How I learned to stop worrying and love my hormones!

[ageofscience]

As I've mentioned, I'm working on a conference paper proposal on the use of oral contraceptives for menstrual suppression. Although paper is less about oral contraceptives themselves and more about why the idea of menstrual suppression is really messed up, in doing my research I've learned an awful lot about that little thing we call The Pill

Comments

[ageofscience]

And this totally exemplifies why I think it's wrong to tell people what to do either way! That's one of many reasons in which it becomes totally understandable. Every time I briefly go off the pill (or even miss a day) I end up with super oily skin and usually a pimple or two, and I do fear that if I went off completely it would be much, much worse. I also used to get weird hormonal skin blisters on my fingers before my BC days, and I'm worried they'll come back too.

That said, in a lot of what I've read about people who go on the pill for acne management says that for whatever reason, it doesn't come back when they go off it. I asked my doctor and she said it sometimes true, sometimes not. Sometimes people just need to go on it for six months or so to get their hormone levels evened out, sometimes they need to be on it indefinitely.

Certainly your reason is not vain by any stretch of the imagination, though! I say it falls into the category of one of many issues where there is a ton of societal pressure, and you can't judge people for the decisions they make in such circumstances (not that it's right to judge people ever, but it's especially the cases here!).

My point is just that even though there are a ton of very valid reasons to take birth control, I think there are also a lot of really underpublicized reasons why it can be really dangerous, and shouldn't be treated as innocuously as it is. And I think there needs to be more pressure on drug companies to make safer pills instead of spending their R&D money on how they can make pills that will make women stop inconveniently bleeding.

[born_against]

I totally agree that that more information needs to be given to people who are starting something as serious as daily hormones!! Also that whole "taking the pill to stop menstruating" thing DISGUSTS ME! I mean... where does the junk go???? hahahah to ask the obvious gross question. I did go off the pill once a few years back and thats when I really discovered that I had bad acne in my natural state (because Id been on it since I was 17 I just thought I had naturally beautiful skin! hahaha) For me the acne isn't even mostly an appearance issue (which of course it is to some degree) the kind of acne I get is very painful! Anyways for me I've made my choice but I feel more informed after having read your entry AND I'm armed with some questions for my Dr.'s appt. on monday!

[ageofscience]

Oh, I hear you on the DISGUSTING factor! There's no way that can be healthy. Not to mention that it totally feeds into stupid ideas that periods (and women's bodies) are just a messy inconvenience. Sometimes sleeping is inconvenient, but I'm not going to stop doing it! Ejaculation is messy, but I don't think too many men would be willing to give it up!

Acne is one of those situations where none of the choices are really great. Antibiotics are bad for you. Things like Accutane are terrible for you. And birth control isn't perfect either, obviously. It's too bad :(

But being armed with knowledge is never a bad thing in my books! Good luck with your doctor!

[sakuramochii]

i thought that, since your body thinks it's pregnant already, the uterline lining is just really thin (so thin that another egg can't implant, to incubate a fetus)... therefore, when you don't bleed every month, it's ok because there's nothing really to slough off.
that's my take on it.

[ageofscience]

Mmm, I don't think that's true! Otherwise no one would have their period on the pill at all? But I actually haven't found any hard facts on that aspect, though.

There are about a billion other reasons, though, why skipping your period is still way gross and disturbing :(

[born_against]

Well, I'm on the pill and I still bleed lots!