Why I’m Not on The Pill
Aside from the fact that we wouldn’t mind getting pregnant again there are many health reasons why I am not and will never take a birth control pill. (That’s not to say we don’t believe in any kind of contraceptives.)
How The Female Body Works?
Your body ovulates once a month if the egg is not fertilized then the lining of the uterus that had built up in preparation for the fertilized egg is unnecessary. Both the egg and uterine lining leave your body preparing for a new month. This is reffered to as your period.
How do birth control pills work?
Birth Control pills are synthetic hormones.
Many birth control pills contain high levels of estrogen that convince your pituitary gland that you are pregnant and therefor you do not to ovulate. Because your body thinks you are pregnant, the uterine lining thickens. Once you start the placebo pills, however, your estrogen level drops suddenly, and your body menstruates “normally.” This abnormal cycle is what millions of women experience every month, and yet few doctors discuss the consequences of taking these prescriptions for year after year.
The Risks
- Larger breasts
- Weight gain or loss
- Reduced or increased acne
- Slight nausea
- Emotional sensitivity right before your period
- Mood swings throughout your cycle
- Irregular bleeding or spotting
- Breast tenderness
- Decreased libido
- Increased risk of cervical and breast cancers
- Increased risk of heart attack and stroke
- Migraines
- Higher blood pressure
- Gall bladder disease
- Infertility
- Benign liver tumors
- Decreased bone density
- Yeast overgrowth and infection
- Increased risk of blood clotting
None of those side effects sound fun to me, so I choose to NOT take The Pill.
So What Other Options Are Available?
Condoms, the diaphragm and cervical cap, and fertility awareness. I think all women should learn about fertility awareness weather or not you plan to use it to prevent pregnancy. Here’s a good place to start. Before I got married I did alot of research and learn a great deal of information about my body that I never knew. The things they don’t teach you in health class.
If you’re interested in fertility awareness or charting your cycle this is a great site: My Monthly Cycles
