supports us without a long term impact.
Did you know that:
Your diet impacts your period?
That your sleep impacts your period?
Your water intake!
and so much more! I feel like I am finally getting the education I should have had when my periods first started happening.
Let's move with the times
We are creating a new generation of women and I want to encourage you to take the leap too! I'm not saying don't use anything, please take precautions if you don't want children. But with the right research, you can learn about how your period impacts you throughout the month and learn to 'go with the flow'.
I haven't had my first period when I'm writing this so I will check in with you when I have and I will keep sharing my journey, the highs and the lows.
If you have any advice, tips or maybe educational information that taught you something, please share it with me in the comments of this post. Else you can find me on Instagram @_turnanewpaige_.
I'm nervous but excited about this new stage of my life and I am looking forward to what I will learn along the way.
Now,
Turnanewpage x
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