I came across an interesting story in the news the other day regarding a decrease in people taking the oral contraceptive pill.
Oh wait, that’s what the headline meant to imply, but mainly it was a commentary on the social media posts of people deciding not to take the pill.
And the top comment really struck me. It was by Teresa* (not her real name)
Listen to me read the blog here!
“I never thought I would see the day when women would choose not to use medical contraception. I come from a generation where there was no contraception and your choices were abstain or get pregnant.”
Now, there is a lot to unpack in all of the above, but let me just say to the commenter: I hear you, and I understand you. But isn’t it utterly wonderful that you are here to see the day where women have more than just those two choices?
So let’s start the unpacking . . .
Some content creators are talking about going off the pill, and of course, if content creators are talking about it, then it’s an issue we need to address, right?
According to the Voices in the article (they get a capital V because they are doctors and professionals), social media and its “information and disinformation” is to blame; however, I’m going to reference the printing press from my last post, which allowed for the religious writings to be published in the language of the masses; therefore, the masses were finally able to read the writings of the bible (which were previously only in Latin). So, social media is the new printing press, and information is now in the language of the masses, some right and some wrong, deal with it.
And what is being classified as “disinformation” are a person’s own experiences using the contraceptive pill.
But it’s on TikTok, so, you know, an untrustworthy source. So what do trustworthy sources say?
“Doctors say that if women have a poor experience on one pill – for instance, low mood, associated with progesterone, or breast tenderness, associated with oestrogen – trying another pill or form of composition is likely to help.”
Oh, and, one doctor even said, “Oftentimes, women won’t have an issue with the second pill they try.”
Ah, well, that put me in my place. Sure, ok. You tell me what to do, Doc. Spin the wheel of contraceptive pills. . . And if the first and second don’t work, I dunno, I might just stop asking for another pill because going through this process of side effects just isn’t fun for me.
Maybe that’s why “the second pill” works – we’ve realised that the doctor’s aren’t really listening to us so we go to a different doctor or, gasp! Decide to stop taking the pill?
Do you know what I think it means . . . this “decline” in hormonal contraception?
I think it means that these menstruaters are increasing their knowledge – or want to increase their knowledge – in what their body is doing during their cycle. And deciding to listen to their body. And choosing another form of contraception.
Like don’t you want to know why on certain days you feel like you can climb a mountain, and others you want to build a cave with your duvet and only come out to pee or make popcorn? What hormones are stronger on certain days, and give you the power to make plans to build a chicken coop in your garden? And when during your cycle are you likely to eat a whole pack of Double Deckers because nothing is going right?
Well, never mind those hormones, ladies, here is a magic bean that you can take to prevent pregnancy! You can plan when you want to get pregnant. And of course there are some side effects, but the positives are that you can control those hormones to fit into society. Plus, nobody likes it when you are in your cave period, so this will help us with that. And maybe you won’t feel like you can climb a mountain anymore – but at least you can make it up that hill, right?
And if this magic bean doesn’t work, we have others – magic beans all the colour of the rainbow.
This is what I call my “using a sledgehammer” theory. And I will refer to this theory in later posts (especially when I talk about epidurals).
When Teresa had only two choices – abstain or get pregnant – the pill truly was a lifeline. On top of all the stresses in Teresa’s life, this magic bean (and whatever side effects she suffered) allowed Teresa to take control of something.
And now, Teresa’s kids and grandkids (if she chose to have them – kids, I mean. Grandkids are not something she could choose to have) can look back and say, “Yes, at the time, the sledgehammer was the only tool available. But now . . . how about we look for other tools? I mean, yes, the sledgehammer really did get that nail where we needed it to go, but look at the dent it made in the wall. Maybe we can find other options?”
And do you know what a really good option is – knowledge.
Back to the article – what did the women say when the author contacted them? (voices with a lowercase v)
“While the pill is physically safe, women feel that there is not enough research on or understanding of its mental health impact.”
and
“There seems to be a sense in which women are further alienated from hormonal contraception when they feel the health system is not listening to their concerns about it.”
[ok, sorry, just have to step in here and talk to the author of the article. Hey, how are you? How are things? Thank you for the article, but what??? There seeeeems to be? And a “sense”? Seriously? I would suggest a rewrite of the sentence above: The health system further alienates women by not listening to their concerns regarding hormonal conception. Simple. K, bye.]
Hi, I’m back. Ok, and here is where the article talks about the role of social media:
“Young women … See that it individualised discussion of hormonal contraception to particular women’s experience – and they saw this as a positive.”
and
“… social media has given women both information and education.”
and
“I feel like the generation before us were very accepting because they didn’t have that access to information online. They thought, ‘if the doctors say so, it must be right, and we’ll just go by that.’ I think we’re very much a generation who asks questions.”
YES!!!!
See, Teresa, see??? Isn’t it wonderful that you can see this day?
I think that is where I will drop the mic for today.
Add comment
Comments