For some reason this blogpost has been really hard for me to put down into words, which is weird because I haven’t posted on here in a while and felt VERY compelled and motivated to talk about this topic: birth control. It’s something that has been a part of my life for so long, I’ve forgotten what it’s like to not be on female birth control of some sort ( i.e. pills and NuvaRing ). It’s as much a part of me as my lash extensions are, and longer!

I didn’t jump on here to talk about the pros and cons of birth control and how “this is my body and I can do what I want to it.” It’s been almost two weeks since I’ve stopped the hormone magic that tells my brain I’m pregnant so that I can’t get pregnant, and my body is all sorts of wackiness. I guess that’s the only and real reason I wanted to talk about my experience thus far.

I’m sure many of you have been on birth control of some sort throughout your life for your own personal reasons. I got on an oral birth control [ Ortho Tri-Cyclen ] when I was 15 at a local Planned Parenthood. I wasn’t sexually active ( yet ), but I was a cheerleader in Texas who had a couple of eating disorders and a strong competitive nature. I barely weighed 100 lbs, but was striving to weigh 90 lbs and below, and eventually my period stopped. Too low of body fat for my teenage body to think it could carry a baby. I had only started my period the year before, ( I was a late bloomer ), and no more than a year later it stopped.

I also had horrible acne in high school, and heard of this miracle pill that can not only make your boobs grow, but can help tame your acne as well. So I had someone ( honestly I can’t remember who ) drive me to Planned Parenthood where I told the doctor that my period has stopped and she prescribed me birth control to get it going again. I gained a bunch of weight, but my period started again and my acne had cleared up a bit.

Flash forward to where my mom finds out and freaks out thinking I’ve been de-flowered, and I told her it was for my acne. I get off birth control and don’t consider getting back on it again until my sophomore year in college when my aunt takes me to the doctor’s office because I have an UTI. I’m now prescribed another oral contraceptive, ( Mircette ). This goes on until my college boyfriend and I break up and I decide to move to LA.

I didn’t have sex for three years. I didn’t mistype that. I said THREE years. During this timeframe I decided that it’s not relevant for me to be on any kind of birth control ( well, I guess abstinence is also form of birth control ). Anyhew, I’m 29 and I get back on birth control using NuvaRing until just two weeks ago.

So, here’s what I was afraid was going to happen once I got off NuvaRing:

• Lose my boobs
• Lose my great clear skin to adult acne
• Crazy discomfort and cramps during monthly flows
• Mood swings
• Irregular monthly flows
• Unpredictable monthly flows

This is what has actually happened:

• Super sensitive boobs ( especially my nipples )
• Constant knot in my stomach the first week ( felt like horrible constipation )
• Stomach is no longer as bloated ( or as I like to call it: permanent first trimester belly )
• No more vaginal discomfort during bowel movements ( would feel like the ring is about to fall out )

What you have to understand is that I went from a decent size 32B breasts to a VERY FULL 32C cup size just by being on NuvaRing, so it felt like I went through a second growth spurt in my 30s. I finally got acclimated to my new boobs and now have to risk them shrinking ( and before childbirth…eek! )

I’ve also boasted and sang all over social media and my blog about my wonderful, clear skin. I’ve shared many a tips with y’all regarding skincare, and could be a big fat liar if it turns out it was only because of my birth control. So far so good ( KNOCK ON WOOD!!!!!!! )

I don’t start my period for another two weeks, so I’ll have follow up on this post once I actually get my period. My boobs are still full, and I might even say jigglier ( ? ) than it was before ( is that possible )?? My nipples have been hard and SUPER sensitive 24/7. It basically feels like I’ve been PMSing for two weeks straight.

I don’t have any mood swings, or any more than it has been since the global pandemic and political issues have been added to this equation. What I’m trying to say is, I’m not crying out of the blue but I am a bit more irritable than I have been.

And lastly, and probably the most important thing ( for me personally ), is that my stomach pooch has shrank. I use to think that I was just genetically blessed with this 8-12 weeks pregnant looking stomach. I drink caffeine. I eat diary. I eat raw vegetables. High sodium. Beans. You name the bloating device and I basically consumed it on a daily basis, so I just assumed that I would always have this bloated looking stomach. However, after the knotted feeling went away in my stomach, I noticed that my pooch isn’t as prominent. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t have the flattest stomach to begin with, but the bloating has significantly reduced and I can really tell in the mornings. So perhaps this pregnant looking stomach I had for so long may be because my body thought I was pregnant due to birth control ( duh ).

Nothing I have said so far is backed by any sort of scientific research or known medical tests. I didn’t consult a doctor or anyone in the medical community. I just wanted to purge this personal information and experience because it’s been such a weird feeling and unfamiliar territory. I know there are women out there who have been through this, and I just wanted to say, I feel ya.

Glad I finally got this out. Thanks for reading and feel free to leave a comment or reach out to me directly ( email ). Stay safe everyone!

xx, Linda

Hat: GoodLife Clothing / Bikini: Zaful / Sunglasses: Ray-Ban