When I got the birth control implant, I had already been experimenting with different birth control methods like the pill and progesterone shots. I was about 15 when I got my period and along with it, completely debilitating cramps. I would lay in bed for hours and when I tried to move, I wouldn’t be able to do anything but think about how much pain I was in. My mother and I went to the doctor who decided I should go on the pill to help me regulate my period.
I took the pill for about three months and during that time, I experienced severe headaches and continued stomach pain. The doctor said some side effects were normal and I should wait it out. So I kept on it for another month...with continued pain. I was fed up with my original doctor and they were not helping me find a solution. But I can’t blame them, since they were my physician and not an OB-GYN. My frustrations stemmed from the fact that all I wanted was to be able to go out with my friends and not worry that I would scream out from the pain in my uterus or stomach.
My mom made an appointment with the OB-GYN to talk about alternative forms of birth control and I was excited that there might finally be an end in sight. I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for and I knew I wanted to understand whatever the doctor would say so I researched. I googled the planned parenthood website and found a list of alternative birth controls that would also regulate or even stop my periods. Progesterone, implant, IUD, and even more popped up. I continued searching for reviews, horror stories, and side effects of each. Terrifying information came up with the click of a button and I wanted to run. While the planned parenthood website was helpful, others like thepillkills.com were offensive and made me afraid for the appointment.
When I walked into the OB-GYN’s office, there were several pregnant women around me and a couple uncomfortable men sitting around waiting. I was the youngest person there by far and I was excruciatingly aware of that. I started panicking and thought about the horror stories of teenagers who were accidentally sterilized by birth control. They called my name. When you think you’re about to lose a future you have always imagined, spiraling is the appropriate response in my opinion. But I fought onward, as my mom was not letting me cancel this and continue to whine to her.
The assistant who came to talk to me before was very kind and calmed a lot of my fears by addressing the misconceptions about birth control head on. I realized that the political issue of insurance covering birth control had covered the Internet with these stories to scare children and parents out of receiving the care they need or want. Moreover, the assistant clarified that they schedule pregnant women for 3-4 days per week and I had come on a particularly busy one, so the proportion of girls like me and pregnant women was a little skewed.
I had been duped and I did not appreciate it. This is partially where my involvement with feminism and women’s rights began. But when the doctor came in and explained the pros and cons of each of my birth control options along with a recommendation based on my age, sexual activity, and previous children (having had none, the IUD would be more painful to insert), I was finally feeling comfortable with getting birth control for myself for reasons that were important to me. The doctor advised I go with the implant or progesterone shots. I went for the shots because the idea of having something inserted into my arm was not appealing.
The progesterone shots were great for about two years. I went in every 3 months and got a shot in my lower hip to avoid the painful cramping and stomach pains. Of course I was sore after and a bit of an emotional wreck from the injections but it helped me manage while in high school. It caused me to gain a bit of weight though and once I was heading to college, I figured I should find a longer term solution.
I went back to the doctor and asked about the implant, an option that lasts for 3 years instead of 3 months. She explained the procedure to implant, how big it is, what it does, and the side effects very thoroughly and it was a good fit. I scheduled a date for the actual implantation and got my last ever shot! I was done with the progesterone and moving on to more permanent solutions that fit my life.
When I went in to get the implant placed, it was done by a woman who was being trained to become a certified Implanon (the brand of implant) nurse. She did a great job but there were several other people in the room to assure it was done correctly and it took a slightly longer time than average. She asked the already-certified doctor about strategies and it was interesting to hear them talk about the typical nerves of a woman receiving the implant. They numbed my upper arm, cut a small opening and inserted an inch and a half long device that would release a similar drug to Progesterone over 3 years. It bruised pretty well after I had it implanted but after the bruise faded, it was easy to forget. I do have a small scar from the cut but it is unnoticeable to anyone who I haven’t pointed it out to. It’s been about 5 months since I had the implant and I haven’t had any ill-effects.
What the Implanon implant looks like after insertion
I would highly recommend the implant to anyone looking for a long-term form of birth control since it is easily reversible and when removing after 3 years, it is easy to implant another if requested. Having a good relationship with my mother, honesty with my doctor and minimizing my internet usage for medical advice allowed me to find a solution to the unbearable cramping and pain I experienced before. Do not allow the world around you to politicize the choices that work for you and your body. Birth control choices are no one else’s business but your own. Be safe!
