My hormonal contraceptive story - why it isn't just "buying rubbers at 7/11 like the rest of us" [View all]

So for the last 2ish years I have been dealing with a painful, ongoing problem which was just recently (finally!) definitively diagnosed as Adenomyosis. Adenomyosis is similar to endometriosis, except that the inflamed tissue is located within the walls of the uterus, causing pain, cramping, and bleeding within the muscle wall. This means that my uterus is pretty much a big bruise most of the time. That, coupled with my previous diagnosis of endometriosis and fibroids means a couple of things:

* I am in constant, unrelenting, unending pain which is akin to the worst menstrual cramps ever. Ever. All the time, every day

* I have constant periods. All the time, never-ending. Intense, heavy bleeding. Passing clots the size of a cow's liver multiple times a day. Bleeding through 2 - 3 pads an hour. All the time.

* Nausea-inducing pain during orgasm. Pain that brings tears to my eyes and makes me break out in a cold sweat for hours. All the time.

So there are a few treatments for adenomyosis:

- hormonal contraceptives (Birth control pills) that can stop the bleeding, and decrease the inflammation within and within the muscle wall of the uterus

- IUD in place of hormonal contraceptive or when hormonal contraceptives don't work

- Regular injections of a medication which brings on immediate, and temporary menopause. This medicine can only be given for a pre-determined amount of time because it basically turns my bones to glass. The good thing is that symptoms pretty much abate immediately. The bad thing is that the shot can't be given forever, and the symptoms come back after the shot stops. Plus, I'd have to deal with the side effects of menopause

- Uterine Ablation - this is where the burn off the inner lining of the uterus, which can stop or decrease the cramping. Downside is that I'll never be able to have a child, if I wanted to (which I"m not sure of yet)

- hysterectomy - surgical removal of the uterus. There's no need to take out the ovaries, so that wouldn't necessarily cause menopause but would ensure at least 12 weeks, possibly 16 weeks out of work because of the nature of my job, and that's not counting the frequent and practically expected complications that go with major abdominal surgery.

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So, my MD and I have been diagnosing and fiddling with symptom management for quite some time. The BC I was on before wasn't fully covered by my health insurance (NuvaRing) and cost $100 a month---that's a lot of money every year.

Considering the beneficial effects of hormonal contraceptive, we tried one pill. That just ramped up the bleeding and cramps. So we tried another a few weeks later. Ditto on bleeding and cramps. We went to a third and finally decided, after even more weeks of bleeding a cramps, to do the IUD, which I had placed last week. Still bleeding, and still cramping, but fingers crossed.....

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I know many of you are asking yourself 'Why the fuck is she telling complete strangers about her vaginal bleeding? No one gives a shit" and that's probably true, but here's why you SHOULD give a shit.

The next time some privileged male asshole defends the RCC's prohibition to birth control coverage by employers, realize that not all 'birth control" is the same. There isn't just one pill. There are hundreds.

Here are a few:
Altavera
Alyacen 1/35
Alyacen 7/7/7
Amethia
Amethia Lo
Apri
Aranelle
Aubra
Aviane
Azurette
Balziva
Briellyn
Camila
Camrese
Camrese Lo
Caziant
Chateal
Cryselle-28
Cyclafem 1/35
Cyclafem 7/7/7
Dasetta 1/35
Dasetta 7/7/7
Daysee
desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol
drospirenone/ethinyl
estradiol
Elinest
Emoquette
Enpresse-28
Enskyce
Errin
Estarylla
Falmina
Gianvi
Gildagia
Gildess 1.5/30
Gildess 1/20
Gildess FE 1.5/30
Gildess FE 1/20
Heather
Introvale
Jencycla
Jolessa
Jolivette
Junel 1.5/30
Junel 1/20
Junel FE 1.5/30
Junel FE 1/20
Kariva
Kurvelo
Larin 1/20
Larin FE 1.5/30
Larin FE 1/20
Leena
Lessina
Levonest
levonorgestrel
levonorgestrel and ethinyl
estradiol
levonorgestrel/ethinyl
estradiol
Levora 0.15/30-28
Loryna
Low-Ogestrel
Lutera
Lyza
Marlissa
medroxyprogesterone acetate
150 MG/ML
Microgestin 1.5/30
Microgestin 1/20
Microgestin FE
Microgestin FE 1.5/30
Mono-Linyah
Mononessa
Myzilra
Necon 0.5/35-28
Necon 1/35
Necon 7/7/7
Nora-Be
norethindrone
norgestimate/ethinyl
estradiol
norgestrel/ethinyl estradiol
Nortrel 0.5/35 (28)
Nortrel 1/35
Nortrel 7/7/7
Ocella
Orsythia
Philith
Pimtrea
Pirmella 1/35
Pirmella 7/7/7
Portia-28
Previfem
Quasense
Reclipsen
Sprintec 28
Sronyx
Syeda
Tilia FE
Tri-Estarylla
Tri-Legest FE
Tri-Linyah
Trinessa
Tri-Previfem
Tri-Sprintec
Trivora-28
Velivet
Vestura
Viorele
Vyfemla
Wera
Wymzya FE
Xulane
Zarah
Zenchent
Zenchent FE
Zeosa
Zovia 1/35E

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So as you can see, the list of contraceptives that a woman can take are quite numerous, and they all have different properties, different mixes of hormones (more estrogen than progesterone? Progesterone only? How about low dose? 28 day vs 21 day. Continuous or 1 week off?)

Some of these cause breakthrough bleeding. Some, as in my case, cause continuous bleeding. Some cause serious mood swings.

So to tell a woman 'Oh, just go to the store and buy rubbers like the rest of us" is missing the entire point. So is the excuse "Oh, well they would be covered in your case, because it's not for contraception!" AH, true, but you see, that would mean having a discussion with my EMPLOYER about my private medical issues. The only person that should be involved in the medication I receive and the reasons why I receive it is my PHYSICIAN --- the one with years of specialized medical training. The one who has published research studies on the exact disease I'm dealing with. Not my boss. Not my HR person. Not my supervisor. MY DOCTOR.

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Had my health insurance denied BC coverage, I would not only have had to pay more than $100 a month for Nuvaring, I would have had to pay out of pocket for each trial of hormonal contraception to abate my symptoms. I would have had to pay out of pocket for my IUD insertion (close to $1500 for insertion, $2500 to take it out if it doesn't work right). Not because I need birth control, but because I need symptom control.

But privileged assholes who support the RCC (and other oppressive religious groups)'s intrusion into my private life and private medical decisions don't just NOT understand. They don't care. In their eyes, birth control is fucking control, and if you can't control your fucking long enough to buy rubbers at 7/11 like the rest of us, then you (women) deserve whatever heartbreak comes your way.

They don't care that hormonal birth control and other birth control methods are used for reasons beyond contraception. They don't care.

But you should. That's why I'm telling you.