Go on birth-control strike!
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I'm not going to take birth control pills anymore, and I like it.
It's not that I plan on having my own family anytime soon. I certainly will utilize other methods, but I hated taking birth control pills, and I'm not going to do it anymore. It felt like I was ruining my body for nothing.
My friend is a health science major, and she compared taking birth control pills to hormone replacement therapies... from the 1960's. That can't be good.
Plus, my already big boobs got even bigger, which was sort of a bummer; they almost got inconvenient. I certainly didn't ask for that.
Blood clots may occur while taking birth control, to the extent that health professionals recommend you stop taking birth control pills two weeks before having major surgery, as you probably won't be able to move as much as you should to prevent clots from forming. Women on the pill are 14 times as likely to develop clots as those who aren't, and while the risk is greatest in the first year after taking the pill, clots are still very possible years afterward.
Gallstone formation, breast cancer, and cardiovascular disease are just some of the dozens other risks. Irregular bleeding, dizziness, and weight gain are others, of course (check out this Hub by Boss Number 1 about her bout with hormonal birth control). Pills with estrogen may contain serium copper... That's not good. It is also warned that taking birth control pills may lower your folic acid content, and women are advised to take magnesium supplements while taking the pills. That's more work than most women are aware of, I fear.
And then birth control isn't even guaranteed to work, though the effectiveness is high. I'm not going to cop out; I didn't take birth control for treating acne or for irregular periods, so I know that my birth control worked for what it was intended for, and I stopped worrying about its effectiveness in that respect a few months after starting. However, there are plenty of other ways to practice birth control that won't hurt your body.
Researchers and scientists are developing birth control methods for men, including pills, patches, and gels, that would release amounts of testosterone that would prevent pregnancy. However, many of the men informed about it refused to even consider taking them... of course, the women are expected to do so (though it still can't be great for men to take it, either).
Generally, I am not fond of the idea of messing around with my hormones. If I'm going to be on birth control, I'm not going to play with my body's natural functions and cycles. Please don't feel pressured to take birth control; I never was pressured, and it was always my own choice, but this may not always be the case.
The Problems with Birth Control Pills
Birth Control for Men
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Wow. This woman's articulation of key issues is astounding and clear. Every woman deserves to hear and understand what she is saying to empower themselves to make the right life's choices. I think she is fair and realistic in her statements. I don't think she is saying there is no place for the pill in our lives. I think she is more concerned about heightening awareness about long-term use, early (teen) usage, and long-term implications.
Angela, thank you for your very thoughtful comment and for reading this Hub!
nekorobo1138 3 years ago
I really liked the interview with Dr. Sherrill Sellman that you had posted. I haven't taken birth control pills for several years for similar reasons. Naturally, I rely on other methods of contraception (barrier, withdrawal, and rhythm), but it makes me so happy that other women are also thinking about what they are putting into their bodies! I hated the way taking the pill made me feel emotionally, and it makes me so happy to be enjoying REAL, natural mentrual cycles each month.
I have never had a problem with having a period, and it disturbs me that there are so many women that would cheerfully pump their bodies full of drugs to rid themselves of their perceived problem. In our culture menstruation is needlessly demonized as being somehow unsanitary and a burden, rather than celebrated and honored as it should be.
Since you are taking such responsible steps towards taking control of your body, I would like to share with you a device that is fantastic: http://www.divacup.com/ I have been using mine for over a year now and I love the results! Not only is it an evironmentally conscious product, reducing the amount of waste that comes from disposable products, but you can reuse it for ten years or more, making it incredibly economical. I personally enjoy that it is not an absorbant product, so it doesn't leave me with that horrible dry feeling that tampons used to. I hope that you'll give it a try and that your experience is as rewarding as mine has been!