Lets Talk Contraceptives... Top 6.

Let us Talk About Contraceptives…

So this is something that has been on my mind for a while, in fact it has been on my mind since I came off my own contraceptive in 2017, I was getting the Depo injection. The whole reason I came off my contraceptive was because I realised, I was plunging chemicals into my body that stopped a natural process and the jag was messing it all up. Our bodies are designed to function in a certain way and who was I to stop that. As said in previous blogs when I came off my contraceptive, I began my struggle with Endometriosis/ Adenomyosis. I thought that because I had been on a contraceptive for around 10 years i thought what I was experiencing was normal because I had suppressed my body’s natural cycle for so long its was coming back with a vengeance. From coming off this injection I suffered the below symptoms that lead to my diagnosis such as:

- Severe Cramps - Severe Back Pain - Pain During sex - Abdominal Pressure / Bloating - Pain when Ovulating - Blood Clots - Constipation - Nausea - Fatigue - Infertility From the list above the biggest hit for me and my partner was infertility. When we had 2 miscarriages in 2019 (3 years post contraceptive) whilst for a long time I blamed myself, I do now believe this was a combination of my extended time on a contraceptive and my adenomyosis. The reason I initially went on a contraceptive was because I had a “heavy flow” now at 12 years old your body is going through this new transitional stage so having a heavy flow, irregular periods are most likely normal while you get used to your new cycle. Obviously being young I thought getting a jag would be the easy option, whilst on this for 10 years I bled once, once in 10 whole years. Now if that does scream out caution, I do not know what does. However not having a period seems like absolute bliss, right? Until you look at the potential side effects. The reason I also wanted to write this blog is because whilst I know these contraceptives come with inserts to tell you how to take etc but I feel the list of side effects is incomplete, these do not contain any extended information, data, or research from the manufactures. I want to remind you that I write this with concerns from my own experiences and not to judge you on yours. So here we go, below ill write up about the most common contraceptives.

1. COMBINED PILL - Take for 21 days - 2 Hormones Oestrogen & Progesterone - 7 days Break - Stops ovulation Essentially this prevents pregnancy by stopping the egg being released, makes the fluid in the cervix thicken so sperm cannot get through and stopping the lining of your uterus becoming thick enough for an egg to grow in it. Firstly infertility. The safety insert included in this states that no long-term studies were done on the effect of infertility. When being on this for so long and stopping ovulation, surely the body stops doing it naturally from being suppressed? It is saying you should not be on this if you have or have ever… had Blood clots. DVT, Pulmonary embolism, if your someone who is stuck on their feet a lot, Heart attack, Stroke, TIA, Diabetes, High blood pressure, High cholesterol, Migraines, Breast cancer, Cancer, or liver disease. so those are just to name a few of the people who should not be taking this. According to the N#H#S this pill could;

- Increase the risk of blood clots (in the first year)

- Can increase your risk of breast cancer, increased risk of depression, and mood instability. The side effects go on to list; Heart attack, stroke, mini stroke, depression, skin breakouts, migraines, nausea, fluid retention, sore skin, chrons disease, weight gain, sore boobs, skin rashes, gallstones, liver problems and potentially death.

So already we can see that this is quite an extensive list. When I asked men via social media if they would take a contraceptive if one was available, they said yes. Now some may know others may not, there was in fact two studies done on men in 2004 and 2011 on both studies participants experienced:

- Vomiting

- Nausea

- Diarrhoea

- Mood Swings

From those the study got cancelled, what I cannot understand is that some of those are common side effects in almost every ‘Female’ contraceptive, so if the male study was cancelled due to causing these and not being up too standard, It leads me to ask why is it good enough for women to suffer through them?

2. PROGESTRONE ONLY PILL This is the pill most recommended to teens experiencing heavy periods and irregular bleeds, again recommended from 12 whilst bodies are going through the transitional stage. The body can take up to 2 years to regulate a cycle. No clinical data has been done on the ethicality and safety on adolescence below the age of 18 years. So, there is no evidence on the damage long term or short-term use could cause or again infertility. So, for this one we have no breaks you simply take the pill for as long as you want to be on a contraceptive, I will zone in on cerazette. So, for Cerazette it says do not take if; you have unexplained vaginal bleeding, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, epileptic or tuberculosis. It also states that some medication and taking antibiotics can stop this pill from working and not prevent pregnancies, however, does not state the medication. Again, it has no clinical data on the effects of a foetus within 6 months of stopping cerazette, so if you are planning to try for a baby there is no study to show that it does not harm a foetus, effects on your body or pregnancy… because they have not done them. Like the combined pill it says it can increase risk of breast cancer, blood clots, psychiatric disorders, and suicidal thoughts. Common side effects listed as;

- Ovarian cysts

- Hair loss

- Vaginal infections

- Weight gain

- Body rash

- Hives

- Nausea

- Migraines

- Mood swings

- Acne

All the above is debilitating on your physical and mental health, all this just to prevent a pregnancy…

3. COIL

So, this Is put inside the womb by a Dr or Nurse and releases progesterone to stop you getting pregnant and can last between 3 – 5 years depending on the brand. Most common in the UK is the marina coil and it states it lasts up to 5 years. So, it says do not use if:

You have vaginal infections/ prone to them, have cancer, are immune compromised, unexplained vaginal bleeding, liver tumour or disease, allergic to silicone, if you take blood thinners or steroids, if you are breastfeeding as small amounts of progesterone can pass through breast milk. No studies have been done on the safety or ethnicity on progesterone in breastmilk given to infants. It also says that if you have a life-threatening infection in the first few days meaning sepsis, then contact your health care provider immediately if you have pain or a fever. It also says that the marina can go through the wall of your uterus the risk of perforation can cause death and is increased if the coil is inserted while breastfeeding or if you have just had a baby. As your uterus is still partially contracting and id imagine that is why it increases the risks. Pregnancy is uncommon while using the marina but can be life threatening and result in loss of pregnancy or an ectopic pregnancy. Side effects stated are.

- Ovarian cysts

- Polycystic ovaries

- Pelvic inflammation

- Abdominal pain

- Heavy bleeding

- Dizziness

- Headaches/ Migraines

- Vaginal infections

- Weight gain

- Back pain

- Depression

- Hair loss

4. IUD COIL

Placed in the womb and releases copper to stop you from getting pregnant and protects against pregnancy for up to 5 – 10 years.

In June 2015 MHRA issued a risk association for the risk of uterine perforation, this can happen upon insertion or later and the risk of this is death. Do not use if: History of ectopic pregnancy, heart infections, PID, had post-partum sepsis, history of STI’s, Anaemia or Random Vaginal Bleeding.

Side effects include

- Haemorrhaging on insertion

- Hypersensitivity or severe pain

- Perforation of the uterine wall

- Breast pain

- Vomiting

- Urine infections

- Nausea

- Headaches / Migraines

- Depression

- Anxiety

Again, no long-term studies have been done for people on long term birth control from 12- 35 years. Independent studies of women who took a contraceptive for more than 2 years showed an increase of breast cancer, cervical cancer, blood clots and strokes on up to 2 years although there were no long-term studies done by the manufacturer. Again, these independent studies show women on contraceptives for more than 5 years had the above increases again as well as birth control being linked to polycystic ovaries, infertility, chron's disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, increased anxiety, and death.

5. The Injection

Depo - releases the hormone progesterone into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancies and lasts for 13 weeks. This does have a warning on the N#H#S website saying it can take up to 1 year for fertility to return after the injection wears off, So I would say not suitable if you want to have a baby soon after coming off this. Manufacturer studies states it can take up to 3 years for fertility to return to normal. Further independent studies have shown in fact most people are struggling with fertility after being on the injection for more than 6 months. What bugs me here is that I was blissfully unaware and not knowledgeable about this when I started taking it and when the nurse asked why I wanted to come off it and I said, “I want to give my body a break and restore its natural function.” She replied with “well it doesn’t work like that.” N#H#S states its not suitable if you do not want your periods to change or want to have a baby in the next year. Have unexplained bleeding, history of heart disease, history of strokes, liver disease, breast cancer or are at risk of osteoporosis.

Manufacturers insert adds also;

Family history of cancer, abnormal mammograms, kidney disease or kidney functions issues, high blood pressure, migraines, asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, or depression.

Warnings also attached; Detectable amounts of this drug have been found in the milk of breastfeeding mothers. So transmittable through breastmilk, no studies have been done on infants receiving this hormone.

This medication should also not be re administered if you have sudden or partial loss of vision or Migraines. So, this contraceptive has a potential risk of blindness… What?! Use of depo may also be considered among the risk factors of development of osteoporosis. Patients with a history of depression should be closely observed and should not be given this if depression re occurs. Long term case-controlled surveillance of users on the depo found increased overall risk of breast cancer, ectopic pregnancies, and anaphylactic reactions. Along with a few reports (more than 5%) of convulsions in patients who have been treated with the depo. Side effects listed.

- Heavy menstrual bleeding

- Abdominal pain

- Weight gain

- Dizziness

- Headaches / Migraines

- Weakness

- Fatigue

- Anxiety

- Depression Less Common but more severe include.

- Breast cancer

- Cervical cancer

- Paralysis

- Lack of return of fertility

- Facial Palsy

- Anaemia

- Vaginal Cysts

- Chest pain

6. THE IMPLANT This is placed under the skin in the upper arm and releases the hormone progesterone into the blood stream to prevent pregnancies and can last for up to 3 years.

It says not to take if:

You do not want you period to change, take other medicine (other medicine not stated), have a history of stroke, breast cancer or heart disease.

Side Effects include.

- Headaches

- Nausea

- Breast Pain

- Mood Swings

- Periods may become irregular or stop altogether.

- May get acne or acne may get worse.

Manufacturers insert says do not take it if:

You have thrombosis, liver tumours, liver disease, kidney disease, unexplained bleeding, bleeding between periods or after sex, suspected or known breast cancer or a family history of breast cancer.

Warnings:

There have been multiple reports of migration of the implant within the arm from the insertion site as well as post marketing reports of the implant being in the vessels of the arm and pulmonary artery. Reports on Arterial thrombosis including cases of pulmonary embolisms some being fatal, deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infraction, and strokes again some fatal. Studies have suggested that the use of the implant might increase the risk of breast cancer or cervical cancer. Side Effects include.

- Reduced milk production in breastfeeding mothers

- Lack of return of ovulation

- Liver disease

- Ovarian cysts

- Abnormal weight gain

- Gallbladder disease

- Elevated blood pressure

- Diabetes

- Depression

- Acne

- Migraines

- Vaginitis

- Breast pain

- Influenza like symptoms

- Dizziness

- Back pain

- Nausea

- Hypersensitivity

- Re occurring UTIS

- Fibromyalgia

- Convulsions

- Insomnia

- Oedema

- Death Post marketing reports also of strokes and thrombosis that have led to death.

So, there we have it the top 6 forms of contraceptives. Everything I have written here Is included in contraceptive inserts and the information is also available online, so you can go and look at the information for yourselves. I have not written this as a source of fear mongering, I have written this as I found when it came down to it, I was not knowledgeable on what I was putting into my body and the potential side effects and like I said this information is included in the leaflets inside medication anyway... well most of it. Im still shocked that in the 21st century women feel solely responsible for the prevention of pregnancies and that some men expect this of us. It is one of those thing society throws out at us that women should take responsibility for. Yes, some people are on contraceptives for medical reasons and that’s fair enough but mostly women feel pressured (consciously or subconsciously). I did say there were studies done on men and again why should they have to deal with a random amount of side effects if a contraceptive was available for them, personally I do not feel anyone should have to choose between a pregnancy or death. So if you've read this and are experiencing some of the side effects please do not assume that It Is just your period causing it them, more than likely It could be to do with the medication.

I know both me and my partner are much happier using condoms than me potentially damaging my health mentally or physically, obviously im pregnant now but prior to pregnancy and post pregnancy we shall be back to stocking up on those latex balloons of joy.

Do not feel pressured to choose between pregnancy and your health.

And if your partner does not want to wear a condom, ask how he would like to raise some kids instead.

Thanks for Reading 😊

Bee