I’ve had a Nexplanon implant since I was 19, before I was even sexually active. I made the decision to have it removed about six months ago, mainly to see if it was affecting my libido in any way. My secondary reason was that I wanted to experience a time when my adult body was not on birth control.
I still need a birth control method because I am not planning on getting pregnant anytime soon. My primary need for birth control is as contraception, rather than for any other health needs.
I loved my Nexplanon implant, but it’s time for me to try a new method. I decided to have my Nexplanon removed and have now been birth-control-free for about 6 months. I have never really experimented to find other types of birth control that may work best for me, and I can’t believe that I’ve left it until my late 20s to explore this.
Birth Control Methods I’ve Already Tried
The Nexplanon implant was my main form of birth control for over eight years. Before that, there was a brief stint of a few months during which I took the pill in an attempt to control my acne. I actually can’t remember the name of the brand that I had!
I don’t recall having any negative effects from the pill, but I do remember being nonchalant about taking it regularly. At that time I didn’t need it as contraception because I wasn’t having sex, so keeping myself honest about it was hard.
I don’t know why but I feel weirdly self-conscious about not having tried more methods. I realize that most of my birth control decisions have been made quickly and without a second thought. I’ve never evaluated my birth control needs in-depth, but I’m excited to do it now.
My Current Preferences and Things to Consider
Even though I haven’t tried that many methods of birth control, I have some firm opinions on what I do and don’t like. I also make it a point to ask my female friends about the methods that they use and to talk openly with them to help educate myself.
I Hate Condoms
Look, I am vehemently pro-condom. Condoms are essential as a contraceptive measure and to protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Condoms are GREAT and everyone should use them.
I also hate condoms.
Or rather, I hate the disruption of intimacy that is caused by going to fetch and put on a condom. It’s certainly doable and not a big deal at all, but it is a little more tricky to keep that sexy energy going with an extended pause.
In a committed long-term relationship, a perk is that you get to toss condoms aside! Of course, if both parties are comfortable doing so. We are, so I will be looking to oust those ASAP.
I am Done with LARC Methods
LARC stands for Long-Acting Reversible Contraception. These are methods of birth control that last a long time, even up to a decade. Remaining baby-free for the next 5-10 years sounded great to me when I was 19. Now, having a family might be within a 5-10 year time frame and I don’t want such a long-term method.
Okay, the logical reasons are out of the way. Now for the emotional ones. It’s a small sample size, but my friends who have an IUD said the insertion was the worst pain they’ve felt in their life. My only friend who did have a positive experience had the IUD inserted while under anesthesia because she also had to have a cyst removed.
Rational or not, listening to these stories was enough to put me off the IUD indefinitely. And since I’ve already tried the implant, which is another LARC method, that’s off the table by default.
I Hate Injections
I’m a grown-up and I have conditioned myself to take injections on the chin with minimal fuss. However, it is always an ordeal. I dig my fingernails into the palm of my hand to create just enough pain to distract me from the injection itself.
Currently, I get my flu jab once a year and that’s enough injections per year for me. I’m not overly enticed by the notion of being injected once every three months. This option means that I have to go to a physical location to receive said injection once every three months, which would be a figurative and literal pain in the butt.
I’d Love To Clear Up My Acne For Good
My acne has been an ongoing saga ever since my teen years. I started my period at age 11, the other physical signs of puberty came marching in, and with them moderate acne. My acne has never been severe but it has been constant and unrelenting.
I’ve tried every acne pill under the sun except for Accutane. That’s because when I had a dermatology consultation for it at age 17, I was scared by the list of potential effects.
In my 20s my skin has calmed down a bit, though I still have acne on my upper back and shoulders that I’m very self-conscious about. My face has mostly cleared up but I do still get some lingering acne from time to time. I would love for it to go away for good. I’ve made my peace with my skin, but if there was a miracle birth control out there that could give me that glowing face I’ve always wanted, that would be just lovely.
Researching Possible New Methods
I would say there are three types of research influencing my decision-making:
- Anecdotal research from women that I know.
- Online research and what I can learn from books on birth control
- Advice from my gynecologist.
This may seem like an odd order to list the research sources. It would make the most sense for me to value the advice from my gynecologist first. But to be honest, I value the real stories of the women I know above all else.
After Googling, reading blogs, and researching, I am curious about trying the patch or the NuvaRing. I’m very open to the birth control pill, but that opens up a whole new can of worms. Then I’m going to start on a journey of experimenting with different brands of pills, of which there are a bazillion. But maybe it’ll be worth it.
Thinking About Side Effects
My perspective on side effects has shifted significantly since I read the book “This Is Your Brain on Birth Control” by Sarah E. Hill PhD. She states that the idea that there are main effects and side effects is an illusion, as well as a clever marketing trick. There are no such things as main effects and side effects, there are only effects.
One effect of birth control is that it stops you from getting pregnant. Another effect might be that it causes you to bleed more. Another effect may be that it reduces your acne. They are all happening equally to you, just some of the effects are desired and some of them are not desired.
If we started calling a birth control pill an acne pill and said that it had a side effect preventing you from getting pregnant, that’s just as valid as saying it the other way around.
I know there will be effects other than the one that I want from my birth control and I am prepared to accept those additional effects to avoid being pregnant. I am committed to monitoring my behavior and my health while on birth control and making changes or adjusting as needed.
Discussing Birth Control Options With My Boyfriend
It occurs to me as I write this that I want to talk about it (more than I already have) with my boyfriend C. I text him “Can I interview you tonight about some birth control questions?”
He replies “Absolutely!”
I know that he will support me no matter what I choose. On one level I feel that this decision is personal and should be guided by my needs alone. On another level, I recognize that decisions about my health impact him too and I would like to talk it over with him before making a decision.
We talked about birth control when we first met but it was a non-issue. I explained that I had Nexplanon and it had an extremely high efficacy rate. If we had talked about it for more than a few minutes, I would be surprised.
Here’s how the conversation went:
Me: As you know, I’m in the market for a new birth control method. I want to get a sense of your preferences. Let’s start with, what are some of the birth control methods you’re aware of?
C: I’m aware of the pill, as I know lots of friends who have taken it. The major downside is that you have to remember to take it every day. I’m aware of the implant because you had it. Let’s see, the IUD…the patch…the patch to me seems more likely to come off or inhibit your everyday behavior. That’s my thoughts on those, I’m sure I’m aware of others…
Me: Right so there’s the injection, there’s the Nuva ring…
C: Right I kind of lump the ring in with the IUD
Me: Would you say that for stuff you place on the body, you would trust the efficacy less?
C: Not inherently but more like user error, like with condoms, as they’re easier to mess up.
Me: Yeah so aside from the ones that you think would be a good fit for me, are there other forms of birth control that you don’t want me to take or have concerns about?
C: Um abstinence…very effective but wouldn’t be a fan of that.
(laughter and pause)
Me: So…where I’m going with this is that some partners might say ‘the pill leaves room for user error’ or ‘the patch leaves room for user error’ so I would prefer a method that is like a ‘set it and forget it’. Some partners might say that.
C: Right. Yeah, well I have no preferences when it comes to birth control because it’s not me and no part of me thinks I am owed any input in that regard. My opinions are purely based on what you would feel the most comfortable doing and what’s best for your body. If you don’t want anything IN your body I’m 100% team pill. If you would rather have it done once and don’t want to have to think about it, whatever you want to do.
Me: Do you feel like you’re owed a conversation about it with your partner? Like if I came to you and said hey babe, I’m getting this one, just FYI, or do want to be asked your preferences?
C: Owed? No, I wouldn’t use that word. I would be happy to be involved in any conversation because I’d like to be there to support you. I wouldn’t say I feel owed in any way at all.
Me: Yeah. This is all great stuff! Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it a lot and I want to try a new method that’s not, like, an implant because I’ve had that for so many years. I’d be curious to try the patch but I have reservations about it. I don’t want the injection…
C: Yeah that seems like too much work. I remembered a thought I had just now which was that I only would feel I was owed some input if it was something that would affect me, not even asking my opinion but like if you wanted to go off birth control entirely that’s obviously something I need to be informed of so we can use condoms. But if your choice is to be on birth control, which specific one, I don’t have a preference.
Me: I’m open to the NuvaRing, but again I feel like there’s room for error I’m just not sure. I’d be open to the pill too, but I kind of want to do my own research on it. I am experimenting but I want at least a solid idea of what I want in the beginning.
C: Yeah like you’ll see what works for you. For all of them, there’s a certain percentage of people who will experience side effects and you won’t know how it’ll affect you until you try it.
Me: Yeah I like the idea of having something that I can just stop at any time if I want to. Like… of all my friends who have the IUD I have not heard a positive story. Everyone has a horror insertion story.
C: Right like I would think that the pill is the easiest option for that exact reason. It’s easy to switch, it’s easy to cut off at any time… you have total control. It’s not something that’s in you that you can’t get out.
Me: And I took the pill before I was sexually active but it was more for acne control.
C: Yeah I took a pill for acne too… called Accutane.
(C is a big fan of Accutane. I remind him that women who take Accutane also have to take the pill or birth control. Because it causes severe birth defects etc…)
We wrap the conversation up there. It was great to just talk out my options with someone I trust.
My Final Decision
After writing this and thinking about it even more over the past few weeks, I am set that I want to try a new birth control pill.
I want to have a final consultation with my gynecologist to inform them of my plan and check that this is a good idea for me. I have a brand in mind but will see what their recommendation is for me.
I would love your expertise & experiences in the comments! Talking to my friends about their personal birth control experiences has been the most helpful thing in my search. Let’s talk, share, and help each other!
I would love your expertise & experiences in the comments! Talking to my friends about their personal birth control experiences has been the most helpful thing in my search. Let’s talk, share, and help each other!
