The Struggle with Birth Control Pills

Photo by Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition on Unsplash

By Isabella DiAmore 

Birth control pills have become ubiquitous in our modern society. When did it become necessary for all women to be on them?

Yes, the pill is a great way to prevent pregnancy. However, an article written by Med Health Daily listed other reasons women get on the pill, like clearing up acne, managing cramps, and suppressing ovulation. Every woman on birth control has her own reasons for starting, but some don’t realize what kind of medicine they’re putting in their body.

Briana Vetter, a senior political science major at Temple and REFINE’s health editor, opened up about her own experience with birth control and its effects on her everyday life.

“I was 15 years old when I first got on birth control. My mom was a teen mom and wanted me to get on the pill for peace of mind,” she said.

Vetter’s gynecologist also recommended starting the pill to help with acne and cramps. She started taking hormonal birth control with very low estrogen. In June 2019, she changed her primary care doctor, forcing her to go off the pill for a month or so. Shortly after, Vetter realized a change in her mood and disposition.

“I felt a change in my mood, more carefree, and less irritable. The hormones are what make you irritable. Birth control made me antisocial, and I didn't want to be introverted. I was happier off of it,” she said.

After Vetter went off the pill unexpectedly, she realized the effect birth control had on her happiness. She decided to give another form of the pill one more try, but once she started, her family and friends noticed a change in her personality.

“I was frustrated, people told me they saw a change in my mood once I got back on. I never really thought that birth control could change my emotions,” Vetter said. “I became mindless [to the effects of the pill] because I had been taking it for five years. I wanted to be happy and positive, instead, I felt depressed.”

Vetter also mentions that after talking to a gynecologist about birth control affecting her mental state, her doctor told her birth control is all about trial and error for everyone. All women react differently to birth control, and in some cases, the best option is to not be on it at all. 

Now Vetter has to be more careful regarding contraception, but she says the positives of being off the pill outweigh the negatives. She still continues to do research on different contraceptives. Vetter recommends other girls who are having similar problems do what is best for them. 

“Do your research beforehand and ask yourself if it fits into your lifestyle,” she said. “Sometimes you just have to take a step back once in a while, then ask yourself: ‘Am I happy?’” 

Sarah Katz, a sophmore film major, opened up about her experience on birth control. Katz started birth control in 2018 and is still on it to this day. However, it took her some trial and error to figure out what birth control was right for her.

“I decided to go on the pill because I had really bad acne. I started off on Taytulla. It was a three-month test until I switched over to Larin, which made me feel really good,” Katz said. “However, on my third set my doctor switched me to Junel. At first, I barely even noticed a change. I trusted my doctor.” 

Katz's problems with the pill started to occur on Junel. 

“I was in Portugal for two weeks and I felt so not myself. I was hungry all the time,” she said. “After I ate I felt so sick, very nauseous. I also was not losing weight, even though I was eating healthy and working out every day; it made me super moody.” 

Once Katz got home from her vacation, she did some research on the kind of birth control she was on and discovered she was not the only one with these kinds of problems.

“I was watching a YouTube video that a girl mentioned she was on Junel and it messed her up. We both had the same symptoms and once I saw we were both taking the same pill I was shocked,” she said.

After Katz discovered Junel was causing most of her mood swings, she called her doctor immediately and switched back to Larin. 

“I was embarrassed and annoyed, I realized it caused a lot of my problems on my trip to Europe. It really made me realize that you have to be very conscious when messing with your hormones,” she said. 

Katz remains on birth control today. However, she is very cautious about the changes her gynecologist makes and does her own research since she knows her body better than anyone else. She also says that girls shouldn’t be scared to talk about this.

“It’s normal to be confused and want to ask questions. Have a doctor you feel comfortable with, and I encourage others to talk to your friends or your mom… you have to be honest with yourself because messing with hormones is serious,” she said.

Whether you’re 15 or 25, all women have questions about the pill. It’s important to know the kind of medicine you put into your body, because it may affect more than just reproduction. 

Gynecologists are great experts to ask what kind of birth control method would be good for you and any concerns you may have about the pill. However, all women know their own bodies better than anyone else. A gynecologist is the first step to finding the right kind of pill, but also be honest with yourself.

Don’t dismiss how you feel just because the pill usage is universal. It’s okay to try alternatives or even take a break from birth control.

Cover image by Simone van der Koelen on Unsplash