Let's talk about birth control baby

The pill is advertised to us from day one. As soon as the beast that is puberty hits us, we are told how the pill is the best way to go. The list of reasoning’s are as long as they are somewhat ridiculous, condoms just aren’t reliable enough, you can’t trust boys, it’ll fix your periods, it will fix your skin, it regulates your hormone e.c.t In our education we are conditioned to believe that this is the best option for us and any alternatives are lightly skimmed over as an afterthought. I was show a pack of the Pill and how it dated the days of the week on, yet I was never shown any alternative examples like the coil or the implant. I mean, I only found out that your womb is only around 7cm by 4cm and that the coil sort of attaches to the sides and fit it perfectly, instead of floating around in there on its own whim. It took me 19 years to learn the size of the thing that supposedly defines me as a woman.

At 16 I chose to have the implant inserted, as after 2 months on the mini pill I was too unreliable to take it every day and on time. During my time on it I thought I didn’t get any detrimental side effect and I was very happy with my choice. It wasn’t until I got it taken out that I realised what it had actually done to me. Pretty much instantly I noticed my mood swings weren’t as sever, my migraines became practically non-existent and my anxiety diminished hugely. My weight was easier to maintain at a normal weight and I dropped one dress size out of the two I gained. This was a revelation and I felt myself feeling better than I had done in a long while. I realised I didn’t want to be on hormones anymore, I couldn’t hack them and the effect they had on my mental health was not worth the pros of being able to avoid condoms. Yet I still didn’t feel comfortable just using condoms, I had them spilt before and the stress if that is something I don’t want to have happen again. So as a temporary measure I started taking the mini pill again whilst I was back at uni. Although a great form of contraception, I was still struggling with its effects on me. So, I made the decision to fully come off all hormonal contraception completely. Which was fine for a while… I wasn’t sleeping with anyone. But as a potential beau came on the scene, and sick of risking it, I chose to get the copper coil put in, it couldn’t be that bad, could it? (oh how naïve I was)

The copper coil is a little T shaped device that once inserted into the womb has a spermicidal like effect and prevents an egg being fertilised. Unlike other contraceptives it doesn’t stop periods and can reportedly make them slightly worse and longer. The great thing about this method is that it can be used as a form of emergency contraception, used up to 5 days after unprotected sex. Its most popular with women within the 20-34 age bracket as it is a reliable method that lasts between 5-10 years. With the promise of 10 years contraception hormone free I booked an appointment, I chose to go back home to the specialist sexual health clinic as studies have shown that less mistakes are made in the hands of specialists rather than gps (duh) added with the fact I knew the nurses and doctors there already and trusted them.

In all honesty, nothing could have prepared me for the pain I would feel, never have I experienced something so intrusively painful. Now I’m not one to be a wuss about pain, I like piercings and tattoos, I play flight with the boys with no issue, I even walked for half an hour on a broken foot home without crying. But this was on a new level. The procedure its self wasn’t too bad, and it is said that women who have already had a baby will find it less painful as he cervix has already been stretched and is lower down, also that the cervix can be a bit numb for a few months after childbirth. Belinda my nurse was very reassuring throughout the whole thing and let me take it at my own pace, even giving me some local aesthetic to help the process. It’s a rather quick procedure where the nurse uses a speculum, clamps the cervix open to measure the womb then uses a thin straw like device to insert the coil which is then released. The strings are cut so they hang just low enough for you to be able to check them yourself, and that’s it! It took 10 minutes and that’s including the first try then having to wait whilst the aesthetic started to work, so really a very easy process. Some women can feel faint and sick afterwards though, so it’s sometimes advised to not drive home yourself. Straight after I was fine, but as I walked home the cramps really amped up and I ended up collapsing into a ball as soon as I got into the door. Some people have likened it to mild contractions, and I swear this is enough to put me off babies forever. Okay maybe when the cramping stops I’ll rethink but right now as I’m sat on the train covered in heat patches trying to not curl into a foetal position, I’ll pass on having babies. I would liken the pain to sever cramps that pulse and shake your whole body. Even a hot bath with lush bath oils and Mamma Mia couldn’t fix these cramps.

Whilst slightly traumatised by the pain. I am currently 5 days post coil insertion and the cramps have almost nearly subsided (Thank the God damn Lord) The last few days haven’t been pleasant I’ll admit, but I’m starting to see the benefits. In the long run, I am really hopeful about this method of contraception, the thought of being hormone free is such a fab concept and I will take any pain over the mood swings Hormones give me.

#BirthControl #Coil #PIll