In recent years, hormonal birth control has been receiving more and more attention, and not in a positive light. Whether you are taking oral contraceptives or know others who do, it is important to fully understand the various methods available and how they can affect you. Many young girls are urged to begin hormonal birth control as young as 14 but are severely lacking information about their options. The recent generation of women who were encouraged to start the pill and other modern methods are speaking up about how it has affected them. 

First, it is important to understand the different forms of contraception and how common they are. The most effective is condoms, which can prevent pregnancy and reduce STD transmission. Female-specific forms include oral contraceptives (“The pill”), hysterectomies, tubal ligations, and long-acting reversible contraceptives such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) or implants.  Male-specific forms, however, are simply vasectomies. While this may seem like a wide variety, a majority of these forms of contraception can have lasting effects on a woman’s body, mental health, and even personality. The most popular forms of birth control for college girls include the pill, condoms, and IUDS. About 65 percent of women aged 15 to 49 use some form of birth control, with 39 percent of women in the 15 to 19 age group utilizing contraception.  This rate nearly doubled to about 75 percent among women in their 40s. Of the 35 percent of women not using contraception, half credited not engaging in sex as their reason. About a fifth of women who do not use contraception are pregnant, postpartum, or trying to get pregnant, according to “Current Contraceptive Status Among Women,” written by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CONDOMS

Firstly, it is important to note male condoms have no lasting effect on the female body.  There has, however, been a decline and a new stigma around old-fashioned condoms. Despite their reliability of 99 to 98 percent, only 33.5 percent of casual relationships and 14 percent of “serious” relationships use condoms. These numbers are shockingly low and directly link to the use of the pill and IUDs.With the rise in popularity of these forms of contraception, condoms are, unfortunately, rarely deemed necessary. While it is recommended to use several different forms of birth control, this pressure can cause even more young women to start hormonal birth control in order to adhere to societal expectations.

SEX ED

The discourse surrounding the failure of the American education system to properly educate young adults about sex has long been a prevalent topic. A study conducted in 2019 reported barely half of adolescents received adequate sex education and less than half received instruction before engaging in sex themselves. Additionally, over 75 percent of young adults were taught to abstain from sex rather than receiving proper education on sex safety and the importance of consent. Not only does this have the potential to put thousands of young adults in danger of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, but also increases the risks of unplanned pregnancy. Schools should be expected to provide adequate sex education alongside resources on where to locate birth control, the proper birth control for each person, and how to engage in sex safety. This hesitation and avoidance perpetuates the stigma surrounding sex, making it increasingly more difficult for women to obtain the proper resources.

THE PILL

In recent years, girls have begun speaking out about the numerous and dangerously long list of side effects of taking oral birth control. The effects include but are not limited to acne, weight gain, bloating, sleep problems, and inconsistent periods. However, mental consequences such as mood swings, depression, anxiety, and anger are not included in most lists, creating a sense of confusion when women encounter these after starting the pill. Unfortunately, this small part of everyday life can unknowingly take control and drastically change a person. Not only is the pill being pushed as a cure for several of these symptoms, but it can take months and, in some cases even years for a woman’s body to recover after stopping. After feeling controlled by contraceptives, women who have suffered from the effects of oral birth control are urging younger generations to switch to other, less controlling methods of contraceptives. One of these methods is the IUD, a small contraceptive device that is inserted directly into a woman's uterus. While there are two types of IUDs (the non-hormonal copper and the hormonal), there have been disastrous reports on how misinformed and accurately marketed these forms are presented. Another hormonal birth control is the contraceptive implant, which is typically inserted into the arm. Similar to the pill, both these devices are meant to alter the hormones in a woman's body and can have the same long-term effects as the pill. While both these devices are meant to protect against pregnancy for a set amount of time (ranging from two to five years), there are very few resources and educational opportunities for women looking for alternatives to the pill. 

IUDS

On top of dismissing education for young adults, many young women have come out with horror stories about some of the birth control methods. A common theme seen in several is the dismissal of pain levels by doctors. In some incidents where women decide to try an IUD, doctors have been known to warn patients of “some cramping or pain” when having the device inserted. For further context, the device is inserted through a woman’s cervix and into the uterus. It is extremely rare for women to receive the proper pain medication and education on the procedure they are undergoing. While pain from  IUD insertion is supposedly minimal, many women have described the procedure as “the worst pain imaginable” and have passed out mid-insertion. Furthermore, most women receive no pain medication post-operation and are expected to drive home afterward.  Because doctors are not informing young women, those who have had poor experiences have been compelled to take to the internet to warn others, furthering the uncertainty surrounding birth control and finding solutions suited to one’s needs. 

PERIOD TRACKING 

Due to the complications of modern birth control and exhaustion with controlling contraceptives, some young women have ditched doctors' recommendations and opted for period tracking. As it sounds, period tracking is simply keeping records of personal period information, like the four stages of the menstrual cycle. This includes menstruation, the follicular phase, ovulation, and the luteal phase. While this is not recommended for girls with irregular periods, learning what each stage of a woman’s cycle looks like and means for their body is crucial to engaging in safe sex. Every woman is different and learning how your body reacts to menstruation can make drastic changes in everyday life.

Overall, every woman should be able to feel comfortable with choosing the right birth control for them; however, due to the lack of progress in modern contraceptive methods, education, and resources, women are often left to fend for themselves. Even though the topic may be considered uncomfortable and taboo, women deserve to have their physical health addressed before long-lasting effects take place.

Written by Madeline Townsend, Design: Morgan Tran, Social Media: Megan Hall