In 1960, the first combined oral contraceptive pill was made publicly available in the United States to be marketed as a female contraceptive. The approval of this medication was revolutionary, as women previously had no way of preventing pregnancy completely on their end without relying on invasive contraceptives such as a diaphragm or IUD. Additionally, the court case Roe v. Wade had not yet occurred, so terminating an unplanned pregnancy was not an option for many women in the United States. The combined oral contraceptive pill (more commonly known as simply “the pill”) suddenly allowed women to take more control of their lives by being able to gain an education and develop a satisfying career with the knowledge that they could plan for a pregnancy if they desired.
The social progress sparked by the advent of the pill has influenced all parts of society, from the way we view our education and careers to the way we view our bodies and sexual relations. One key contribution of the pill to women has been the gift of autonomy. The fact that women have the option to ensure their own reproductive safety without having to rely on their sexual partners to put their livelihoods first is a major component of the pill’s appeal. But what options does a woman have when the pill doesn’t fit in their life? When the medication you trust to give you the autonomy to plan your life the way you want it doesn’t work around your life, it can feel hopeless.
This was my situation freshman year of college. In my case, I had been prescribed oral contraceptives for periods that rendered me helpless with pain and made me miss school because I couldn’t even walk. A trip to the pediatrician sent me home with a prescription for oral contraceptives to hopefully reduce the pain that had been following me since middle school. While I had been promised by both my doctor and by society that this seemingly magic pill would cure me of my problems, my reality was a harsh difference from what I was led to believe. During the first month of taking it, gradual mood changes and muscle soreness led to what became the most painful period I had ever had at that point in my life. I was completely blindsided by the fact that something that has improved life for both individuals and society as a whole could somehow make my problems worse.
After research, I found that the pill actually has a variety of side effects. According to Mayo Clinic, common side effects of taking the pill include “breast tenderness, elevated blood pressure, headaches, nausea, and bloating.” While oral contraceptives provide millions of women with opportunities to control their reproductive lives and better control medical problems, what is the next step when the pill makes your existing problems worse? A second visit to my doctor turned up little results beyond suggestions that I should try a different brand of contraceptives. I was skeptical of a second attempt; the first time I tried them, my period hit during finals and landed me in bed for a whole day when I needed to be studying. Did I have the willpower to try again? What if the next time would be even worse?
At this point in my life, I’ve decided to put the birth control dilemma on hold for the time being. As I search for answers about how to make my periods more manageable, the only answers I get are related to hormonal contraceptives like the pill that exacerbate my problems. As if my medical problems weren’t bad enough already, I simply don’t have the endurance to put my body through different medications for months on end until I find one that has the possibility of working. Not to mention the fact that the only non-invasive contraceptive option for me has now been eliminated since my body can’t handle the side effects of taking it. When the pill has been upheld as the universal solution for women’s reproductive issues, women who are adversely affected are left to deal with their problems alone and without options.
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