Sexual Relationships 
Sexual Health 
Before someone comments about how much hormonal birth control had helped them and calls me “ignorant”, here me out. Every medication, or anything you put in your body really, you take comes with risks. I am simply here to make sure that you will be more aware of what is being put in your body, rather than continue to be fed lies by Big Pharma.
Let’s begin with this. Hormonal contraceptives are placed in two categories: combined and progestin-only. The combined contraceptives contain a synthetic derivative of oestrogen, known as ethinyl estradiol, and a progestin. Progestin is a steroid derivative of progesterone, which is a derivative of testosterone. Progestins and progesterone are structurally different, but are often mistakenly perceived as one in the same by many. These steroids are combined in many contraceptives to mitigate the risk of bone thinning (one of progestin’s worst offenders, regarding side effects) and offer more support to stop ovulation.
While EE might decrease acne and the risk of endometrial cancer, studies have shown that it can also increase the risk of breast cancer in women. Not only that, but EE has been linked to hypertension, increased risk of benign liver tumors, blood clots, and glaucoma when EE-containing contraceptives are used long-term.
Now, before someone says: “But the risk of blood clots is much higher during pregnancy!” Please keep in mind that while many women will have been on hormonal contraceptives for five, eight, or even fifteen consecutive years, a pregnancy lasts for under one year.
Furthermore, the pregnancy-related risk of blood clots can be lowered through regular body movement and exercise, drinking lots of water, wearing compression stockings, and even using blood thinners depending on your own individual needs.
The milder, yet often problematic side effects of EE and progestins include: increased hunger, irregular cycle, weight gain, headaches, nausea, mood swings, and lowered libido. The scientific cause behind the latter two are the fact that these steroids increase thyroid and sex hormone binding globulin, which decreases the amount of testosterone and thyroid hormone in the blood. It is also a well known fact that EE-containing contraceptives counteract the effects of antidepressants, so women who already have issues with depression and are normally medicated would not be able to treat it.
Further, the steroids also reduce the amount of vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate, zinc, magnesium, vitamin C, and selenium in circulation. Many of these support positive moods and overall well-being, and the lack of these vitamins and minerals may lead to an increased risk of depressive and anxious thoughts in the deficient user. Oral contraceptives in particular also deplete beneficial gut flora.
For women who use hormonal contraceptives to combat Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), I must point out that while PCOS is a hormonal condition, it is also a metabolic one. Hormonal contraceptives, while providing relief for the symptoms, are only a bandaid solution. As soon as you get off of the pill, the symptoms will return full throttle. While women diagnosed with PCOS are often prescribed a birth control pill to “fix” it, there are many medical professionals who have advocated for more natural alternatives which treat the underlying issues. Drinking clean water, eating many cruciferous vegetables and proteins, and remaining active. These habits help detox your body and are all more natural ways of balancing out one’s hormones.
As for my personal experience with hormonal contraceptives, my fiancée has been on the birth control roulette for a couple of years now. She has been on the pill, the ortho evra patch, and the implant, and complained of all of the side effects stated above. She disliked the implant the most, but what gave me the biggest scare was when she was using the ring. They tell you that the ring has less hormones and will therefore have less symptoms, but that is how they pull you in. In actuality, the birth control pill goes through your digestive track, which destroys a good amount of the sex steroid during the journey, and therefore pumps less synthetic hormone into your bloodstream. Whereas, the ring deposits the steroids directly into the bloodstream via the vaginal walls. Therefore, there is more hormone in circulation with the ring than there is with the pill. While my fiancée was using the NuvaRing, she suffered from frequent panic attacks and even seizures. We have had many hospital visits, and she had been put on many different medications before we realized that the ring was the catalyst. Since then, she has been hormone-free and is content with barrier methods. Her moods have stabilized and her seizures had finally stopped, much to my relief. Although after doing some more research on the NuvaRing, I have now come to realize why it has an entire website about it, which has a purpose to dissuade women and young girls from using it. A quick Google search has even pulled up links regarding a possible link between NuvaRing (among other types of birth control) and pseudo-brain tumors.
Of course when she decided to open up about her personal experiences, she received some backlash. I particularly remember her sister telling her something like: “Your doctor warned you about the risks, and you didn’t listen. So it was your own damned fault that you had bad experiences with birth control and I have no sympathy for you. Grow up.”
Needless to say, their relationship has been strained since they had this conversation. What my fiancee’s sister said was completely wrong anyway, because I went with her to the OBGYN and I don’t recall the doctor stating that seizures would be a side effect. Only things like nausea, spotting, weight gain, etc. The general things. Granted, I have never understood why so many women look down on other women who either refuse to take or cannot tolerate hormonal contraceptives. Unless these women are third wave feminists, whom are infamous for putting others down if they don’t do something that they believe is “empowering” to women (In this case, taking a hormonal contraceptive is empowering to women because it revolutionized their perception of sex). It’s kind of sad, if you think about it.
Just because something works for you doesn’t mean that it will work for everyone else.
I also don't understand women who spread misinformation about hormonal contraceptives. My fiancée has fallen victim to this before, when she believed her mother when she said that it would be impossible to get pregnant if you're on the pill. This simply isn't true, as there is a 1% failure rate for a reason. Her rationale behind this misinformed propaganda was:
"I don't know any woman who got pregnant while on the pill!"
Okay, but just because you don't know one personally does not mean that they don't exist. Mistakes and breakthrough ovulation happen.
The bottom line is: I’m not writing this to tell you to stop taking hormonal birth control. I am simply trying to make you more cognizant of what you are putting in your body. Nobody can control what you do other than yourself, after all. I mean, I know that McDonalds isn’t healthy for me, but I still enjoy it on occasion. Just realize the fact that all medications come with risk and that everyone’s body reacts differently to medication. Just because you don’t have any symptoms (yet) doesn’t invalidate someone’s negative experience with the same medication. Don't try to coerce people into pumping synthetic hormones, or any medication, into their bodies. Mind your own business and let people live.
Sincerely, a psychology and biology double major shooting for medical school.
References:
Estrogens and Oral Contraceptives. (2014, April 9). In National Institutes of Health- Livertox.
Retrieved October 26, 201
New research on birth control and blood clots reveals real risk factors. (2016, December 27). In
Natural Womanhood. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
Brogan, K. (2018, May 28). That Naughty Little Pill: Birth Control Side Effects. In Kelly Brogan MD. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
Brighten, J. (2018, February 7). Could The Pill Be Dangerous for PCOS?. In Dr. Jolene Brighten. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
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