I’d had enough.

Being poked and prodded. Local anaesthetic. My insides going completely off kilter. Hospital checks. I’d had e-fucking-nough.

Last month I made a decision to come off my combined pill, and unless it’s absolutely necessary and there’s no option (i.e. it being treatment for a serious health issue and that’s the only way to go) I’m not going back.

My relationship with hormonal contraception has been a turbulent one, to say the least. I first started birth control at 19 and tried a few different things since.

The combined pills I’ve tried have been the most decent, but left me either having some manner of hiccup from side effects, from the odd bit of breast tenderness to full scale pain and becoming a hormonal rage monster.

The implant made me bleed constantly and made me depressed. The mini pill also made me depressed.

After going back on the combined pill last November to regulate my periods, it definitely had its pros. It helped with my PMS, regulated and lightened my periods. No complaints there.

The bad sides were rapid weight gain (the brief period of binge eating after my grandfather’s death last December didn’t help matters either) breast pain and nipple issues that required a hospital check, and an unplanned pregnancy which sadly resulted in miscarriage.

To make it clear, I had taken my pills stringently on time and used extra protection if there was even a smidgen of doubt of its effectiveness.

These circumstances, among other things, led me to decide to come off birth control. Synthetic hormones clearly don’t agree with me and many other options available I can’t take for health reasons.

In light of that, my only other option would be the non-hormonal, copper IUD. I’ve also decided against that as well. Knowing my luck, I’d get the bad side effects associated with the copper IUD. Frankly, I don’t want to have to part my legs and have my cervix opened up to find that out.

So I’ve made the choice to do what I think is best for me and my long term health. We’re back to using condoms and me and the Mr. are perfectly happy with that.

I know some say, “But it doesn’t feel as nice…”. Granted, feeling skin on skin with my partner does feel good, but honestly? It doesn’t feel all that different, if at all if you’re using the the “Thin Feel” ones. Still feels awesome and you’re being safe. It’s a win win.

I’ve never seen using condoms as a hindrance or “interrupting” sex. In fact quite the opposite. It adds to it. I see the Durex wrapper and I’m thinking: Yeah! We’re gonna do it! Woohoo! 😂

Truthfully, I was a little nervous to write this. Birth control has always been a polarising topic and because something doesn’t work for me doesn’t mean I’m discouraging anyone else using it/attacking someone’s reproductive autonomy. What works for one won’t work for another and there’s so many reasons why women use it that isn’t for preventing pregnancy.

That being said, I think there needs to be better education on their effects. Through experience, I feel certain things can be swept under the carpet, under the guise of, “It’s all part of being a woman. Get over it.” when there might be a better option out there for you.

Plus, people kicking off about condoms using a myriad of different excuses (Don’t you trust me? It doesn’t feel as nice. If you loved me we shouldn’t have to use one…) to try and coerce someone in to it? Makes my blood boil. Been on the receiving end of that a few times and it wasn’t pleasant.

I’ll just say this: Unless you’re in a committed relationship, both been tested and an effective birth control is being used (even then it’s ok to not feel comfortable going without condoms. You have every right to say no.) not using condoms is very unsafe. You can run the risk of unplanned pregnancy and contracting STIs.

If you can’t respect your partner(s) boundaries, you need to for their/your health, and you can’t be safe? You shouldn’t be having sex. Period.

It feels strange feeling your hormones trying to even out (the first month’s been a roller coaster, to say the least!) but in other ways I feel much better. I’ll be writing an update once enough time has passed.

For hormonal birth control I’m waving a very happy goodbye to! 👐

All my love,

Violet xx

*

Copyright 2018 – Life of Violet – Violet Grey

All Rights Reserved.

*Picture – Pinterest

*GIF – GIPHY