A high-schooler on the verge of losing her virginity walks into a Planned Parenthood hoping toavoid teen motherhood.
Its a tale as old aswell, anyone born in 1977, when birth control waslegalized for minors.
Here, seven women share their birth controlstories.
When I was 16 or 17, my pediatrician prescribed a combination birth control pill.
(Also, I was terrified of getting pregnant.
Every single blister in the Accutane blister pack had a big no-pregnancy symbol on it.)
I remember my pediatrician seeming concerned about putting me on birth control pills at that age.
I think it was mainly because my mom hadnt taken me to the gynecologist yet.
And probably some patriarchal overtones; looking back now, it was kind of messed up.
When I was 15, I started sleeping with my then-boyfriend.
Wed heard from other friends that the appointment and the birth control were freeand they were.
Fast-forward to my early 20s: I was dating a guy who was significantly older.
He thought birth control was unnatural and convinced me to go off it, saying he would be careful.
One abortion later, he was goneandbirth controlwas back.
I went on the Pill when I was a junior, and it helped a ton.
I had my son at 33, and a few weeks later, I got my period.
That was five years ago.
I got pregnant basically right away.
Our son, Rowan, was born prematurely eight months later.
Then I started having really intense cramps and pain and developed a mass on my C-section scar.
Finally, my GP ordered imaging and found bilateral masses on my ovaries.
After that I was on an estrogen-lowering medication that put me into medically induced menopause.
It was crazyhot flashes, thin skin, dryness, moodiness, fuzzy brain.
My hips and breasts changed.
Im 46, and hormone fluctuations had started to affect my marriage, my moodall of it!
They were just destroying me.
I was angry, moody, and not sleeping.
I had tried herbal remedies and tons of vitamins and seeing zero effects.
Finally, my OB-GYN was like, None of that stuff has any proven efficacy.
You may as well try hormonal birth control, which could offer some relief.
Im in my second week of my third month, and my moods already seem better.
Laura Granston, Tenafly, New Jersey
Ive tried a lot of birth control.
At 18, I started taking the Pill so I could have sex without having babies.
(Condoms didnt seem like enough.)
At 20, I switched to the Ring because taking pills was kind of a drag.
Then I got a copper IUD when I was 25 because it seemed easy.
But I bled a lot, so I switched to a hormonal IUD when I was 28.
I have the most stubborn periods on the face of this planet.
Plus, I was getting mild migraines every other weekend.
I skip the placebo week.
Its been about nine months, and its helped a lot with my periods.
Its reduced the headaches too, though I still get one every once in a while.
Surprise, surprise: At 22, I got pregnant.
That was eight years ago.
