Disclaimer: The following post is my personal experience that should be taken as information, and not personal medical advice.
About three years ago, I decided to stop taking the hormonal birth control I’d been on for 2 years. The birth control I took was called Diane 35 which was prescribed by my doctor in Vietnam.
The reason I decided to go on the birth control was because I was in a serious relationship and I did not want to risk getting pregnant. Also another reason, was because my dermatologist told me it would help clear my hormonal acne.
Prior to taking the pill, I was using Nexplanon which is an implant they put in your arm. The nexplanon is different than the pill because you do not need to remember to take it everyday since it is practically in your arm! Sounds scary, I know but it does not hurt.
Those are the only two type of birth control I have used. For this blog post I am focusing primarily on the pill.
Pros
- Flawless skin
- Regulated Periods
Cons
- Water Retention
- Retaining a lot of water around hips, thighs, arms and even face
- Feeling sluggish, fat and tender around breast
- Weight gain
- Irritable mood
- Depressed
- Unmotivated to do anything
- Lost interest in many things
Before Quitting the Pill
I also made a note of things that happened to me before going completely off the pill. This was documented two years ago on Friday October 5th 2018. The notes are taken two weeks before tossing the pill in the bin.
Week 1
- Very cranky, moody, argued with my younger sister about everything even the tiny things annoyed me. Basically just very hormonal and not pleasant to be around
- I cried a lot for no reason
- Waking up was very hard and I felt unmotivated to do anything
Week 2
- Bloated, cranky, upset that I gained weight
- I feel just so gross, even going to the gym I just feel very heavy everywhere, hips, thighs, arms, breast
- Depressed
Week 3 – The week I decided to quit
I finally quit. I am done with the pill. I feel a sense of joy and relief. I finally tossed the pill in the bin and found an acupuncture, holistic doctor to help me transition off the pill and get back to the real me, the happy me.
I will be taking care of my health the next few months to make sure I transition well and get back to the real me. The person that I truly am before I took the pill.
I think this is a testament that health is wealth and without it it is impossible to carry on with your day.
Week 4
I still feel the same, I guess it takes time for the birth control to get out of my system. Since I quit 3 weeks ago I am doing weekly acupuncture as well as talking to my naturopathic doctor about regulating my cycles back to normal. She is a wonderful doctor her name is Dr. Jenny Abercrombie. I’m doing seed rotation right now to regulate my periods. I feel so much better.
2020 Present Day
I have no regrets going off the pill. It was the best decision ever.
Right now, I am not using any type of birth control because I have made the choice to not see anyone and just focus on myself.
Next semester is my last semester at LMU which will be online and then after that it is straight to work. I am not sure what I want to do yet but I am confident when the time comes I will be able to decide then. During this pandemic, I have found it hard to find what I want to pursue, but I think the next couple of months will allow me to find out what I want to do.
A quote I read yesterday night that really made me happy was
“Your purpose is not found, it is chosen. Stop trying to find your purpose or wait for your destiny top arrive. You may be fulfilling your purpose without even knowing. When we are present, we say and do whatever the moment calls for, and our spontaneous words and actions have a profound effect on others, even if we don’t know it. if you are living in the present, then trust you are fulfilling your purpose, even if your path is taking you through darkness. ” – Shaman Redwood
That quote made me smile and gave me a lot of hope about the direction I am going.
Also, I have been tracking my cycle with Natural cycle using their thermometer. I check my temperature every morning and it is nice to have a period tracker on my phone to know when my next period will come. Some people use natural cycle as their fertility awareness birth control method, but I would not rely on this as a birth control method. I just think it is risky to base your sex life on a software. I think science always works 🙂 so if you are having an active sex life make sure to look into other birth control methods and make sure you/your partner wears a condom.
Anyways, I have to go now. It is so hot in Los Angeles. There is a massive heatwave. Also Governor Newsom has not made any changes to the shutdown which sucks. I want things to be opened back up. I’m sick of this! But oh well, for the moment I will push through and hope for the best.
Thank you so much for reading. As always if you have questions feel free to reach out on my instagram @catherinethuymyha, comment or send an email to catherine@thuymy.com
Your comments always uplifts me and motivates me to write more.
Thank you <3
