Photo by Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition
Article by Freda Donnelly @shesbasedbabe
Birth Control dominates discussions in the online sphere. Conflicting voices proclaiming it as either a panacea or a peril. Amidst this cacophony, nuanced perspectives emerge, recognizing the complexities of this issue. According to ‘An Evidence-Based Update on Contraception‘ by Britton et al. (2020), a thorough examination of contraceptive methods reveals that a significant majority of women will rely on some form of contraception during their reproductive years. Yet, understanding the weight of this decision becomes increasingly challenging amidst the backdrop of backlash and deliberate disregard from liberal outlets towards conservative viewpoints. Furthermore, social media platforms often censor critical yet nuanced coverage. Also, poorly articulated messages from certain conservative figures further muddy the discourse. To retain personal autonomy, and be empowered to give informed consent concerning birth control, many men and women alike need to understand it better overall.
Perhaps the most insidious aspect of birth control is its portrayal as a universal solution for every ‘womanly’ ailment. Feminism, often propelled by catchy liberal marketing, has perpetuated the notion that suppressing innate feminine characteristics is beneficial for personal and societal progress. However, this narrative fails to reconcile with reality. It cannot simultaneously be “empowering” to be able to be the one to give informed consent regarding becoming a mother when you’re not similarly empowered to give informed consent regarding the very methodology that is restricting these natural biological processes. Women should be informed about both so that they can make decisions from the place that they deserve to be situated in when deciding such impactful personal matters.
As I have shared with many women who have reached out to entrust me with the following stories, I am not anti-birth control. I am pro-informed consent. When the inner circle you consult with about matters related to fertility (doctor, husband, mother, preacher, bestie, etc.) possess the full picture you’re able to accurately make the best decisions for yourself. On the other hand, when you’re forced into matters or the endless list of side effects is handed to you in a folded pamphlet, you’re losing out on the bodily autonomy that is rightfully yours.
Above: Photo by Ashley St. Clair Caption: You’re given the box, with a massive insert, which is basically IRL terms of service– nobody is reading this
Reignited Debate Over Reproduction Prevention
The birth control debate was recently sparked again initially when The Washington Post ran a hit piece on conservative women sharing the truth about birth control. Brittney Martinez—founder of Evie Magazine and 28-Wellness—has beneficially impacted so many women through her diligent work, from educating women on the issue and empowering them to make the best decisions for their bodies and families, to creating an insightful app leveraging her star-powered rolodex that helps women improve their hormones while simultaneously learning to live peacefully with them. Brett Cooper, the hostess of Daily Wire’s The Comments Section, is also covering this issue in an impactful and easily digestible manner. Both of these fine women were the target of this Washington Post attack. These aren’t the only female leaders in conservative media doing crucial work regarding birth control education who have been targeted this year. This past summer, The Babylon Bee’s Ashley St. Clair and TPUSA’s Alex Clark were smeared by NBC due to their work. Mary Margaret Olohan of The Daily Signal has also been writing compelling pieces on this topic, delving into its core.
These women are doing what mainstream media outlets, Big Pharma, and even doctors, refuse to do. They’re listening to women tell the true stories about their real-life experiences with birth control. These stories many times are often heartbreaking tales of fertility devastation. Men, this is not simply a “women’s issue” to be side-lined. The likelihood of this impacting your best friend, your family members, your wife, and even your own sex life, is high. When I went searching my own Twitter connections for sources, men wrote sharing how birth control harmed the beloved women in their lives.
Birth Control’s Impact on Men
I recently asked individuals what their experience with birth control was like, and the stories I was entrusted with ran the gambit and trended largely negative. While this small sample size will enhance your understanding of the many difficulties women who opt for this methodology experience, it by no means is large enough for a scientific sample and therefore should be taken with a grain of salt.. Here are just a few (that have been edited for brevity, clarity, and anonymity) to color this larger picture in.
In a recent correspondence, an individual shared his personal experiences with his partners going through different forms of birth control. After his ex-wife discontinued the quarterly Depo shot, she endured six months of continuous bleeding, without any other accompanying menstrual symptoms. Similarly, their current girlfriend recently stopped using patches and pills, leading to two and a half months of intense bleeding accompanied by severe cramping, resulting in sleepless nights and the use of a significant number of menstrual products. He told me that his current partner, “went through a lot of product, like a normal year’s worth every couple weeks,” and, “would lay awake crying most nights” unable to sleep due to the agony. He then expressed his concern for the experiences the women in his life shared with him about the potential side effects of birth control, including changes in scent, irregular cycles, and persistent bleeding. Our conversation was underscored by his emphasizing the importance of providing comprehensive warnings to inform decision-making. “I hope young girls get the warnings before mindlessly taking these things.”
He wasn’t the only man who responded. Another stated, “I watched it turn a woman I loved very dearly from a bright, fun, outgoing person into a sullen, angry, suicidal one. It literally destroyed our relationship. She left me [and] then went off it a bit later. We kept in touch and I saw that woman I love return but it was too late.” Others echoed similar sentiments about watching their partners’ personalities crushed under the hormonal shift of birth control.
Women’s Real Experiences with Birth Control
One young woman who entrusted me with her intimate and tumultuous birth control journey shared the following story. ‘My experience with birth control began in my early teens to regulate irregular periods likely linked to PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). Despite initial struggles with mood swings and a trial-and-error process to find the right pill, I persisted until I abruptly stopped taking it, only to suffer from debilitating headaches. Realizing the connection, I hesitated to discontinue due to fears of withdrawal and the pill’s suppression of PCOS symptoms. However, after finding a hormone-balancing supplement, I successfully weaned off the pill last October, finding relief from headaches and a renewed sense of empowerment. Understanding the potential impact on fertility and the harm of synthetic hormones, I prioritized reclaiming my body’s natural balance and well-being.’
I empathized greatly with this message, as birth control, especially an inaccurate variant, can make a woman feel removed from her body. Further, she, by far, is not the only one who’s struggled with birth control. Another DM revealed, “I was diagnosed with uterine cancer at the age of 35. I had an old-school oncologist. He was 69 when he operated on me. He said 100% it was because of the hormones in my birth control that I had been on since I was 17 due to PCOS and abnormal periods. I had a radical hysterectomy at that time.” Women who are harmed by birth control do not deserve to be shamed for the decisions that led to their heartache when they weren’t able to give appropriately informed consent.
Another woman wrote in telling me about her search to find the one that would alleviate her struggles instead of compounding them. ‘I started my periods early at 12 and they were extremely heavy, causing me to miss school due to intense cramps and blood loss. After trying various pills and the NuvaRing without success, I was diagnosed with endometriosis and opted for the Mirena IUD, which brought significant relief after a painful insertion process and three months of continuous bleeding. Since 2018, the Mirena has given me “ghost periods” with minimal symptoms, greatly improving my life as an athlete. While I didn’t experience common side effects, I understand they affect many women. Ultimately, finding the right birth control was crucial for me, but I recognize it’s not the same for everyone.’ I wrote back to this woman sharing that I was happy she found a solution to her difficulties that helped enhance her life, and that I appreciated her trusting me with her experience. Having a balanced view of these matters is critical because there exists nuance to these medical decisions and sometimes—as with many personal decisions—the individual making them should know what best serves their needs and choose that option with full informed autonomy.
Another DM request I received told this tale, ‘I’m willing to share my birth control journey. I’ve tried the NuvaRing, the regular pill, and the mini pill. Unfortunately, the first two made me nauseous, and the pill caused weight gain. Additionally, I noticed a significant decrease in patience and libido while on birth control. While breastfeeding, I opted for the mini pill due to uncertainties about the effectiveness of lactational amenorrhea and lingering post-birth discomfort. Despite my desire to stop using birth control, my religious beliefs limit the feasibility of natural family planning. Moreover, I have high fertility, so discontinuing birth control essentially means embracing the possibility of pregnancy, which I’m not prepared for at the moment… Hopefully, I can convince my husband to join me in preparedness come summer, though.’ Many mothers have historically experienced these struggles, with highly fertile parents even occupying separate beds before the advent of birth control due to the Great Depression and other economic reasons.
Anecdotal Evidence & Understandable Angst
Other women shared their birth control stories publicly, such as Jessica Holmes, a fellow writer here at American Daily Press. She commented, “Birth control wrecked me. Destroyed my ability to ovulate. I was originally prescribed it to manage PCOS. It only worsened the symptoms and destroyed my ability to procreate,” as her reply to this question.
Hannah was also willing to go on the record citing her passion for this critical issue. “At the age of 17, I began hormonal birth control with the Mirena IUD due to severe menstrual symptoms, though I wasn’t yet diagnosed with PCOS. The promise of reduced pain and the possibility of stopping periods seemed like a magical solution. While it did alleviate menstrual symptoms, my anxiety and depression worsened. Despite this, I continued with the IUD. Lower back and hip pain, along with frequent UTIs, became persistent issues. Medical consultations provided no answers, with some attributing it to my weight, despite significant weight loss. Frustrated, I researched and discovered a potential correlation between the IUD and my symptoms. Despite being dismissed by my doctor, I opted to have it removed. Within weeks, the intense pain began to subside, and I progressed in physical therapy, eventually discontinuing it. However, a year later, I faced a 125-day cycle without a period, leading to a PCOS diagnosis. Contrary to previous advice, my new doctor discouraged further hormonal birth control, suggesting it might have exacerbated my symptoms, as some evidence suggests IUDs can worsen ovarian cysts. I realized I had been misled for years and now face uncertainties about my fertility. I hope more women realize the danger. We still don’t know the full extent of the damage birth control will cause.”
Other comments on my tweet included, “My mood was 1000% better once I quit birth control. I still struggle with depression [and] anxiety, but had I realized that birth control was contributing to my depression issues I would have quit it a lot sooner. My husband really noticed how much my mood and sex drive improved after quitting.” Some experiences showed women going on it for somewhat benign reasons, only to be left with long-term reminders once the half-life expired, “I took it for 4 months. Within the first few days, I had extreme headaches. My OBGYN had me try several different kinds. After the 4 months I couldn’t stand it anymore and stopped taking it. After all, it was only for acne. I proceeded to have debilitating migraines for 3 years.” You may peruse the comments if you so desire, but the final sentiment I will leave you with is, “It wrecked me. I couldn’t even enjoy sex. Off it, I am a completely different and better person. Women, steer clear.”
Personal Experience
I recently had the privilege of assembling a panel that consisted of Emily Zannoti, Katy Faust, Jessica Holmes, and Pro-Life Sam to talk about fertility. While the panel was focused on IVF, birth control came up as well. To some degree, this is the other side of the coin, since creating humans unnaturally through medical means is not entirely dissimilar to using unnatural, medical means to prevent the miracle of life. We discussed how doctors heavily rely on birth control to band-aid women’s health issues ranging from more benign issues, such as acne, to more moderate and serious issues such as hormonal migraines, PCOS, and endometriosis. These are typically relied upon to suppress hormones, even from a young age, acting as a faux remedy as it doesn’t heal the root cause and adds many unintended side effects.
I remember the first time being put on birth control was brought up to me. I was 11 years old, I’d barely experienced certain markers of adolescence for a year at that point. The school nurse fervently believed that I was missing too much school due to my debilitating migraines, so I was made to sit awkwardly in the waiting room in her office while she aimed to force my aunt to put me on birth control. To my aunt’s credit, she adamantly refused and would go on to later pull me out of that school. The other women likewise, experienced horrible issues with birth control.
However, my aunt would also be the woman to later grip my arm and drag me to the OBGYN office as soon as she found out that I was engaged. She was insistent that I would get myself into a precarious position due to the differential in religion and tax bracket between her and my then-fiancé, carrying on particular generational curses. While maturity has given me perspective regarding her malformed motives (yet fear-induced actions) I was essentially an innocent slut-shamed and forced into taking birth control, negating all deserved autonomy.
Many aspects of this—from the upbringing to the medical side effects—led to mental distress. Finding the right alternative proved difficult, causing more turmoil at the beginning of our relationship. One method felt as if I’d been lobotomized while another had caused hormone overload and still another caused me to default to some hidden cruelty setting that left me disgusted with how I treated those around me for a week. When I’d called to get off that one, the office had insisted that I stayed on it just to “see how it went”, until I blew up at them as well. Each variation brought a new fear that hadn’t been previously considered, yet was included somewhere in the pamphlet that was thrust into my hand by a doctor who’d willingly misinformed me about the risks.
While I had the least horrible experience with the IUD—despite temporary crippling insertion and removal pain—I ultimately decided to go off of it due to the integral work of Brittney Martinez and Alex Clark, making this prayerful decision in collaboration with my husband. Returning back to the natural order of things wasn’t easy, but we decided that leaving things in God’s hands was for the best. His thorough research was critical to a smoother journey off of birth control, and I’m truly blessed to have an involved husband.
Critical Considerations
Before getting on birth control, it’s crucial to engage in self-reflection and consider various factors that may influence this decision. Individuals should assess their personal motivations for using contraception, their long-term reproductive goals, and their comfort level with potential side effects and risks associated with different methods. Lifestyle factors, such as daily routine and preferences regarding hormonal or non-hormonal options, should also be taken into account. Additionally, including any religious or ethical considerations is essential, as these beliefs may impact contraceptive choices. Open communication with one’s partner is equally important, as discussing reproductive goals, concerns, and preferences together can help ensure alignment and mutual understanding.
Consulting with a healthcare provider is an integral step in the decision-making process for birth control. Individuals should seek guidance on the various types of contraception available, their mechanisms of action, and their effectiveness in preventing pregnancy. Through discussions with a doctor, patients can explore how their medical history and current health status may influence the suitability of different birth control methods. One should have an understanding of potential side effects, and interactions with other medications, as well as the necessity for regular monitoring and follow-up appointments. All of this is essential for informed decision-making. Additionally, individuals should inquire about the costs associated with their chosen method of birth control and explore insurance coverage or financial assistance options available to them. Ultimately, by asking thoughtful questions and engaging in open dialogue with both themselves and healthcare providers, individuals can make informed decisions that align with their unique needs and preferences.
In addition to seeking guidance from healthcare providers, conducting one’s own research is paramount in the decision-making process for birth control. By educating themselves about the different types of contraception, their mechanisms of action, and potential side effects, women can become empowered advocates for their health. Researching reputable sources provides valuable information to supplement discussions with healthcare providers. This will allow you to advocate for your health and beliefs, as well as fully and critically consider if this is an option that you want to implement.
Using a proactive approach allows women, together with their husbands, to ask informed questions, better understand their options, and actively participate in shared decision-making regarding their chosen fertility journey. Ladies, you deserve better than having lame slogans and incomprehensible fact sheets thrust at you. You deserve empowered autonomy, actual answers, and truly informed consent.