Ahhh, so THAT'S why I was fat and libidoless!
Message to all women of child-bearing age: Birth control may be turning you into an unhappy blob!
I got on the pill when I was 18, and was on it nearly 10 years. I got out of a long-term relationship and decided to kick the hormone habit in April 2005 just to see what would happen. Last October, after being off the pill for just 6 months, I quickly lost more than 10 pounds by cutting sugar out of my diet. It was easy. It was those last few pounds that had crept on slowly since high school, and would not come off no matter how much I starved. I ended up weighing less than I did as captain of the swim team! Less than my driver's license which hasn't been true since I was 16. At the time I thought it was the diet, my schedule, my new willpower.
And, my sex drive skyrocketed. I attributed it to being single and wanting to mingle and loving my new body, all of which probably added to it. But this April, I met a good guy and decided to get back on the pill. Within a month my appetite increased. I tried to remember what it was like eating my old healthy ways, but I just could not control myself. After dinner I needed popcorn, wine, whatever, I seemed to just need to stuff my face. Even if it was with healthy food. I thought maybe it was the change in surroundings, traveling, whatever. But then I noticed I was starting to get bored with my new dude, and it all came together. It's that damn pill.
I did some research online, and found out that the estrogen and progesterone in the pill bind together in the body and somehow block our natural testosterone which gives us a healthy sex drive. There: proven research! I'd never known. And no doctor had ever told me. I'd almost convinced myself years ago that I just wasn't that horny.
The birth control patch, I found out, may be better for horniness because the hormones are not injested and therefore don't go through the liver. But, no guarantees.
The estrogen/progersterone combo in most pills is the most popular way to prevent babies, I guess. It helps with mood swings, cramps and even clears skin. Some of my friends have had problems with it affecting their moods and emotions.
I looked into other forms of birth control and nothing is perfect. The depo shot almost guarantees weight gain. The IUD might be great later in life, but doctors usually put it in after childbirth. There are progesterone-only pills, but the side effects like cramping are actually worsened. Plus everything ups the chances of certain types of cancer, blood clots, etc.
As far as weight gain, my doctor told me that there's no proof that birth control pills make you gain weight, and that in Europe, these conclusions are not as common. So, it's us fat Americans I guess. But, the research done on my very own body over 10 years shows me that this is what happens to me. I am not willing to go through it again, and I have come to think that hormones are best off left how nature intended and I am done! I've sworn off injesting hormones from beef and chicken and pork as well. I have been off the pill again for almost two months, and have lost the weight I put on. Psychosomatic? Whatever. It works. I am going back to the basics, and made an appointment to get a diaphragm.
I got on the pill when I was 18, and was on it nearly 10 years. I got out of a long-term relationship and decided to kick the hormone habit in April 2005 just to see what would happen. Last October, after being off the pill for just 6 months, I quickly lost more than 10 pounds by cutting sugar out of my diet. It was easy. It was those last few pounds that had crept on slowly since high school, and would not come off no matter how much I starved. I ended up weighing less than I did as captain of the swim team! Less than my driver's license which hasn't been true since I was 16. At the time I thought it was the diet, my schedule, my new willpower.
And, my sex drive skyrocketed. I attributed it to being single and wanting to mingle and loving my new body, all of which probably added to it. But this April, I met a good guy and decided to get back on the pill. Within a month my appetite increased. I tried to remember what it was like eating my old healthy ways, but I just could not control myself. After dinner I needed popcorn, wine, whatever, I seemed to just need to stuff my face. Even if it was with healthy food. I thought maybe it was the change in surroundings, traveling, whatever. But then I noticed I was starting to get bored with my new dude, and it all came together. It's that damn pill.
I did some research online, and found out that the estrogen and progesterone in the pill bind together in the body and somehow block our natural testosterone which gives us a healthy sex drive. There: proven research! I'd never known. And no doctor had ever told me. I'd almost convinced myself years ago that I just wasn't that horny.
The birth control patch, I found out, may be better for horniness because the hormones are not injested and therefore don't go through the liver. But, no guarantees.
The estrogen/progersterone combo in most pills is the most popular way to prevent babies, I guess. It helps with mood swings, cramps and even clears skin. Some of my friends have had problems with it affecting their moods and emotions.
I looked into other forms of birth control and nothing is perfect. The depo shot almost guarantees weight gain. The IUD might be great later in life, but doctors usually put it in after childbirth. There are progesterone-only pills, but the side effects like cramping are actually worsened. Plus everything ups the chances of certain types of cancer, blood clots, etc.
As far as weight gain, my doctor told me that there's no proof that birth control pills make you gain weight, and that in Europe, these conclusions are not as common. So, it's us fat Americans I guess. But, the research done on my very own body over 10 years shows me that this is what happens to me. I am not willing to go through it again, and I have come to think that hormones are best off left how nature intended and I am done! I've sworn off injesting hormones from beef and chicken and pork as well. I have been off the pill again for almost two months, and have lost the weight I put on. Psychosomatic? Whatever. It works. I am going back to the basics, and made an appointment to get a diaphragm.
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