How old were you when you first started taking hormonal birth control? And why did you start?

Mrs_Drgree · 2022-08-06T14:31:53+00:00

Removed for off topic

Marzipan-Happy · 2022-08-06T05:25:16+00:00

14, because my periods were so heavy that I was severely anemic. After about two months on it, I was finally normal.

87AudreyHorne · 2022-08-06T05:32:36+00:00

I never did, the idea of taking hormones really freaked me out and it seems like too much investment to have to take it daily all the time just for sex. I prefer that my boyfriend just uses a condom and IUD is a more solid option moving forward. And I like oral sex more anyway

It certainly makes no sense to be on the pill when you only have sex semi-regularly, keeping in mind it's a daily commitment. But I feel like many people assume girls are.

My periods are regular and painless, so i don't have the need from that side either.

Overall I just don't want to mess with my body or my mind, for some girls it affects weight, body shape, moods.. and I'm not going to play a guinea pig to see how it works for me. I'm happy to stay the way I am.

Novadina · 2022-08-06T05:59:46+00:00

When I was 13, because my period was so irregular (common when first getting it) that it could come at any time (like if my period ended one week earlier or 2 months) and so heavy I couldn’t actually attend school properly (if you have to constantly use the restroom every 30 minutes to change pads and are always having surprise accidents bleeding everywhere it doesn’t really work well with school) and I was anemic from blood loss. It was a godsend, I don’t see how I could keep going to school otherwise.

The ones with estrogen actually make me suicidal and makes my boobs hurt massively, so things weren’t great until I figured that out. Then I went to depo provera which has no estrogen and used it for like 15 years. Then my doctor said long term use can cause osteoporosis, so I tried some pills again and shortly remembered why I don’t do that, and so I tried the implant, which is supposed to be the same drug as the shot. But it made me have my period non stop for months on end, it was awful.

So then I just decided to stop using anything. I told my husband I was done using birth control and it was his turn to manage prevention, and I was ok with the risk of a pregnancy. He doesn’t want kids so he just started pulling out and it’s been working for us for years.

Boring-Repeat4530 · 2022-08-06T06:34:54+00:00

After I had my son at 23. Was only on them for about a year and then I had to stop all hormonal birth control of any kind. I started taking them cause I wasn't trying to get pregnant again and I thought it would be better than condoms

anon018274031 · 2022-08-06T11:13:00+00:00

16, to stop my period whilst on holidays.

It’s pretty common in the uk, plus it’s free and parents don’t need to be informed so its easily accesible

PicklesOnAPizza · 2022-08-06T11:39:02+00:00

I will never use it. I have always been very sensitive to medication and end up with a ton of side effects.

kalashhhhhhhh · 2022-08-06T12:54:45+00:00

20F, never, it's not that common in my country. My cycles are very regular and I just never felt the need to.

ohdiddly · 2022-08-06T11:45:45+00:00

When I was 16, because I had really painful period cramps and because I wanted to start having sex

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MovingLikeBroccoli · 2022-08-06T05:59:26+00:00

Never have, never will

EulenWatcher · 2022-08-06T06:19:05+00:00

Have never taken them, although was prescribed at some point due to some health issues. Later on the doctor advised me to avoid getting on the pill due to low weight + family history.

Still don't have any kids btw and don't want to have a bunch of them. Was on the fence about having any kids till this year.

Siukslinis_acc · 2022-08-06T06:22:27+00:00

Never took it.

I never had periods bad enough to need birth control. And i never had/seeked out sex. So i see no point in using it for no reason.

Lysa_Bell · 2022-08-06T06:48:39+00:00

I started hormonal birth control around 18. But I didn't take it too long. I tried some variations like nuva ring and stuff. I can't deal with hormonal birth control. So condoms it is until I can afford to get my tubes tied.

CruelAngelGradThesis · 2022-08-06T07:32:35+00:00

Not yet, but might have to start in the next year or so thanks to endometriosis.

Cephalan · 2022-08-06T07:43:27+00:00

I was on the depo shot from 18-22ish, because I was in a LTR and didn't want to use condoms, and I was on the pill from 25-29 for the same reason.

My partner has a vasectomy now, so I stopped. I feel better in general being off it, but I do miss being able to skip periods at will.

YaKnowEstacado · 2022-08-06T08:55:51+00:00

24 or 25. I was in a serious relationship and we had just moved in together and didn't want to use condoms anymore. I got the copper IUD first but that caused me a lot of problems so I got it removed and went on the pill.

AstronautLoveShack · 2022-08-06T09:00:13+00:00

I was 18. My mom made sure I was on it before I went off to college. I’d been with my high school boyfriend about a year at that point. I’ve used the pill, the ring, and I had an IUD for several years which was great because no periods. I had that removed maybe 10 years ago and haven’t really used anything since. My husband and I weren’t trying to have a kid, but we agreed that it would be okay if we did have one. It never happened which is also fine.

januaryphilosopher · 2022-08-06T09:19:15+00:00

I have not. The first time I was told I should, I was fourteen and years off even having sex, and it's happened multiple times since then, or been assumed that I did. It's really pushed on women and anyone who didn't have a strong objection like myself would presumably feel pressured enough to just take it.

Ainsleygz · 2022-08-06T10:17:29+00:00

I started at around the age of 14 because I was prescribed Accutane by my dermatologist. It can cause severe birth defects if one were to get pregnant on it so it was required to use two forms of birth control (in my case, one being the pill and the other being abstinence)

Katatonicsnake · 2022-08-06T10:47:37+00:00

I tried it when I was 13, to change my rhythm (because I had an important event ahead). Never taken it since, and I doubt anyone could convince me that sex was a good enough reason for that. Unless I was a sex worker, then it could be smart.

pinktuliplover · 2022-08-06T11:04:27+00:00

I don’t.

I almost did around age 14-15 because of my rough cycle, but my mother declined. Then I was pushed again by doctors around 17-18. I wasn’t interested. I was surprised how much they tried to pressure me into it. Such a red flag.

I never plan on taking it.

thetruthishere_ · 2022-08-06T12:11:35+00:00

In my 20's. I didnt want children. I was on it in my long terms.

Im on it now till I hit full menopause. While chances are very slim I can still technically get pregnant. Since I escort and a condom could break... Im not taking any chances.

hearyoume14 · 2022-08-06T12:25:06+00:00

I tried a few types for PMDD symptoms in my early 20s and they made me more suicidal.

I got at at 30 the rod now to stabilize my hormones and progesterone. If got pregnant I’d call the doctor and the Vatican because It would either be a miracle or demonic occurrence. I had an ablation so if my complete virginity (I don’t count my CSAs) and minuscule chance at becoming pregnant was overcame it would be a medical emergency.

literaryhogwartian · 2022-08-06T12:44:32+00:00

Bad period pain. Stopped at 32

kittenated · 2022-08-06T12:51:27+00:00

Late twenties. I was getting issues that resulted in irregular bleeding, so my dr told me birth control pills could sort it out. It worked great and never looked back since. I also don't want children, and my partner and I dislike the feel of condoms, so there's that too.

Kaylxx_sm · 2022-08-06T13:08:33+00:00

I was 18. My period was so all over the place it was derailing my life. I would get frequent ovariant cysts. 2 years and three surgeries later I got the endometriosis diagnosis. Its nice having some semblance of a normal life

ReferenceImpossible2 · 2022-08-06T13:17:39+00:00

Super fascinating responses here. Quick question for anybody kind enough to answer:

After taking birth control, have you noticed your libido change? Either short or long term?

Lyvicious · 2022-08-06T13:38:02+00:00

I was 24.

I had a doctor ask me if I wanted to be on the pill when I was 15. I said no thank you.

In college I decided on a copper IUD because I preferred to avoid hormones. After a few years the side effects became intolerable so I had it removed. In my next LTR I felt a bit meh about relying on condoms only with my boyfriend, so I decided to finally try the pill. Why? Because I don't want to get pregnant.

Well, it sucked for me so after 6 months we decided to stop. I was bleeding non-stop on it. I might try a different one later but I'm not looking forward to it.

MicrospathodonChrys · 2022-08-06T13:50:04+00:00

I started when I was 21. I had amenorrhea (no periods) before that for a couple of years…i was a collegiate athlete with very low body fat %, lost my period when i dropped below 130lb. When i quit my sport, i gained some weight back and with it came my periods and adult acne. Went on the pill for the acne. I didn’t start having sex at all till I’d been on the pill for about a year.

I didn’t have any side effects, but i also didn’t trust it as bc (it was easy to forget to take at the same time every day, especially while traveling which i do a lot of), and i was pathologically terrified of pregnancy. I got my first hormonal iud when i was maybe 26 and those are what I’ll continue to use.

just_a_jane_doe · 2022-08-06T14:00:11+00:00

I have PMDD where a couple days before menstruation, I would feel suicidal, would be anxious and cry, then I would get painful cramps and nausea (to the point of puking). But I have never considered BCP because I don't find it worth destroying my body, I would much rather put up with the menstrual symptoms than the pill side effects.

redditiasausagefest · 2022-08-06T14:32:39+00:00

Since 21 on and off. I have to take them because I have fibroids which cause periods so heavy I develop anemia.

Title	How old were you when you first started taking hormonal birth control? And why did you start?
Author	scwizard
Upvotes	3
Comments	41
Date	August 6, 2022 4:50 AM UTC (4 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/PurplePillDebate
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/PurplePillDebate/comments/whftwh/how_old_were_you_when_you_first_started_taking/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/PurplePillDebate/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-started-taking.1126815 https://theredarchive.com/post/1126815

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