I was on the pill from age 16-23 and when I came off it I was like suddenly not suicidal and my mental health began to get a lot better slowly but surely. For some people hormonal contraceptives are brilliant and do their job (and extra jobs like skin, regulating periods etc) perfectly. but if you went on it at a young age when your hormones are already not fully levelled out then I’d suggest stopping and seeing what it feels like without it. You can always go back on if want to later! I’ll never go back on hormonal contraception because I don’t want to risk going back, but for some people the opposite is true and it helps them feel more level! (Also warning my periods hurt more after coming off and I have suspected PMDD so there’s a danger zone every month, so be prepared for shit like that, but I’ll take a couple days of crazy a month over feeling like a suicidal zombie every day for years lol).
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I was put on birth control as a teenager (just because I was having sex which now seems insane) and was living in a different city when my prescription ran out. I was an idiot 21 year old and didn’t know how anything worked so I never got it refilled. It was like my body seemingly finished puberty. I actually really liked learning more about my body and my cycle. I haven’t gone back on any kind of birth control, hormonal or not, and I very much enjoy my body just being able to do its thing.
Jun 3, 2024
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For your skin, you can take spironolactone— it’s a much lower dose estrogen, so it won’t have as many symptoms (at least in my experience).
But also, your menstrual cycle, and your skin, will have changed over the past five years— if you want to go off birth control, you may find being off it feels better on your body.
I went off birth control 3 years ago, and my periods are more regulated now, and my body feels better. Some practical tips:
Keep a journal/track your cycle as you go off it, and remember it will take a few months for your body to regulate its own cycles again.
Be generous with yourself— you and your body are on the same team, and if you get crampy or cranky or period anxious, that’s your body communicating with you.
For the first few cycles, really plan your week around your period: I use my period as a week of rest, and now I look forward to it. I skip exercise classes, I eat iron rich foods, I go to bed early and I hang out with my girlfriends.
Think of your period as your body “wintering”; a season of rest and dormancy so that you’re reenergised for the rest of your cycle.
If you notice a change in your skin, you can start by using clindamycin topically— it’s a low dose antibiotic, and it will help stop breakouts from spreading. You can also try a retinol and a good moisturise.
Jun 3, 2024
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And did not enjoy it/was worried about potential side effects but I got a Mirena shortly after which as an aside I LOVE and would HIGHLY RECOMMEND to anyone who does want to be on some form of birth control because it’s the most efficacious and with the fewest side effects. the (very small amount of) hormones are delivered locally directly to the cervix rather than systemically throughout the whole body. I used to have debilitating periods and my IUD set me free from their reign of terror…
That said I’m sure there are ways to regulate your hormonal skin and period issues without being on birth control pills and I would 1000% encourage you to see what it’s like!! 🫶 It’s worth a try if you’re not even worried about preventing pregnancy
Jun 3, 2024
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I used to be envious of people who had “MySpace friends” or “tumblr friends”. Now I have PI.FYI friends. Thank you capyboppy for your lovely letter and this illustration of a capybara and a mouse with fruit on our heads, it made me weirdly emotional ❤️
Jun 11, 2024
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is gig etiquette dead? Don’t go to a gig if you wanna just talk to your mates! go to a pub it’s what they’re for!
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IT'S OUT MY RECORD IS OUT I LITERALLY AM CRYING. The culmination of 4 plus years of work. I'm...gonna go to bed now!
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