I during the school year I crack open my blue packet of birth control pills every night at 11:30 pm, and pop one of those little tablets into my mouth without a second thought. That pill is my protection. I, unlike many women, discussed going on birth control with my mother. I was going to college where the chance of rape and sexual assault is much higher, and I didn't want to take any chances there. My mother was very supportive of my decision to go on the pill, but warned me about the side effects. I think her support was also rallied by the fact that I had a boyfriend at the time. She didn't want me to be pregnant anymore than I did. Happy on the pill I enjoyed the perks. I knew exactly when my period was coming, and I used 60% less feminine products. I didn't have cramps and my other PSM symptoms decreased dramatically. Other than random emotional highs and lows, birth control worked well for me.
Eventually my relationship went south, and I was a single girl on birth control. My mother began asking me if I was still on it. When I told her that I was, she didn't seem as supportive of my decisions. She asked me why I was still on it? Besides being very awkward I was somewhat shocked by the question. Birth control gave me a sense of security. I felt protected, and liked experiencing periods that wouldn't take over my life for that week. After explaining this to my mother, she still was not happy.
Although I am not currently on the pill, my mother still warns me against taking it again. She doesn't like the idea of keeping my body on additional hormones. My mother and I are very close and I don't like upsetting her, but when it comes to my birth control the moment I arrive back on campus I will be taking it. I'm not ready to risk my body in that way, and although I feel safe at JMU you never know what can happen and I want to know that I am protected in at least one way.
That's awesome your mother and you can talk so openly.
ReplyDeleteI have never been on birth control to actually prevent births. I was on it to help with the side effects of my period.
I think it is important that women can protect themselves in that way... birth control gives women confidence in their self and safety.
I was sixteen went I started the pill due to menstrual cramps. To this day, being twenty-one, I am still on it. I enjoy being on the pill because I know when my cycle starts each month and I do not have the horrible cramps that I used to. I agree that being in college there is a higher chance of rape or sexual assault, therefore, I remain on the pill for my own protection and safety.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Although I have never been on birth control before, I think it’s very important to prevent abortion for women’s body and baby as well. It is much safer than not having a birth control and have abortion. I liked how you talk to your mother so openly and discussed about your issues which I think I can never discuss about birth control issues with my mom.
ReplyDeleteGirl, you should totally read "Slut" by Leora Tannenbaum. It's a great discussion about women/girls and how their sexuality is perceived. Like, single on birth control vs. taken on birth control--why is one more controversial than the other? My mom was down with me going on BC at the beginning of freshman year (although I told her over the phone and I could hear her saying "Oh, okay," in a tight-lipped way,) and she doesn't really ask any questions about it... except for when it needs to be refilled.
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