Article author: Lucie, Femvie ambassador
I started taking hormonal contraception in high school; all my friends were taking it and it seemed like the best solution to my problems. Suddenly I didn't have so much menstrual pain, I wasn't afraid of unwanted pregnancy during my studies and the gynecologist spoke very well about it. Although in retrospect I realize that she never explained to me how hormonal contraception actually works.
"I wanted to learn to work with my cycle and live in harmony with it."
When I stopped taking birth control after six years, I swore I would never take it again. I was thinking about all the risks and it scared me. I was shocked by how many women voluntarily suppress their bodies' natural processes without realizing how hormonal contraception works. Many of them may not even realize that bleeding while taking hormonal contraception is not a real period, but a so-called pseudomenstruation. – bleeding caused by a drop in hormones.
After quitting, I wanted to learn to work with my cycle and live in harmony with it. I enjoyed finding out more and more about the possibilities of giving my body the best care possible. But the months passed and the problems with my cycle continued to worsen despite my efforts. I didn't know what I was doing wrong. And what's worse, even the doctors couldn't answer the question of what was happening to me and why I was suffering so much. The only solutions suggested were hormonal contraception again, or pregnancy. I didn't want either, I wanted to understand my body, not silence it again. After a very long and exhausting journey full of trivialization, the cause finally became apparent - endometriosis .
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Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterine cavity. The misplaced tissue, like the lining of the uterus, grows and thickens during the menstrual cycle. This triggers an inflammatory response and often leads to uncomfortable symptoms, including chronic pelvic pain. Endometriosis is currently a disease for which there is no cure. Treatment therefore consists of suppressing the symptoms of the disease and improving the quality of life of the woman. |
After my first laparoscopy, I started a strict regimen that I put my full trust in. I turned down the offer of hormone therapy; I believed that if I gave my body everything it needed, it would start to heal.
My second laparoscopy was aimed at removing all the deposits, I saw it as my stepping stone. Everything bad will be gone, I will take care of myself as best I can, it will definitely get better...
"My first period came after the surgery and it was a massacre."
But in the end, everything turned out differently. Some of the deposits could not be removed, the recovery was extremely difficult, I had a very limited, residue-free diet for a month after the intestinal resection and my anxiety returned. I collapsed like a house of cards. I took gestagenic hormonal treatment with me from the hospital. At first, I was reluctant to start it, but in the end, on the doctor's recommendation, I agreed. I only lasted a week on it, I was terribly sick to my stomach. After this experience, I didn't want to put anything else in me.
But then came the first period after the surgery and it was a massacre again. I believed that after removing most of the deposits everything would get better. But it was perhaps even worse than before the procedure . And the worst part of it all was that from this one period a large endometrioma formed on my ovary.
"I felt like I had failed, that I simply couldn't help myself."
I was going through a big horror. At the endo center, I heard a prognosis that scared me so much that I agreed to another hormonal treatment. This time, the classic pill, used in a continuous regimen.
At first, I felt like I had failed, that I simply couldn't help myself. But at the same time, for the first time, I fully acknowledged the power of this disease and began to look at it from a different perspective. I felt stronger because I was able to open myself up to other treatment options. And with that came a new hope that maybe things would finally get better.
The pills ended up making my sensitive digestion even worse. But I ended up using the vaginal ring , which is also a combined form of hormonal contraception. I've been on this treatment for a year now and during that time I've realized that hormonal contraception should definitely have its rightful place in pharmacies, but as a treatment. I don't agree with how it is commonly prescribed without sufficient explanation. I find it worrying that so many women take the pill every day without knowing how it works or what risks it carries.
Personally, I have come to the conclusion that before using any medication, I have to weigh the benefits and possible risks . In the case of endometriosis, hormonal contraception is currently the lesser evil for me than endometriosis itself. This may change over time, but at the moment this is the path that makes the most sense to me.
And why am I writing to you about this? Because I think that more information should be provided about hormonal contraception so that users take it consciously .
This article is based on the author's personal experience and does not constitute medical advice. If you are dealing with similar problems, please consult a qualified healthcare professional. Every body is different and needs an individual approach.
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