Well, here we are. I do not think I have ever been more nervous about something in my life. Throughout the next several months I will be blogging about my journey of cycling off birth control.
A Little Backstory
I was put on birth control (the pill) when I was fifteen years old and I am now thirty. Fifteen years. FIFTEEN YEARS I was on birth control. It’s weird to think that I have been on it for half of my life. The reason I went on it was because (brace yourself for some TMI) I had an extremely heavy first period. I had it for at least three to four weeks and towards the end of it, I was going through a super plus tampon EVERY HOUR. My mom took me to the gynecologist and the first solution was, “Let’s get you on birth control!” I’m sorry, WHAT?! Looking back now, I wish I would’ve known sooner that most western medicine doctors are not there to find the root cause. They are there to write you a prescription and get you out the door (I said MOST doctors, not all).
Ever since then, I have been on the same birth control because I did not know any better.
The Why
Several people have asked me why I am going off of birth control. No, it’s not because I want to have a baby. I have never really had any issues with it until recently. I wouldn’t even say these issues were ACTUAL issues until I started reading about what birth control really does to your body.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, I was horrified. I flat out bawled. Between the fact that you never ovulate, never ACTUALLY get a period, and your hormones are completely suppressed… Lord only knows why so many women are finally making a change to their lives with getting off birth control.
WHY WERE WE NEVER TAUGHT WHAT BIRTH CONTROL DOES TO OUR BODIES IN HEALTH CLASS?!
Now, if you have gone over to my Tummy Love section of blogging, you might have noticed that I have insane digestive issues. Some of these issues I’ve had since birth so not all can be blamed on birth control. However, I do not think I had an issue with IBS until after I was put on birth control (this will be fun to test if my “trigger” foods still bother me after being off of birth control for a few months). Thank you to my best friend, Bre, for helping to open my eyes to these issues!!! (Love you!) I essentially want to know what my body is without birth control!
How I Feel Now
I am about to cycle off of birth control this weekend. I currently withdrawal bleed once a month or as doctors would say my “period”. It’s not a period. Lies. I usually bleed for 2-4 days and that’s it. My skin usually breaks out here and there but I can’t contribute any acne to the birth control. I had it before I started birth control and I still have it today.
I have to stick to a strict no dairy, no fructose, IBS Low Fodmap diet at the current moment. Again, I’d love to see if there is a change in my diet and what I can and can’t have with IBS.
I currently have no desire for kids. Maybe down the road but my brain/body doesn’t really get excited at the aspect or mention of having a kid. Luckily, I have an amazing husband who is usually very supportive of my views and on the same page as me.
I usually do yoga regularly and currently teach dance, so I stay relatively active.
I think I’m mostly scared because what if I’m a completely different person off of birth control? I believe that’s what might hold a lot of people back from cycling off (aside from the fear of getting pregnant).
So, here’s to the journey, my friends. Keep following along for monthly updates!!
With Love,
Talia