By Aubrie Smith, Copy Editor.
My parents are old, and because of this, birth control was never talked about in my household. Sex was never talked about. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school, after having been in a serious relationship for over a year, that my mom decided to bring up the topic. And, let’s face it, a lot of people are having sex in high school before their senior year. That includes me.
However, because I was a minor, there was nothing I could do but be widely unprepared for the event. Sure, I was aware of Planned Parenthood, but what 16 year-old girl is going to walk in there alone? Certainly not the insecure person that I was.
Instead, I relied on condoms to get me by. And, thankfully, they worked. However, just relying on condoms never seemed to ease my worry. So, senior year coming to a close, I finally headed to a doctor.
For my first birth control experience, I chose Depo-Provera, or more commonly known as “The Shot.” The Depo Shot is an injection given every three months. Like other birth controls, it injects hormones into your body that will, without getting too science-y, help you not get pregnant.
After a year or so on the shot, and experiencing some pretty intense side effects, including weight gain, headaches and intense puberty-like acne, I decided to switch to the pill. And, here I sit, forgetting to take it at least twice a week.
The pill had very good effects on my body. It helped me lose weight, increased my sex drive, cleared up my skin, and gave me regular, lighter periods. However, I am absolutely awful at taking a scheduled pill every day. This became a problem for me over the years, and I’m just now looking forward to switching to a longer lasting birth control.
My point? Birth control affects everyone differently, and the method that you choose has to fit you the best personally. However, birth control allows you to explore your sexual wants freely, without worry. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, consult your doctor, or even hit up a free clinic. All of these places will have answers to questions you didn’t even realize you had.
Please remember that no birth control option is 100% effective, and they also do not help protect against STI’s. However, protecting yourself against pregnancy is always a good idea until you’re sure you want to start a family!
We’ve all seen 16 and pregnant. We all know teens who have kids. I’m sure we’ve all either seen ’16 and Pregnant’ or actually know someone who was 16 and pregnant, but we also all know people who choose not to have kids until 40, or not at all. I tend to fall more into the category of not wanting children until the age of 30. School is my baby right now, and I know I am in no way ready to take on the responsibility that comes with bringing another human into the world.
By Josie Dudek, Copy Editor.
My parents are old and I’m their first child, so the topic of sex was something they decided to turn a blind eye to. My mom briefly brought up the topic once, but in a very awkward, unapproachable way, and then it was never talked about again. Reproductive health in general is not something my parents ever cared to mention. We had an unspoken “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule in our house, and it wasn’t until this past year, when I was 19, that reproductive health became a topic that couldn’t be avoided anymore.
I had always had irregular periods, but never really thought there was an actual problem, I just was a person with irregular cycles is all. As time went on, I started getting cramps in my abdomen, which were comparable to period cramps. Then, I started getting unbearable abdominal cramps which would sometimes result in me puking they hurt so bad. I decided it was time to go to the doctor. My mom still wasn’t very approachable on the topic, but I was in constant pain and felt it was time to seek help.
After months of multiple doctor’s appointments, it was finally found that I had a dermoid cyst on my ovary which was twisting and cutting of blood-flow, which ultimately caused me the immense pain. Once it was found, I had surgery to get it removed, which resulted in complications, which resulted in almost dying and having emergency surgery, which turned into a long 3-month recovery process. Now, 4 months after my surgery, I am still technically in recovery, and not able to partake in any birth control methods other than condoms.
Since I am unable to rely on more cautionary birth control methods, such as the pill or the shot, I have to be extremely careful when partaking in sexual activity. Being in a long-term relationship, my boyfriend has been there with me from well before my surgery, to well after, which is extremely helpful in the openness of our sexual relationship. The most important part of sexual/reproductive health, is communication with each sexual partner you have.
Special situations happen when different birth control methods can not be used, such as latex allergies with condoms, allergic reactions to the shot and much more, just make sure you are aware of your body and your health. I cannot stress how imperative it is to have regular check-ups with your doctor/OB-GYN. Even what seems to be the smallest thing can have an affect on your sexual/reproductive health and it is crucial to catch any problems early
