1) German Krautrock band Birth Control were formed 1968 in Berlin. In their… Read Full Bio ↴1) German Krautrock band Birth Control were formed 1968 in Berlin. In their early years they played hybrid jazz rock compositions, mainly instrumental. They recorded their first album for Metronome bringing to the fore an accent for humour and provoking thoughts (the name of the band and their album covers illustrate it as well). Their second album Operation shows a great improvement in sound, a kind of heavy rock based sound with subtle jazzy arrangements. This album had a great success for the Ohr label (specialised to promote the rise of the German underground rock scene). In 1972 Hoodoo Man was also released for OHR. After several replacements, the quintet recorded Rebirth, a progressive hard rock album. In 1976 Backdoor Possibilities was a commercial failure due to a more mainstream sound and the inclusion of more jazz elements. Increase recorded in 1977 marked a return to the hard rock source. Birth Control came back to light in the 90s for many reunion albums like Jungle Life or Two Worlds.

www.progarchives.com

2) Birth Control are also a newer band from Philadelphia, featuring Sean McGuiness of Pissed Jeans. They play a strange form of punk that embodies anything that defies normality and embraces the unknown. Their music, if capable of being compared to anything/anyone at all, is similar to having your questions constantly going unanswered. Further information and mp3s can be found at: http://www.freelegalhighs.org/ and www.birth-control.de

3) Birth Control was a new wave/minimal synth band from Sweden. They released a cassette entitled Lobotomi on the Swedish label Neuköln (NK-008) in 1986.

SUICIDE
Birth Control Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Get around to meditate on
Meditate on a crucial point
Death goes on, on and on
Watcha gonna do about it?

Do you wanna look on at industrial smog
How it cripples your little dog
And turn the surface of the deep blue sea

Turn into a black substance?
Sticky and dead, yeah

Holidays at wreckage hills will
Spread abroad like football and
Fresh water-ration-privateer
Will become profession of your son

Tryin' to get the best of it
Fellow that won't do
Friend make haste before you feel
The knife at your throat
Rusty and cold

Suicide, suicide
Seems to be the fate
What the future has in store
For the human race
Hey, what now, baby

Suicide, suicide
Seems to be the fate
What the future has in store
For the human race

Holidays at wreckage hills will
Spread abroad like football and
Fresh water-ration-privateer
Will become profession of your son

Tryin' to get the best of it
Fellow that won't do
Friend make haste before you feel
The knife at your throat
Rusty and cold

Suicide, suicide
Seems to be the fate
What the future has in store
For the human race
Hey, what now, baby

Suicide, suicide
Seems to be the fate

What the future has in store
For the human race

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Birth Control's song "Suicide" explore themes of death, destruction, and hopelessness. The opening lines invite the listener to meditate on a crucial point, which is then revealed to be the inevitability of death. The next verse describes the environmental destruction caused by industrialization, with the sea turning into a black, sticky and dead substance. The song then shifts to a prediction of a bleak future where holidays will be taken in "wreckage hills," fresh water will be rationed and piracy will be a common profession. The chorus repeats the idea that suicide seems to be the fate of the human race.

The song's dark lyrics can be interpreted as a critique of society's disregard for the environment and the consequences of unsustainable industrialization. The prediction of a dystopian future serves as a warning of what may come if action is not taken to reverse the damage already done. The chorus suggests that suicide may be the ultimate consequence of ignoring these warning signs.

Overall, "Suicide" is a powerful song that highlights the urgent need to address environmental issues and the potential consequences for future generations.

Line by Line Meaning

Get around to meditate on
Take the time to focus and contemplate

Meditate on a crucial point
Think deeply about something important

Death goes on, on and on
Death is a constant presence in life

Watcha gonna do about it?
What actions will you take in response?

Do you wanna look on at industrial smog
Do you want to witness the negative effects of industrialization?

How it cripples your little dog
Seeing the harm it can cause to innocent creatures

And turn the surface of the deep blue sea
Polluting the once beautiful oceans

Turn into a black substance?
Changing the water into a toxic and unusable state

Sticky and dead, yeah
With a texture and appearance that implies death and damage

Holidays at wreckage hills will
People will go on vacation to areas that are already destroyed

Spread abroad like football and
Becoming a popular trend like a sports game

Fresh water-ration-privateer
People will make a living by hoarding and selling water

Will become profession of your son
Your child will have to participate in this profession to survive

Tryin' to get the best of it
Attempting to improve your situation

Fellow that won't do
But it won't be enough

Friend make haste before you feel
Act quickly before it's too late

The knife at your throat
Before you're in a life-threatening situation

Rusty and cold
In a state of neglect and abandonment

Suicide, suicide
Taking one's own life

Seems to be the fate
Appears to be inevitable

What the future has in store
What will happen in the future

For the human race
For all of humanity

Hey, what now, baby
Asks what can be done to change things

Contributed by Hannah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Comments from YouTube:

Mi O

4y↑2.3K

I need a video discussing why the side effects of the men's birth control were so terrible, but the horrible side effects of birth control in women are accepted, normalized, and standard. I hate needing to have menstrual regulation due to ovarian cysts. Otherwise I'd stay away completely from external hormones.

Danielle Hayner

PREACH I HEAR YOU GO YOU DO YOU I LOVE YOUR LIFE BOO

Denise

2y↑1

@JT Work It's not "better", it is easier. Since it's easier, science has been kinda lazy and hasn't really bothered, until recently, to actually TRY to work on men's birth control, despite the fact that the pill can do some serious damage to a woman.

Ange Nev

Same

62 More Replies...

thes0mething

4y↑3.7K

I got off the pill because it made me feel weird and "dulled" and when I told my doctors they all told me it was all in my head... Funny thing is, if you ask other women they would usually have the same experiences

MezAtHome

so is everything but he didnt get it

i don have any idea what to call my account

@jennifer m they'll tell it to anyone they can't shill their poison to

Goku

2y↑1

What’s interesting is I would always ask my ex’s to get on birth control so I could finish in them but all my ex’s I’ve had were worried about the affects and didn’t take it.

Maybe this means I attract girls who want masculine features.

I wonder if they would survey guys with less masculine features if it would result in a high percent of them having mostly girls who took birth control

Kathleen Miles

Oh my gosh thank you for saying this. Doctors often tell me that my symptoms can't be attributed to the pill. But as soon as I get off the pill my headaches and fatigue go away. Of course I have endometriosis, so if I stop birth control then I get sick in other ways. It's a pick your poison situation. But my goodness, please, to the medical institution: stop lying to me about the side effects of birth control. I want to make an informed choice. And please listen to women and their experiences.

Wendy Zelaya 🧿

Hmm the pill hasn’t been bad for me but I do worry how the pill will affect women’s brain. I read that women’s brain patterns can change due to the hormonal pills. I will get off after a year to see the difference in Life ✨

108 More Replies...

Lauren Baker

4y↑1.2K

She wrote a book about this! It's called This is your Brain on Birth Control. It's super awesome and goes more into detail from her talk here! Truly worth reading.

Makayla Hawk

2y↑1

I have the book it’s definitely worth the read!!

can we not

4y↑2

Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to check that out.

Sherry Newington

4y↑1

Yes thanks!!

wildhrushka

4y↑8

The talk was super awesome so I would have to assume that the book will have to be as well.
One the best talks, and the best speakers I've encountered lately.

Metalhead 1966

4y↑5

Lauren Baker Cool! Thanks!

Jood Ali

4y↑1.4K

Best thing a doctor told me: “ hormones don’t affect anything” and after a lot of push back when I asked for a hormone panel to be done he finally replied “I can order one for you but I don’t know how to read it”
Man. I wonder what awesome med school he went to!

Wisdom Andy

Hormones is ironically associated with damn near everything about our bodies, even our phycology is greater determined by it.

D Man

I seriously doubt that's the way it went but if it did, get a new doctor.

Chelsea Scott

Wow! Must have graduated bottom of his class if he can't interpret test results 😆

20 More Replies...

S B

4y↑937

She's not pro or anti bcp, just informative.

Andreia de Távora

2y↑1

yeah... we cant ignore the side effects: they're many. MANY.

Anna Smith

4y↑597

I’m happy this is being addressed, my mental health disimproved dramatically when I took the pill. I was extremely anxious every day and I would cry constantly. I’m so happy I’m off of it now, I wish I would have been warned about the effects

Raquel

This sounds like me on Mirena.

Melissa Johnson

My experience was opposite it helped me with my anxiety and moodiness. When I stopped taking it my anxiety went up

Wendy Zelaya 🧿

What affects did you have while on the pill? Im quite curious

Emma Hawke

4y↑3

Same! I started getting panic attacks when I started the pill.

kmlac

4y↑2

Same!!

11 More Replies...

Yxiaanjj

4y↑471

I was on the pill for 3 years I wasn’t myself and had extremely high anxiety, to the point where I had horrible anxiety attacks daily. I had no self confidence and got monthly UTIs and yeast infections. Almost all my doctors told me that it’s all in my head. I stopped taking the pill last summer because I was extremely suicidal and at a breaking point. It’s been 7 months now and I almost feel like myself again. I wish scientists/doctors would listen to us and wouldn’t dismiss all our symptoms like we are just “crazy women”. I love the idea if birth control but A LOT has to change.

CC TV

Eugenicists play a massive role in shaping society, behaviour and the economy.

Melissa Johnson

I did the pill and it caused hair loss and and yeast infections. On the flip side, it really managed my mood and anxiety, I was able to manage my weight better and acne cleared up. Now I’ve been off for 9 months and my anxiety goes up and still having hair loss at the top of my hair and bad acne but no yeast infections

Court Port

Also I’ve treated my husband wondering if we were passing one back and forth… nothing… and I’ve gone and had all these tests and it’s just a yeast infection. Crazy reoccurring though and it’s miserable. I also know I should probably start an elimination diet but… honestly I just haven’t yet haha

Wendy Zelaya 🧿

@Court Port May be low immune systems or something has altered your ph balance harsh soaps, douches, or 👀 other activities? What helps me keep my areas healthy is taking probiotics for women’s health, it has good bacteria which helps your body keep a good ph balance. Which helps down-there by avoiding yeast infections from bad bacteria. Good bacteria is also in foods such as kimchi and yogurt, foods that have gone through the fermentation process. Anyways, Hope my knowledge helps.

Court Port

I get monthly yeast infections too and no one can tell me why.

11 More Replies...

Lauren Lawson

4y↑557

I’ve been looking for more of this type of research for awhile now and am so happy this is being made more public. I’ve been off the pill for almost a year now (after being on it for about a decade) and my mental health has improved so much because of it. My anxiety has become bearable again and my panic attacks almost nonexistent now. Funny part is that awhile ago I spoke with two separate doctors about the possibility of the pill making my anxiety worse and they both said they had never heard anything in regards to that. Then 6 months ago at a bachelorette party weekend the group I was with got onto the same subject, and guess what? Two of the women I spoke with had to also discontinue the pill for mental health reasons after also having been on the pill for years.

Undomiel-2020

@Zoe Don't overuse the pill though. Pill isn't meant for being used for 20-30 years at once. Switch it up, IUD, condoms, nothing, etc. Remember our hormone levels also shift through our ages. What works in our 20s may not work in our 30s, and may not work at all in our 50s.

Undomiel-2020

@Leah Asebedo The thing humans don't get is that all of our bodies are different. You have genetics at play. So if your mother or father are high stroke probability you will get that. If you are the type of woman that gets moody after your period which does happen, it will give that. Why? because all of what the pill does is mimic a pregnancy. That's why you have a higher chance of blood clot. Now let's say you are someone that may have a chance of getting anxiety while pregnant or Post pardum, there may be some connection to the pill now causing anxiety, causing depression. Medicine needs to study our bodies closely this way when doctors treat each one of us, they treat us based on our gene pool and our propensity of issues. But that type of medicine is way too expensive for the common person.

Undomiel-2020

I rather see it come from a non-biased source and not a Christian psychologist, that has a particular bias.

SkyNova

@jekkt they never want to speak against a medication. My experience with every doctor I’ve seen

jekkt

3y↑1

doctor "i never heard that before"
doctor 30mins later to the next woman "i never heard that before"... spoiler: they all know they just dont care!

10 More Replies...

Flame Emerald

4y↑2.2K

I'm on the birth control pill, and the fact I didn't know nearly any of this info 100% terrifies me

hacuna matata

@Wendy Zelaya 🧿 Thanks for resurrecting this thread from 2 years ago.
I reviewed my comment to which you referred and determined that I was, and am, correct. I stand by my position.
One should not put chemicals into their body without first learning what those chemicals will do and the side effects and long term risks.
It doesn't matter if the chemical is ethanol, THC, in The Pill or whatever.

Wendy Zelaya 🧿

@hacuna matata you’re a horrible person for making someone feel ashamed of their decision when they lacked enough knowledge at the time stop that you are not a perfect god. You’re human like the rest of us.

Ari Martinez

Did you know about the women in puerto Rico that they tested birth control on? It was the 1950s and women died. It’s really scary.

S Fletch

@Jenny from the suburbs it's common sense that all meds have side effects and the potential to cause harm. It isn't mere common sense to know exactly what all of those possibilities are without having done some amount of research. You don't know all of the possible side effects to any given medication based solely on your common sense. Lmao. Just stop with the condescension. There is a big difference between realizing that meds aren't natural and knowing in detail the specific information covered in this talk. You know damn well you didn't just know all of this information based on your awesome "common sense".

S Fletch

@Jenny from the suburbs there are many things the doctors do not disclose that are not merely "common sense" type pieces of information at all. Smh

32 More Replies...

Heatherkc19

4y↑197

I got off the pill 4 months ago after being on it for almost 7 years. It’s been the best decision I’ve ever made! I didn’t realize how different the pill made me feel mentally and emotionally until I stopped taking it. I feel like a whole new person, and even people close to me say the same thing. Please ladies, do your research ❤️ I recommend Dr. Jolene Brightens book Beyond the Pill.

Mariana. Anaya

Congrats! I too just recently got off the pill after being on it for 6 years. If you don't mind me asking, did you experience any symptoms like acne or irregular periods for a bit after stopping the pill?

Anne Gillian

Exactly. I got off the pill after taking it for 6 years. I had bouts of panic attacks and anxiety during the years I was taking it. It was the best decision I had this pandemic. I believe that the pill has something to do with my sanity😅

Sophie Holmes

4y↑3

Same for me, I just came off microgynon this month after 11 years and I already feel like a brighter, more steady version of myself!

H Belgica

4y↑5

Girl same, I have immense anxiety and I STILL feel so much better and more vibrant off the pill. It’s great that it works for some women but a lot of people at risk for negative side effects are being completely ignored by medical professionals! imo

Aquarianin

4y↑652

Well who would expect, that messing with hormones will change people. Great talk, I am happy the subject is being studied.

Amy

4y↑217

I've never took the pill until I was 20. It works wonders on my depression and anxiety, my confidence grows, my brain fog fades. I'm less of a mess in general. Everyone is different, but yes. There is no way anyone can say that there isn't a link between the pill and the brain.

Karen Castorena

I just got off my pill and I feel so depressed and not like myself at all

GGcrisp

I’m 28 and I have never taken the pill but I want to ! You made this comment 2 years ago, are you of the same opinion today ?

anonymous

It makes me more confident but more depressed

Wendy Zelaya 🧿

Yes! Thank you! Ugh 😑

Allaam Rauf

I've never taken*

8 More Replies...

Shana G

4y↑80

I appreciate her not being biased at all and just giving out straight data and fact. I like that she mentioned that although it has side effects it’s still good for certain people who have certain conditions and that she talked about using it herself.

rainepanda

4y↑464

I'm 27 and I've been taking the generic form of Yaz for about 4 months now and my doctor said it would clear my acne. Well it hasn't. But it has drastically reduced my anxiety and depression. I deal with complex PTSD and ocd because of childhood trauma and since I've been on the pill I function way better. The body is complicated and strange

Hawaii

@Bonafide Bloom what’s your experience with taking the pill continuously for the last 6 years? Do you get breakthrough bleeding?

Hawaii

This comment is two years old but, dianette, this pill works wonders for acne. I live in New Zealand and it’s called Ginet here, but dianette is the equivalent. It contains Cyproterone acetate 2 mg and Ethinylestradiol 0.035 mg. Completely cleared my severe acne. Yes there are side effects for most people (my biggest issue was bloating though it’s a lot better now) but it’s often worth it.

vicky jawara

For me it cleared alot of my acne

Bonafide Bloom

I have cptsd. Been on the pill for 15 years, the last 6 nonstop no placebo pills or breaks between active pills. I have really bad morning anxiety when waking up in combo with blocked runny nose and terrible post nasal drip. Can last hours if I freakl out. I like not having a period though and I like not worrying about getting pregnant and I've tried cutting foods out and taking antihistamine before bed and everything :/

Anonymous User

That's great!

22 More Replies...

Mariana. Anaya

2y↑32

This is my third day being off my combination birth control pills after 6 years. I got off of them due to migraines, and these past few days have been a real eye opener to all the symptoms I faced during those 6 years

Hey. Hello

What was your symptoms?

Sophia D

4y↑217

My freshman year at Humboldt State the psychology department was doing a research study on birth control and women’s feelings particularly jealousy. According to the study the women on birth control were a lot less jealous than the ones that were not. They also were found to be not as sensitive and didn’t fuser and things as cheating whereas the ones off birth control. Just thought it would be something interesting to add. Also waking is not a direct side effect of birth control but increase of appetite is. I can’t wait till they make male birth control.

Christen McLaughlin

Probably because if your not on the pill your at risk for getting pregnant and are much more vulnerable, you have to be over cautious if your partner

Sophia D

@DinosuarzR0ck this is SUPER interesting

DinosuarzR0ck

3y↑10

A little late, but I recently found a study supporting the opposite! Women on the pill reporting romantic jealousy at a higher rate than women who were not on the pill. Interesting stuff for sure

Osmar Castillo

3y↑1

@Sophia D lol there is male birth control it’s called condoms maybe try telling your partner to use one 😂

Kimberley Chan

4y↑1

Was this just a correlation? My personal experiences supports the study’s findings but I doubt it’s causal. I think for me it was growing up and becoming more confident, living away from home (my parents aren’t exactly ideal role models when it comes to jealousy in a relationship!) and learning to trust people more which turned me into a less jealous person.

7 More Replies...

09TODsoul

2y↑10

FINALLY THIS INFORMATION!!!! My doctor wants me to go on the pill to help control my mixed anxiety and depressive disorder, but I asked her to do a blood test on me to see if my progesterone level is infact too low, which from my own research I think it is, but she refused as they only “test progesterone levels of women that want to get pregnant” because my daily life as a single woman is LESS IMPORTANT than producing MORE HUMANS on a planet already bursting at the seams with humans. Then she continues to push the pill on me saying it will help but was unable to tell me exactly what it does to my brain and body. I would rather “be crazy” every 6 weeks rather than loose the function to know I should run away from a lion.

Christen McLaughlin

Though if your progesterone levels are low they are just going to prescribe the pill anyway because that’s what’s in it

Elaine Always

4y↑215

As much as this is rather concerning, the hormone shifts that happen to some women can be detrimental to their mental health. I suffer from PMS so horrible it is full scale depressive episodes, an emotional roller coaster that always leaves me despairing and debilitated. The birth control offers you the opportunity to skip periods altogether, ultimately saving many women from full on mental crises ever single month. As much as this information is valuable, I'm never going to stop taking it.

Christen McLaughlin

@Essma B if you could improve your pms with diet and are able to function then it’s not PMDD, which is life altering

Christen McLaughlin

@Alexis Flory I’ve never in my life heard of a doctor checking serotonin, why would they waste time when then end results regardless would be to take SSRIs?

Christen McLaughlin

@arlo247 okay so what’s this natural medicine to get rid of life altering hormonal shifts? Endometriosis? Fibroids, etc

ULTRAMACKIN

@Alaa Tarek that’s called addiction

31 More Replies...

RayRay

3y↑12

Sara Hill was a guest speaker in my class and talked a lot more about birth control than what's said in this ted talk. She explained how these hormones are shown to decrease the size of the hippocampus and reduce memory and learning ability. She said we don't know if that changes once the person comes off the pill, but in clinical tests women were shown to score lower on memory and learning skills than their non birth control counter parts!

cheeseristical

4y↑33

We need to talk about this more! I was on the pill for a few months and it drastically deteriorated my mental health. I was crying all the time, was upset and anxious. I had a large suspicion it was the pill despite there being events in my life that were making me upset at the time so I decided to stop taking it. After I stopped I felt so much better and more stable. Almost all women I speak to have experiences like this, so why do doctors not mention this to you?

Yellow Melancholy

4y↑1

cheeseristical I agree! I’ve tried a few methods of birth control. One made me anxious and my skin erupted in tiny bumps. Another one gave me serious migraines, and another one made me feel as if I was constantly pms’ing. I stopped all of them. The copper IUD is the only one I kept for a few years.

1 More Replies...

Yael Baz

4y↑203

My sister and I both figured out the attraction element on our own. We both found ourselves more attracted to kinder men, who may have seemed like they would be good dads, on the pill. And off the pill attracted to more fit and larger men. And actually, being in relationships while on the pill, finding ourselves no longer attracted to our boyfriends once going off the pill.

Christen McLaughlin

Sounds like you are both just flakey 😬 if this was a widespread issue everyone that got off the pill or got pregnant would be divorcing in mass and that’s not happening

Andrew Evenstar

3y↑1

Lol this is hilarious and proves a simple medication can manipulate women entirely

Hannah Bridget Price

4y↑3

There was actually a study done on this where they asked married women to go off the pill, and the women who weren't with conventionally attractive, masculine men, reported feeling less attracted to their partners; it's quite interesting!

kat m

4y↑2

Idk honestly, it seems to me that more fit and larger men turn out to be better father figures, at least that’s the case with my bf

Lua

4y↑6

Yep I’ve heard of this happening too. Women find a partner while on the pill, get married, decide to have kids so they get off the pill. Then find themselves not attracted to their partner anymore. 😬

9 More Replies...

Sara P.Juniper

4y↑24

As a woman,and a medical student,I admit I was only aware of the most obvious consequences of hormonal changes,this talk opened my eyes to a lot more,thank you.

trias418

3y↑44

The saddest question I have: How many divorces have been caused by women being on the pill, being attracted to someone, then going off the pill after getting married and no longer finding their partner attractive?

Christen McLaughlin

I’m going to go with 0, I find it almost offensive to imply women are so weak minded we don’t even know what men we are attracted too/can’t pick life partners. Met my husband on the pill, changed BCs multiple times and am now on nothing, no change

Madison Landrum

2y↑2

I’ve wondered this too because i got married while on the pill, been married almost 2 years and been off of the pill for about a month. I still find him attractive though but hopefully that won’t change!

Abigail Mercer

3y↑1

Wow good question

Mrs Anonymous

4y↑72

I want to see a conversation about the dangers of giving birth control to teenage girls. How come no one is talking about this?

Hey. Hello

2y↑3

I have to take the pill so I won't have another cyst. I lost one of my ovaries. I do not want to loose my other one.

1 More Replies...

k

4y↑354

the pill stabilized my emotions and lightened my periods and completely got rid of any acne for me I love it

Melissa Johnson

@Hailee Roxana same for me! The exact same thing to me

anonymous

You probably just started it

Vanessa Nagl

@Maya Sanchez i’m getting on it to fix my acne but now i’m scared because i’ve been trying to deal with my mental health before another school year starts and if it makes my emotions even more imbalanced😭

girlsforyeri

which pill do you take?

Ziyan Lu

same

23 More Replies...

BassBoomBox

4y↑11

I have been on birthcontrol since I was 15. Mainly changing from Dutch birth control to American birth control made my symptoms grow noticeable. Unfortunately, all websites and articles I read, mentioned that my specific bad symptoms would worsen getting off the pill.

I finally found a doctor who told me otherwise. I have been off the pill for almost 4 months now and feel like a different person. The part in this video about cortisol really struck me, because I was going insane because of little stressors.

Please do your research and also know there are so many kinds of birth control. The main components might be the same, but the way the pill is build up, will affect how your body absorbs it and how you react to it.

Phoebe Rules All

3y↑7

Hormonal birth control made my life so difficult from age 16-23. It was like PMS 24/7/365. Always on edge. When I stopped taking it, it was like a veil lifted. I could suddenly control anger impulsively and was just down right not nearly as angry period, and my sec drive came much more naturally. No one. NO ONE, can tell me that birth control can't alter your brain.

phanterleo

3y↑4

I had psychological issues in the past and needed medication for it. My psychiatrist was very good at asking about which birth control method I was using, telling me which interactions / side effects the medications could have and asking me to discuss my psychopharmacology choices with my obgyn as well. Was very interesting that he had such insight into how everything works together. Wound up coming off the pill in the end.
Hope more people can have the luck of consulting such a good doctor

Ariana Taulepa

2y↑4

I’ve been on the birth control pill for almost 3 years. It helped significantly with my acne (though it got worse in the first 3 months before it got better), and I no longer experience painful periods. I’m more emotional in the sense that I cry over little things, but my mental health has stayed consistent and I see more benefits for myself on the pill than off at this stage in my life.

Neon Lights

4y↑9

I take birth control, I haven't had any negative side effects. I also had a great doctor that informed me about all side effects. It's sad that this out of the norm. The pill can influence so much in the body it's insane.

Anne Mehlfeld

4y↑149

I was aware that the pill changes my libido, but I've never heard of the pill possibly surpressing the release of cortisol. I've had a really stressfull year. And this news about cortisol and the pill really gets me thinking. Would I have been able to deal with this in a better way, had I not been on the pill?
I mean, I really enjoy the benefits the pill brings me. And I still would choose it over any other contraceptive. But still...

Jenni Mahzebien

U decrease
D Ur libido?

mariolqa

How Does this make sense if i have lower cortisol when im on the pol?

Anne Mehlfeld

4y↑3

@Suzanne Z Yeah, you're right. Confusing is the best way to put it.

Suzanne Z

4y↑22

At the same time, long term elevated cortisol levels itself has so many negative effects on the body. (Suppressed immune system, increased risk of diabetes, can contribute to unhealthy weight gain, impede wound healing, weaken bones and connective tissues... People I work w/ who have had to take cortisol-analogue meds for a long time have paperthin skin that rips easily and takes ages of careful wound care to heal...)

What does it really mean then for your health to have a blunted cortisol response, long term, then? Confusing to say the least.

mally

2y↑2

As someone who is struggling very much with anxiety and sadness since starting the pill, this was incredibly interesting to hear. I feel validated. Going to talk to my doctor about coming off of it for now.

imsimb Bodebrandjes

2y↑7

I'm so grateful for this! I've spend more than over a decade to try and convince several male and female doctors my mental health was severely influenced by the birth control pill (in my puberty) and my IUD later on in life. After my second IUD my hormones got so out of balance, that it triggered my first "depression" I don't like to call it that, however. I call this: hormonal unbalanced.
I felt with my whole body, mind and soul this was linked directly to hormonal birth control but like I said, nobody listened to me or took it seriously because I'm just a woman right? oh and without a phd or whatsoever to back me up. Just common sense.
But I listened to my body and this is exactly what my body told me. And finally I have the 'evidence' to back up my theories about hormonal influence on the brain and our emotions. This is great.

Emma Hawke

4y↑10

I took the pill for 5 years and repeatedly told my doctor it was causing my weight gain and panic attacks, as well as cystic acne. She would laugh and say it couldn’t possibly be the cause. I finally got off it last fall and lost 15 lb almost immediately and stopped feeling anxious. Not to mention it’s taken me 8 months to regulate my cycles and my husband and I want to get pregnant. Never again!

Fievel Mousekewitz

4y↑18

To share: my body did not do well on birth control. Different types of birth control made my body react in different ways. I just want to encourage everyone to listen to their bodies and minds to make the safest decision for themselves. Please continue to do research.

Alicia McGee

4y↑15

If your birth control packaging changes, read this!! I was prescribed the Lutera birth control and when I picked it up from the pharmacy it said Lessina on the packaging. I didn’t really question it until 3 months later I picked up my package and it said Vienva. I talked to my doctor and he said it’s all the same thing, just different brand names. I started getting the worst nausea of my life and migraines. They lasted for almost 2 months until I talked to my school’s nurse practitioner and she told me to switch right away bc of the risk of stroke since I was having terrible headaches. I told her I didn’t have any problems when the packaging said Lessina and she told me that doctors typically say that the brands are the same, because they’re supposed to be, but many patients of hers experienced the same thing. She wrote a prescription for me and specified that only Lessina be given to me - no problems ever since! So if you’re dealing with this, the brand names are NOT the same thing.

Mel Olsson

4y↑18

I hope this research leads to new pill formulas that mitigate these side effects. The pill is vital treatment for people with PCOS, PMDD, anemia, gender dysphoria, and even mental health conditions (I haven't seen a lot of research on it, but it certainly helped mine). And of course, it helps people who want to avoid pregnancy. Just like any medication, it can help or hurt people depending on their needs.

Anonymous User

totally, they should definitely work on a new formula. I take it for anemia and pms and it really helps

Stephanie Crahal

4y↑2

I loved this talk. It provided a new perspective on the effects of birth control. I took some form of birth control almost non-stop from the time I was 14 until I was 27. I thought it would help my acne and mood, but now I'm guessing all it really did was hold me back in life, because it didn't improve anything. At least it helped me stay child-free, but now I worry it's done irreversible damage. I'm now 31, so I've been off it for 4 years, but now I wonder if I would be someone different, someone better, if I'd never taken it in the first place.

Yes Pls

4y↑9

I used to be on the pill but I stopped taking it 2 years ago because I suspected that it negatively impacted my emotional state. Not sure how much it really did impact me (because to truly know i'd have to control for a lot of other factors) but I'm glad that I decided to stop taking it

Mi O

4y↑752

It scares me that I've been on hormones for 11 years, and don't truly know my unmedicated self.

Natalia Pavlov

Me too, for almost 11 years, I want to leave them but I am terrified of "the detox". Before the pill I was a heavy bleeder, had horrible migraines, abdominal and leg pains, my face was full of acne and I'd think into horrible depression while on my period.

jamie

3y↑1

i was on birth control for 11 years and when i decided to take a breeak, i saw no signs of periods. my doctors never told me about the consequences of it and i felt betrayed. i had PCOS for years and that pill just masked my syndrome. there are plenty of alternatives for birth control, such as UTIs, female and male condoms, FAM method, etc, but pls don't use birth control, it may ruin your life.

Amanda Soares

4y↑2

I took the pill for 4 years and my god there were times I felt completely emotionless, dull and I was aware of that behaviour and still it was predominant. I'm almost a year off the pill and the first month off I felt ALIVE and happy (not that I wasn't happy before but it's a nice feeling to feel happy). So yeah it changed me very much.

Neely Ducre

4y↑1

Omg that is the scariest thing I have ever heard. I feel for you.

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Cp.x.20

4y↑9

I heard a woman talk about how she hated birth control bc she'd start taking it when she got into a relationship and then immediately go off the guy she was seeing and hate the idea of dating and she didn't know why it kept happening 😲 at least now there's an answer to it

Sarah F

4y↑18

I had the WORST mood swings on birth control.
They were so extreme I’d have these huge rage fits and be calm next minute, it also made me so depressed, I had absolutely no libido. After a year of being on birth control I started throwing up every day in the morning like clock work. I talked to 3 doctors about it and they all told me that it had nothing to do with the birth control. I stopped taking birth control just to experiment and see if it truly was the birth control making me sick like I thought. As soon as I stopped the birth control I stopped uncontrollably vomiting. Getting off of Birth control was the best decision I ever made.

Chantell

I'm now a year on Yazz plus and something weirdly is happening to me..not good at all

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Mart 4

4y↑6

I'd been on pills for 11 years, with short breaks in between. I've experienced each symptom that she mentions here, also significant worsening of depression symptoms in my case. Only after many years I associated my condition with taking pills. I wish it hadn't taken that much time, but no doctor ever mentioned those brain-related side effects. On one hand I'm glad that I had this protection and control, while at the same time, probably it was the worst thing I ever did to my mind and body. This is so important to talk about this and keep searching for better solutions!

Kate Carroll

4y↑6

My (female) Doctor was so great. When I went to her with complaints of increased anxiety from the pill she listened, explained and validated this to me. Then I switched to an IUD and have been doing great since. Sad to see so many woman are ignored when they ask about the negative side effects of the pill.

WU RIHAN

4y↑9

This talk is so great! Finally, someone is talking and researching about this topic!

Kerry Hamilton

4y↑63

So good! Yes! Wish I'd avoided the pill altogether. So much damage to my body.

Emily Herrgesell

4y↑6

I think what shes saying is true...I stopped taking two months ago. I've had crazy anxiety and low emotional responses for two years now and for the past two months, I have been slowly getting better...I don't think I'm taking birth control again after this. I already was leaning in that direction but now that I've seen this video I think that makes it official for me.

Rubí

4y↑8

Thank you so much for this talk. It's so important for women to know what the pill does to their bodies. ❤

Kat

3y↑3

The fact that I didn't know any of this despite researching the pill before going on it. This is my second day being off the pill after only a month and a half of being on it and I immediately felt better. I was in such a good mood when it was not a good day, my emotions were stable, I wasn't getting random panic attacks. While on the pill I wanted to cry all the time for no apparent reason and didn't make the connection it was the pill until couple of my friends said it did the same thing to her, yet none of these side effects were listed on any med site.

Olivia Hanzak

4y↑522

When she said “if anyone has capricious hormones, it’s men” all the men in the audience be sitting there mad because she really just preached the truth.

Andreia de Távora

@Timmy :D cool!!

Timmy

@Andreia de Távora i sincerely don’t follow a single thing you re saying ?

Andreia de Távora

2y↑1

@TimmyBecause it was God Timmy, it was God. Dont be mad ;)

Andreia de Távora

2y↑1

@D Man yep!! ;)

Not Always

@Andreia de Távora The same can also be attributed to mob mentality and not so much hormonal changes.

18 More Replies...

Hannah Mills

3y↑16

As someone who suffers with heavy periods, I love being on the pill! The fact that my periods have stopped is AMAZING... they used to hold me back from doing a lot of things and stop me from doing most things for a whole week. I get that periods are natural, but I'm going to take advantage of this medicine so I can live my life to the fullest.

Sheetal Rathi

@applebug no no not at all....same story here...my periods are heavy that no matter how much iron I consume I'm not able to raise them back to normal..each month I literally become a zombie..have no energy at all

applebug

That's not living your life to the fullest. You're not ovulating if you're not menstrating. A heavy period is more healthier than no period at all.

Pia

4y↑680

Can we all please appreciate most of the men's faces at 5:30 when they are told that they are the ones with unpredictable hormones compared to all the women cheering 😂

Not Always

@Andreia de Távora I didn't say it wasn't a powerful hormone. Just that men don't experience huge variations in their hormones in the same way that women do.

Andreia de Távora

@Not Always Nop. Men tend to become very agressive in specific situations. testosterone is a powerful hormone, dont you think? Or is it not?

Richard Price

2y↑1

@Not Always and most are probably use to daily swings so controlling there mindset is more normal to them vs every 30 days a big spike in hormone's and a big dip afterward just like people who are trying to quit hard drugs have a high and withdrawal symptoms

D Man

2y↑2

I don't think any men with brains would buy this for a second 😂😂😂.

Not Always

3y↑4

While this might be true, the effects of varying levels of testosterone in men are much less intense than that of women. So it doesn't really mean much.

5 More Replies...

Goku

zourxz

4y↑1

Brilliant talk. I’ve been saying this for years. One of the other elements ppl don’t know is that the pill was originally created differently, it was meant to stop women getting periods too. Religious bodies were so outraged that the bc creators were forced to change the formula.

K C

4y↑137

I do regret birth control. I felt like a completely different person. I really wish i knew more at the time

madeforsummer🦋

2y↑2

@E D Hi. I stopped taking the pill 6 months ago. I feel my emotions more now. I do feel a little better (less numb) but it wasn't a drastic change I must admit. However I won't be taking them in the future again, simply because I think it's not healthy to supress your hormones.

E D

2y↑2

@madeforsummer🦋 that’s sort of what I’m feeling now, on the pill. How long until you felt better off of them?

madeforsummer🦋

3y↑6

I do feel different. I wonder if it made me not be able to feel love towards anything? Idk if that was something other women felt

galat1a

Same. I took them for 2 years for my endometriosis.

Arine Chan

4y↑5

Me too! I stopped it 7 years ago, I’m a different and better person! Now I can feel things I couldn’t before

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Sarena Wiebe

4y↑3

I've always been terrified of birth control, since I track my hormones and cycle, and knew it would be like that. Here I am, 29 years old, 4 weeks into the depo shot (first time on birth control) and it was everything I thought it would be. Thank you for affirming me. My estrogen is very low right now.

Ally

2y↑4

I've been on the pill for a bit over a month now and I've had anxiety attacks almost every day for the last couple weeks. I haven't had these attacks since high school, which was 3 years ago. I'm stopping taking the pill because I can only see this issue becoming more drastic in the future. I just hope others do their research before starting birth control.

Charlie B

4y↑4

I'd love to see research like this about other forms of hormonal birth control.

Celine

Such an important talk. Thank you for this!

Ellie G

2y↑2

I recently looked up articles on the combined pill and was shocked to discover that you aren't taking progesterone and oestrogen. You are taking a form of male hormone, to change your body chemisty- no pregnancy. Also changing the female brain too so no wonder there's more career/goal orientated women than before. They don't mention you start to sweat, have spots, get hairer and angrier. But an upside you can at least parallel park and have good spacial awareness.

Abby Wolfe

4y↑2

I’ve been off the pill since 2017. I was on it from 15 years old to 19 years. I’m autoimmune and western medicine failed me since I was diagnosed in 4th grade. My chiropractor actually suggested going off the pill, if I was comfortable with it. I went off and almost 2 weeks later I noticed an increase in libido, which remains to this day. My autoimmune disorder is also easier to manage, relative to hormones.

Toraaay

2y↑2

Birth control has always made me anxious and all the doctors told me it was my fault and in my head. By the way, taking it with anti depressants CAN cause a panic disorder. Happened to me. It went away when i stopped talking the anti depressant with the pill.

Erendis

4y↑2

All different forms of hormonal contraception, be it the birth control pill, the Depo shot, or the hormonal IUD have effects on women's hormones. I was on Depo for 7 years before I realized it was affecting my marriage, my health, my weight, and my anxiety for the worse. Getting off it was actually not difficult with guidance from Sarah Bryden (ND) and her book The Period Repair Manual. Changed my life and I recommended it to my friends.

Oh No

4y↑3

I only took it for about 5 months some years ago, but I felt like life was colorless and I was more unstable then than I was before or after. I don’t know how much of it was actually caused by the pill and not life circumstances, but it’s an odd coincidence that I think about sometimes

Kat 🇺🇦

4y↑17

I got on the pill and it was the best decision of my life! It helped so much with my pain and my periods, but I’ve switched to an IUD now because my main concern is preventing pregnancy.

agathafriday

4y↑5

before the pill I was depressed and weighed 47 kg (165/166cm). When I say depressed I wasnt heavily depressed, but still my mental health wasnt the best. The pill + some life changes lead me to now weigh 55 kg, I am stable mentally (of course doesnt mean that I dont get sad etc, but Im not depressed), I am confident and more satisfied with my life than I was a year and a half ago. I believe the pill has helped me in a lot of ways but I am still concerned if there could be some sort of health effects that I dont know of or that could come later on in my life due to taking birth control. It is going to sound maybe weird but I actually like taking it, so when I hear all these negative things about it Im like "oh damn it ... but I dont wanna quit taking it". Id like to know your take on it (-to anyone whos interested in replying or who even sees my comment lol) I am 19 btw. Also, I started taking it because of my bf at the time, I never knew it would help me so much.

Ada Shaw

4y↑1

SUCH necessary information! So glad this TED Talk exists!

Dawn Emile

3y↑3

This was one of the most surprisingly informative Ted talks that I have ever watched.

Sailor Sabol

4y↑116

I believe in saving myself til marriage, but I’ve been taking the pill since I was 14 so that I can function again the horrible pain I have from endometriosis. It’s awful. If there are side effects to the pill then there’s literally nothing I can do about it, cuz having a period regularly will ruin my reproductive system and cover it with scars so that it’d be hard to have children in the future, so ironically, I need to take the pill in order to get pregnant one day... I only have a period like once or twice a year usually

M Gaines

3y↑3

I have endometriosis as well, pretty severe actually. It wasn't until I met with a fertility specialist that I learned inflammation is your #1 enemy with getting pregnant. I went on an anti-inflammatory diet and got pregnant right away. Don't stress too much and consider an anti-inflammatory diet even before trying to get pregnant. It changed my life. I initially went by the SCD diet, but now I allow more carbs (excluding gluten) and listen to my body.

Anastasia Shamina

Endometriosis is not only about scarring but as I was told it creates "a toxic environment" in your uterus. I still wasn't able to get pregnant. I'm 44 now and have given up. Start trying early 😉

Inc Inc

4y↑7

“Saving yourself” lol, like you’re going to devalue or something? Religious sexist rhetoric.

Zuzana Zuscinova

@Sailor Sabol been doing exactly that

Kimberly Jennings

4y↑3

You may look into the book Woman Code, it's super interesting and has helped me get my hormones leveled out so much. The author cured her own Endo by studying the endocrine system and the book teaches how you can do the same by holistically balance your hormones.
Also, kudos for waiting til marriage - it's not easy but it's worth it! :)

5 More Replies...

Barbora Dubr

4y↑10

I have problem with blood iron level... The pills helped me so much! Nowadays I don't feel like I would bleed out each month (I was exhausted, shattered, sick and nervous for a half of month). I am aware of all that side effect of the pills (in my country there are many women fighting against them - for example Mrs. Máslová) but they gave me better life.

Maob08

Me too! But I actually had to start taking a pill that's continuous because I would still menstruate and would still feel sick.

Lauren

4y↑4

Got off the pill. Now have an IUD. It’s made an absolute world of difference. I seriously feel like I lost the years between 19 and 25 because of the hormones. I was so foggy and anxious.

Chloe Leal

4y↑6

this is so wild to me that I’ve been on the pill for 6 months and didn’t know any of this. my doctor told me to beware of weight gain as a side effect of increased cravings and some muscle sores, but I figured that was the worst it could get. I’ve been thinking that the resurfacing of binge eating, bawling in my room, and increased anxiety have been from having crazy teenage girl hormones though I’m 17 and those things have never occurred before I started the pill. interesting.

Chloe Leal

2y↑1

@MaryM LMAO fast forward to me being in college now and not prioritizing getting a new prescription on time, accidentally going off it for a month, and my skin and hair are barely recovering after 2 months of snapping back into routine

MaryM

They also don’t tell you about the hair loss and bad acne after going off the pill :)

Aud

4y↑113

curious to know if her points only apply the the standard “the pill” which is both estrogen and progesterone or if this applies to the mini pill which is only progesterone. the various pills types make this an interesting topic, and i wonder if there are different things to consider depending on hormone levels per pill

In Hee Kim

3y↑2

I am taking the mini pill and my anxiety has been heightened. My stress level heightened too and I suffer with mood swings and become upset over the smallest thing. The pill changed my control with emotions. I sometimes feel bad that my boyfriend has to deal with my mood swings. I am just glad that he understands me. I am definitely going to get off the pill and try a different method to see if it will help me

Essma B

3y↑3

Birth control literally blocks your body’s ability to ovulate which is a natural body function that indicates health. So it doesn’t matter what type of hormonal contraceptive you use, it leads to the same thing. Blocked natural ovulation

Enzera Bowenzu

4y↑1

Came here to say that. I've been on the progesterone only one and my period stays relatively the same so I wonder what it's doing to my brain. But I do notice slightly more anxiety on the pill also.

Chloe Chamberlain

4y↑8

In terms of the mental health aspect, I can confirm this applies to both. I was on the mini pill (Cerelle) for just over a year and mood swings and anxiety were both heightened, especially around my period. So, although I had no bleeding, I was still getting the emotional symptoms except they were even more heightened than before. In my experience, this wasn't very noticeable to begin with, but gradually got worse over time. I've now been off Cerelle for nearly two months and I'm already seeing a difference.

That being said, the mini pill does have less side effects compared to the combined pill, especially as I believe it's estrogen that has been linked to high blood pressure, blood clots etc. Like the combined though, it does affect each woman differently.

SAS 1

4y↑11

I use to work as a medical assistant at a OB/GYN office. I had so many women come in to get the IDU. I had a patient come in cursing like crazy because her IUD went missing inside of her. She was so upset as she should have been. The doctor had to remove the IUD using a ultrasound in the hospital. It was not a procedure that was able to be done in the office. All of the forms of birth control have bad side effects.

Abba Gayle

Loved this talk. Very informative. Thank you!

Azura DragonFaether

3y↑4

While I’ve tried birth control it hasn’t been the pill. My gut always told me never to try the pill cause it will not help me under any circumstance. After seeing this my gut was right.

Lightbulb Pineals

Brilliant! Explains a lot about a lot of things. Its better to have all the information. Thank you. These findings have huge implications on society. So far … 🤷🏽‍♀️, the jury is out! 3 generations down …

Abriana Bradley

3y↑2

So glad information like this is being spread. I am about to start birth control because I have a hormonal imbalance. I have twice the amount of testosterone as I should have and that causes mood swings and extreme anxiety along with retention of fluid and bloating (ironic that I’m emotional because of my male hormones). However my doctor/doctors assistants often try to end the conversation when I ask about birth control and the different kinds and side effects. So thank you for sharing more information. It’s women like you who enable me to make more informed decisions for my body.

latinhero1818

3y↑2

Here's some questions I have: if Birth Control (BC) really does alter a woman's brain chemistry and behavior so much, how much more of an effect would it have on teenage girls? Would it change the structure of their brains? Would it stunt brain development or development of cognitive capabilities in any way? How much of homosexuality can be explained by direct effects of BC or it's secondary effects in utero? Knowing all this, is it still a good idea to push these pills onto teenagers like we do with Ritalin for behavior control? Remember the human brain does not finish developing until mid 20s, and the one question scientist should ask before "Can I do it?" is "Should I do it?".

Nicole Ko

4y↑33

Before i was put on the pill i had terrible acne which made me more depressed and mood swingy than the pill ever did. Plus, im still madly in love with my boyfriend but now i dont get panic attacks about being pregnant whenever my period is late. I have a 4 day period instead of a 9 days one. Yeah i get mood swings and maybe my libido took a small hit although it always has been higher than the average person so i think i just got balanced out.
Id rather have a weird hormonal level than bowl my eyes out whenever i take a glimpse at the mirror because of how bad my acne was

Queen Cthulu

4y↑5

Great talk!
Just curious, are these side affects strictly just from taking the pill contraception? Or will we see similar affects in other contraceptions like IUD and Implanon?

Lua

4y↑2

Yes this applies to IUDs too. As they release hormones which gets into your bloodstream and then your brain. Basically this applies to any form of hormonal birth control.

Emma P

Also, IUDs are really only meant to have local effects at the uterus - they wouldn’t cause systemic ones like the pill does!

Delia Ross

the IUD and nexplanon are progestin only, while most pills are combined hormones

Kat the (neo) Partisan

4y↑4

I was on the pill since grade 6 due to an extremely deregulated period. I absolutely hated being on it. I've been on it for roughly 10 years of my life but I've since been off it for years. I honestly didnt care about the first 60% of it because I already knew it. I think if you're basing a long term partner solely on their face....that's the problem. The stress part is the most important.

Mayah Zo

4y↑82

My rule is: every form of medication has side effects so take them only if your life depends on it, or if it improves symptoms of a condition you may have.

Lex ClemityClemClemmersons

4y↑65

I find that i have the complete opposite experience with the birth control pill here. I started taking it for irregular periods at 16 but I soon found that my acne cleared and I wasn’t a sobbing hormonal mess around that time of the month. Not only this but I wasn’t soaking through maxi-pads every two hours or dealing with excruciating cramps. Earlier this year I was unable to get my pills on time & couldn’t get them until a month later. Worst pain of my life, I couldn’t believe I dealt with that for so long before getting on the pill.

Zuzana Zuscinova

4y↑2

You have endometriosis.

Chelsea G

4y↑3

same! i love my pill. i had very debilitating periods before and taking the pill made my period lighter, shorter, and i get a lot less cramps. i used to have cystic acne which went away as well

Lilli Pearse

4y↑2

It has the same effects on me, but all her points still stand. It also disappears your libido and makes you choose partners you later regret, and it mentally feels a lot like an anti-depressant- which for me is a bad thing :/

Julia Keen

4y↑5

Lex ClemityClemClemmersons I had almost the exact same experience! It worked wonders for me.

Ariel Lee

4y↑6

I just went into the most stressful period of my life and I just started birthcontrol furthermore I've also felt pain and a lack of interest within my Libido. There just has to be a better option. I dont think I would have started BC if I knew about the cortisol and how it might fundamentally change me

Darth Luthien Drakarys

4y↑1

I learned very young that the pill could have serious short & long term effects, and I am SO excited to hear this brilliant woman spreading the message! I was lucky, I met a hospital department head Dr at 20 who taught me the best choices for me and gave me so much info I still pass on to the other women in my life, which has resulted in them asking more questions of their Doctors and finding alternatives to the pill for whatever reason(because any girls out there know it is an option pushed on us for so many things outside of birth control).
So far I haven't known a woman yet who has not benefited greatly from being able to avoid the pill or make a change to a more effective & less hormonally substanial option for whatever their needs may be. All have been better off for asking questions and learning about how much the pill can affect them in negative ways, and I just need to say a HUGE Thank You to this woman all she does!!!
Preach!!!

EspressoBug

4y↑1

I found the pill to be good for my mental health but awful for my physical heath. It did nothing to help the horrible painful heavy bleeding. In fact, it made me have more frequent cycles. And my body always felt strained, like I was dousing it in something that gave me a sense of malaise. My appetite was so difficult to keep under control. I never felt full no matter how large a meal I had. So I gained like 30 pounds or so. I just didn't feel right on it at all physically. I did like how it made me feel a bit more emotionally dull. Less high highs, but much fewer lows as well. But that sense of malaise just never let up. I didn't feel good in my body. So I got off the pill. And I never went back on it.

Linda L

3y↑1

I think birth control is awesome if your chosen method doesn't create any issues and having control over one's fertility is very empowering.

However, hormonal birth control should be taken with caution, as there are some of us who are very sensitive to hormonal imbalances which can cause major, unwanted side effects including depression, blood clots, and trigger early onset hair loss. I hope everyone can find a doctor who will do a careful assessment of their patient to minimise the risk rather than applying a one size fits all approach.

Isavella Papazikopoulou

4y↑17

I've been dealing with irregular periods, horrible pain, acne and depression since I first started menstruating. Tests revealed that at 21 I had the estrogen and progesteron levels of a premenopausal woman. Been on the pill 3 months, no pain, more self confidence, quit smoking.

Jessica R

4y↑4

Sometimes birth control just masks our symptoms and doesn't help us in the long term. That was my issue and have finally been diagnosed with PCOS, something that I can reverse naturally and improve my symptoms with supporting my body to produce the hormones I need.

Jyoti Krishnamohan

I love Sarah!! She's a bold woman who is helping several women make the right decision

Bobby Money

4y↑1

I like how the point of this video was to allow women to see that there are more effects on the body and mind than they are told, which in turn lets them have a more fair chance of deciding what they want to do. And yet there are children in the comments that literally only paid attention to her talking about men Testosterone and are now preaching about it. The point of the video wasn’t to sit here and start an argument or have a gender bash another, it was to inform us.

Meghan Servidio

4y↑5

There is an ocean of unexplored territory we still don’t know of the human brain. It’s both startling as well as intriguing. Very good talk, thank you.

Sally Reid

4y↑7

Since I’ve been taking the pill I feel like I’ve been more sensitive - but in a good way. I don’t have any depressive or despairing thoughts, but rather I feel more empathetic and creative. Like I’m more likely to cry when I hear a story about something courageous someone did or to marvel at the beauty of the sky. I actually like myself better lol. Has anyone else had a similar experience or have any thoughts?

Honey love

Yes I used to be cold and emotionless but now I feel more feelings lol I’m not as heartless I guess it gives you the opposite side effects that you are for example if your ready an emotional person it can make to worse for make you heartless and cold but if your not an emotional person it will make you have more emotions and feelings which can actually help in relationships and friendships

Oceana SisterMoon

4y↑6

Never been able to take it. it's so frustrating. Has effected my life greatly. Thank you for bringing up this.

Cristina Alexe

Extremely informative, thank you!!

dollores

4y↑31

That was a good listen she had a lot of valid points one must watch the whole thing to understand the point she is trying to make.

kwaam8

4y↑4

this is the type of info they need to teach in schools. not to scare girls, but to inform them of risks with each birth control option

Monalisa Paul

4y↑1

I swore off the pills in 2013 .. never felt better. It changed me as a person, I had a bad allergic reaction, mood swings and cycles of depression, addiction and anxiety. Never faced it since leaving the pills

Desire Klingensmith

4y↑18

I feel WAY more emotionally unstable ON THE PILL. I even had Nexplanon* (the arm implant) and it made me cry and feel suspicious for the whole 6 weeks it was in my body. I had nightmares every night, and I bled constantly. When I went to the doctor to have it removed, they were furious that I hadnt "given it a chance", and recommended I leave it in AND take the pill. I refused, and when they cut it out, they found out it was wrapped in lots of scar tissue. My body was trying to block it off and protect myself. Since then I started BBT charting, cervical mucus charting, and using other natural birth control methods.

Baukje

4y↑1

Desire Day by Day
I am sorry you had to go through that. They should learn doctors on medical school that: every human body is unique and can respons differently ánd that a patient knows his/her own body best and gutfeeling is very important!

Katie Ellis

4y↑1

Desire Day by Day I just remembered I had horrible nightmares on my birth control pills too

Bovice ☭

3y↑2

Used to date a girl on the pill, who seemed like every other month dealt with hardcore vertigo. I'm convinced it was the cause.

Dianne Penfold

3y↑2

I recently came off nexplanon because it made me have the worst anxiety I have ever had. The doctor said I had trapped stress and anxiety and its birth control that was making it worse. Its been 2 days since removal and I am starting to feel like myself again.

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