Why You Might Not be a Good Candidate for Hormonal Contraceptives
Nobody likes to hear the word “No,” but sometimes it is good for us.
I took hormonal contraceptives for 17 years until I was informed that I did not meet the CDC guidelines to receive the combination pill. My mom started me on the pill when I was 14 years old. I was the girl with the horrible headaches and vomiting and other ailments, especially when I got my period. Once I received the first prescription, the rest just followed.
It turns out that the horrible headaches with vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and numbness in my limbs made me a prime stroke candidate. I have what they consider “complex migraines” or “migraines with aura.” They weren’t daily, or even weekly, so I never thought them a significant problem. Sometimes I could beat them naturally; other times, medical intervention is/was necessary. Thankfully, I was lucky and never experienced a stroke. It was all thanks to a physician that took the time to listen, investigate, and care (thanks Doc).
[Side note: Not all migraines are a bad match for birth control. Actually, if you do not experience migraines with aura, birth control can actually help with common migraines caused by hormonal changes. If your migraines include: limb numbness, speech or language difficulty, muscle weakness, visual changes like zigzag lines, flashes of light, or blind spots, be sure to contact your healthcare provider].
There are a lot of reasons why a female might not be the right candidate for a particular type of hormonal contraceptive. Perhaps it is due to age, lifestyle choices, past medical history, prescription drug use, or even just metabolism. For example, females over 198lbs should not be on “The Patch” because the efficacy (or effectiveness) decreases. Women who have high
blood pressure, shouldn’t be on combination pills as it increases the risk of heart attack, clots, or stroke. Similarly, women who are over the age of 35 and smoke regularly, should also not be on a combination contraceptive due to increased risk of heart attack, clots, or stroke.
The United States Medical Eligibility Criteria (USMEC) issued by the CDC, lists in detail the eligibility criteria for women seeking hormonal contraceptives. So why are so many girls slipping between the cracks?
- We are unaware of a pre-existing condition. It is well understood that not everyone has access to affordable healthcare within the United States. It is essential to ask, listen, and learn when you get on any new prescription.
- We aren’t keeping up or revisiting long term prescriptions, be sure to check in every year with the physician that put you on your original prescription. Let them know about any new medications that you are taking.
- We are miscommunicating at the age of 14, and I didn’t know the difference between migraines or headaches, never mind with or without aura. I just said no. It’s safer to overshare with healthcare professionals, then keep it to ourselves. Likely, they’ve heard and seen far worse than any question we can throw at them.
So what happens if you are not a good candidate for hormonal contraceptives? You can still play it safe, but you need to be more careful.
- Consider diaphragms, male or female condoms, and/or spermicides. Female and male condoms also protect against sexually transmitted infections, and most insurances cover female condoms.
- Calendar rhythm methods are becoming more prevalent and reliable with emerging technology. There is a higher risk of unplanned pregnancy if this is your only contraceptive method, and using backup protection, especially when you are first beginning is strongly recommended. Natural Cycles and Femometer are two great options in this category.