I just thought that I want to share my own birth control experience. It’s a frequently talked about topic as general awareness sense, but as I talk to my own friends, I find few of us are using birth control methods.

I also often hear stories of messed up periods or hormones after taking the injection and Implanon methods.

A quick disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, so please seek your doctor’s advice.

Moving on. As I talk to my friends who have had an ‘accident’ pregnancy, and I asked them about Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCP). A lot of them gave this excuse of fearing forgetting to take their pills. And of course, they don’t want the ‘side effects’ of the other birth control methods.

I get it. Birth control sucks. It’s tricky to choose one. Especially if you are breastfeeding or you have other conditions.

I once took an OCP that severely impacted my mood swings. Luckily I noticed it and quickly got off it. However, I have used this brand called Loette, and it works wonders for me. I don’t experience any negative side effects, no weight gain, no mood swings, nothing. Probably a little bit of vaginal dryness but with a good diet and supplements, it’s easily overcome.

The beauty of using OCP is, there is no long-term side effect. You can stop using it, and your period will adjust back to normal immediately or in 1-3 months (realistically). Unlike injections and Implanon, it may take about a year to get back to your normal fertility rate.

My tips on taking OCP:

1. Take it on the same day every day. Ideally place it in a visible place, easily accessible to you.
2. I like to place mine on my bedside. I will always have a bottle of water -or you can learn to swallow the pills without water. The pills are very small.
3. The pills are individually labelled with days of the week, so you’ll know whether you’ve taken the pill, in case you forget.
4. If you miss one, don’t panic. Just take it ASAP even if it means taking 2 pills a day.
5. Track your period and intercourses. I use Apple Health apps. Easy and basic. That way, you can clear yourself of any doubts if any should arise.
6. If you find yourself missing atleast to 2 days of pills in a row or in short period, make sure to use backup contraception as that is considered unsafe. There may be escape ovulation If you already had intercourse during unsafe periods, just take the emergency pill.

So far, I have managed to prevent unwanted pregnancy during the first 2 years after I was married. (I got pregnant in <2 months after I stopped taking OCP). Now, after 2 kids, I’ve successfully prevented pregnancy for 5 years.

I don’t know about you. But I personally do not want any unwanted pregnancy -having remorse when seeing that double lines. Don’t do it to yourself, or your unborn baby. It’s a gift to be able to plan your family.
It really saddens me to hear some of my friends and people I know, who regretted her pregnancy. They don’t want to get pregnant, yet won’t educate themselves to prevent it.

Also, a husband has no say about how you should be doing the contraceptive. A good husband should always respect you and your body. A husband who prevents birth control is a disrespectful husband to his wife, her body and her choices.

At the end of the day, when it comes to pregnancy, it is your body and you are subject to all the pain that comes with it. So, don’t ever give in to someone who won’t respect that.

There is no reason in the world you should get pregnant, except that you, YOU want it yourself. Not even your mom, your friends and even your own husband should be allowed to pressure you into getting pregnant if that is not your wish.

I guess my point is, take contraceptives, get educated. Newborns deserve to be born in a place where they are truly wanted and be unconditionally loved. 💛