Birth Control

I got on birth control when I was 18 (I think). I wasn't fully sexually active (ie: had not had intercourse yet) but was in a committed relationship and wanted to be safe when the time came. I remained on "the pill" (in my case, Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo) until I turned 23 and was in a long distance relationship that would be more economically reasonable to use condoms in since we saw each other only about once every three months or so. After getting off the pill, I remembered that my period was crazy before the pill, but luckily, it resumed a normal clock-work cycle and was only moderately heavier than when I was on the pill.


I am known among my friends to be a bit of a hippy, I use a menstrual cup (for waste reasons, but also IT IS AMAZING!!) and fairly often "forget" to shave my legs. So when I began researching the intrauterine device (when I was about 20) it came as no surprise to them at all. When I was 23 I finally found a doctor that was willing to insert one for me. In Texas there is a pretty strong aversion to any unusual birth control methods. After countless hours of research I decided I did not want to have hormones injected into my system any more and opted for a ParaGard IUD, this one can remain inside for up to 10 years, but is not known to relieve any period issues as the Mirena one is.

The ParaGard has more immediate risks associated with it: increased cramping, increased blood flow, etc. This still seemed like the best option for me because it lasts longer (the Mirena can only be inside for 5 years) and didn't release hormones (even though I never had any negative effects from the hormones). I will admit that the first day of my period always leaves me wondering if I am bleeding to death (note: I was always a heavy bleeder, so this isn't too much more extreme than before), and I do get cramps now that are a little worse than I used to, but the freedom of knowing I don't have to think about birth control all the time is amazing. I still think using condoms at the beginning of a relationship until you are both comfortable with trusting the other person and have talked about it, and I would never have a one night stand or casual sex without using a condom (birth control does not protect against STDs!!) but if I were raped, or if a condom were to break, at least I know I wouldn't get pregnant from it, which is one less thing to have to worry about. I realize that rape is the absolute WORST thing to think of, but it is one of the worst case scenarios that ran through my head.

Now, up until recently, doctors have been encouraged to not recommend an IUD to a person who has not had a kid. It is true that sometimes an IUD will not work for a woman who has not had a kid yet because their uterus is too short for it to be inserted (I have a friend who had this situation, so it is actually true) but if it does fit, I think it is a great solution to having to worry about birth control. I grew up in California, so I got a fairly decent sexual education course, and believe me, having sex ed and being prepared for sex does not make you more sexually promiscuous (I didn't lose my virginity until 19). This article (yes, it's Jezebel, so take it with a grain of salt) explains that some studies are recommending IUDs for teenagers (yay! irresponsible people should never be in charge of taking a pill every day that will ensure they don't get pregnant when there are other solutions!)