I am so excited to get back on birth control again. I think I’m going to try the shot. It is going to be such a relief to not worry about taking a pill anymore.
The pill, only when you get lucky
What if there was a birth control pill you didn’t need to take every. single. day? If you like the sound of a pill that works to prevent pregnancy when taken within a few hours of sex, you’re not alone….
Say what? Woman got pregnant after mistakenly taking prenatal vitamins instead of the pill...
Now that’s scary. A Wisconsin woman attempted to sue a clinic that accidentally gave her prenatal vitamins instead of her birth control pill, causing her to get pregnant. The court ruled that the clinic would not have to pay to raise the child up to age 18, though they did leave open the possibility of suing for pain and suffering.
We seriously feel for this woman—but we can’t help wondering what kind of prenatal vitamins look enough like the pill to fool whoever prescribed them at the clinic and the woman who took them for almost a month before returning to the clinic with questions. Time for a redesign, perhaps?
Should the pill be available over the counter?
With all the news coverage about the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ recommendation that the pill be sold without a prescription, we thought it’d be a good time to revive our article on the topic.
Just in case you want our two cents;)
Well…seems our Daily Twist submission didn’t make it to Times Square, but we wanted to share our Oreo art anyway. Which would you eat first?
If she’s already this excited…what would Pill Girl say if we told her about our birth control reminders?
Will hormones in the pill affect the results of a pregnancy test?
Someone asked us:If I am on the pill, and I had to take a pregnancy test, would the hormones in the pill affect the result of the test?
Nope — pregnancy tests are 99 percent accurate, whether or not you’re on the pill or any other form of birth control. The hormone that a pregnancy test detects in your urine is called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and it’s only produced during pregnancy. It’s not found in hormonal birth control (which contains the hormones progestin and estrogen).
Taking a pregnancy test correctly usually means waiting to take it after your missed period, although some brands can be taken a few days before. You can read the label on the box to see when it becomes effective.
-Nina at Planned Parenthood
(via gynologues)
Sometimes old ideas die hard. One good example is the old idea that you have to start taking the pill on a Sunday, or start it five days after your period begins. Research has shown that this is just plain wrong.
When I realize that I forgot to take my birth control
No need to panic! We have an article by Dr. Andrea Jackson about what to do if you forget to take your pill on time. And daily pill reminders (you can even “snooze” them!) so it doesn’t happen again. Just sayin’…
The best of times, the worst of times: A year with the IUD
So guess what? The cost of birth control can get just as high in Lawrence, Kansas, as it can in New York City. I found that out last month when I traveled to the Midwest to report on dating in a college town. While I was there I spoke to Amanda Sanchez, a student at the University of Kansas who told me she pays $60 a month for the pill—which adds up to $720 a year! Um… I’m not down with paying that now, let alone when I was a broke college student (though I realize it’s still way cheaper than a baby).
Talking with Amanda reminded me why I decided to get a Mirena IUD. On average, the IUD costs about $1,000 every 5 to 10 years—sounds like a lot, but compared to the $3,600 to $7,200 Amanda will spend if she stays with the same pill for 5 to 10 years, it’s a steal.
This June marks my one-year anniversary with the IUD, so to celebrate I thought I’d share the 3 best—and, to be fair, the 3 worst—things about my experience so far.
Best #1: Money money money…
Yes, the upfront cost can be high*, especially for the uninsured like me: I paid $200 for the doctors visit, and almost $500 to get the IUD inserted—but since that initial cost, I haven’t had to budget for getting a prescription written and filled since. And that is a huge financial relief.
Worst #1: Cramps!
Growing up, I would hear girls in high school complain about having bad cramps, but I thought they just wanted an excuse not to do anything in gym class. I never understood how bad cramps could get since I never had them until I got the IUD. Let’s just say I get it now.
Best #2: Shorter, more regular periods
These days my period lasts 3 to 4 days max, whereas before I was a 7 to 8 day girl. And now I can always immediately answer the question every woman has been asked by a doctor or nurse: What was the date of your last period? It now arrives at the same time each month. I can set my watch by it! (Well, almost…)
Worst #2: 6 months in the red (and I’m not talking about debt)
It took over 5 months for those short, regular periods to kick in. For the first few months, let’s just say “Aunt Flow” would not go home. I’m talking 2 weeks at a time, with spotting in between. I was really worried at first, until a doctor told me its totally normal. And then I was merely not amused.
Best #3: Peace of mind
When you know you’re not interested in babies, there is nothing like not having to worry about pregnancy scares. I just came out of a pretty intense relationship with a guy who came with a lot of baby-mama-drama, and it felt good to already have my birth control method in place even before we had our initial “sex talk.” Bonus: it let the guy know right away that I’m in control of what happens to my body, and I know he respected that.
Worst #3: Getting too comfortable
When you’re on a super-effective birth control method and not worried about pregnancy, it can be tempting to make the dumb decision not to use condoms— especially if you trust the person you’re with and you’re in love. Unfortunately, getting pregnant is not the only thing to worry about. HIV/AIDS is all too real, and even the more manageable/curable STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea can have some pretty nasty effects if left untreated. (Scary side note: I was just reading about a drug-resistant form of gonorrhea that has so far been identified in Japan, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Sweden and Norway.)
So as an anniversary gift to myself and my Mirena, I’ll be stocking up on Midol and condoms in preparation for another great year together.
*Up-front IUD costs can be high, but they aren’t always. If you’re wondering how much it would cost for you, Bedsider has more info about IUD costs depending on insurance and income and a free birth control finder widget.
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Veralyn Williams is a Multimedia Freelance Journalist currently working in New York City. She has spent 4 years at WNYC Radio working with various departments including: Radio Rookies, Culture, News, and Freakonomincs. Also freelancing for Black Enterprise, BronxNet Television,Bedsider, and The Museum for African Art. Her independent work is featured on her website VeralynMedia.com. Through all of her endeavors she aims to give a voice to perspectives that are often forgotten in the media.
