By LESLIE WILLSON
Columnist
As most of you know, birth control is a contraceptive that can prevent pregnancy. A lot of girls are on it, but not always for the reason you may think.
Personally, I started taking it a year or so ago, and yes, while it may help prevent children for those who are not ready for them. Birth control has other benefits as well. It can reduce acne, reduce or prevent cysts in breasts and ovaries, reduce your chance of ovarian cancer, infections in feminine organs, reduce anemia, and help with pains concerning menstrual cycles.
I was having extreme problems with menstral pain, and after going to the doctor, I realized I had other issues like polycystic ovary syndrome, and endometriosis, and one of the first steps they recommended was to start taking birth control. It helped reduce the pain, regulated my cycle, and helps manage some of the other symptoms. This was all news to me. Being religious, birth control is something frowned upon and looked at negatively. Mostly, because people think you’re only taking it to have intercourse, and prevent babies, but they are uniformed of the other benefits behind it.
I can honestly say taking birth control has changed my life for the better. There were times when my pain was unbearable. I wouldn’t be able to go to school, and sometimes it would make me physically ill, and unable to get out of bed, but since starting it, I don’t have those problems anymore. I can focus on my school work more, and not have to stress about how bad it will get this time, or having to call into work, or cancel plans. Right now, for most states, in order to get birth control, you have to have a prescription. There is talk about whether this is right, or should be something people should be able to purchase on their own. At first, I thought it should be something anyone could get it, at anytime, whenever they needed it, but now, I feel differently. After going to the doctor, hearing about all the different kinds, different perscriptions, and different ways of getting it, I think it’s safest to go through a doctor and get a prescription. I understand that people take it for different things, and not everyone would want to go through a doctor sometimes, but there are so many different kinds, with different effects, how could you ever know exactly which one you should take without the help of a professional?
You could waste money and do trial and error buys, trying different ones until you got one you liked and worked best, or you can go to a doctor who knows the differences between them, and be on the right track a lot sooner. I would of never known where to begin if I didn’t have help. And I understand that religious parents may be against it, while their kids may think differently and want to try it. That is hard.
There is a lot of controversy concerning this subject, and there’s always two sides to every story. It’s hard to have an opinion, when both sides have good points. For me, birth control helped me so much. I don’t know where I would be without it. If you’re considering it, inform your parents, see a doctor, and go from there. It could help you in more ways than you think.