Trusty Backup

Dear ring,

You have truly changed my life, as someone with anxiety I used to live in fear of a condom failure but now I have you as my backup. Not only that but you haven’t changed my cycle, it is still 29 days so thank you so much for adapting to me, instead of making me adapt to you. Keep hanging in there little buddy.

Javiera, Chile

Long-Ass Cycle

Dear my period cycle,

We’ve been on a long and hard journey together. Even from a young age, your irregularity scared me. Before I started the pill at age 16, my last cycle was 54 days long and that was before I started having sex. More recently at age 19, I stopped the pill (and switched to condoms) and you took 60 days to arrive AND you bleed through my jeans. You really scared me. Even when I know I am not pregnant. So now I’m back on the pill, thanks a lot to my period cycle.

Rachel, Scotland

Diagnosis Party!

Dear period,

Here we are. About 9 years after my first period. It has been a wild ride so far. Over the past years we have dealt with so many irregular periods, horrible cramps, pregnancy scares and so much more. I have always felt that there was something a bit off about you. I never knew what and I was never encouraged to figure it out. Never. I was actually advised against figuring out what was actually wrong. I felt helpless, scared, frustrated and so much more. Until I was done with all of that and decided that I needed to know what was wrong. We have dealt with 3 types of different birth control pills, broken condoms, an implant, coitus interruptus, fertility awareness methods to finally come to the hormonal coil. Because the other methods weren't especially helpful with regulating you and giving me the security I needed to feel safe, I came down to the decision to get a hormonal coil. Not using any other birth control except condoms was not an option because my partner didn't feel safe enough. So I came down to a coil. But not after I went to multiple doctors to insist a examination about PCOS. I had read so much about this hormonal disorder that I was certain that this was it. And it was. Finally after all those years of not knowing what was happening, I finally do. And it brings me so much joy that I don't have to question my period every time it happens.

Love Sophie

Sophie, Netherlands

Pre-Pill

Dear Pill,

I am glad to say that I’ve just celebrated a year without you in my life after two and a half difficult years with you in it. Despite protecting me from pregnancy, you caused many changes to my mind and to my body that really hurt me. You caused me to retain water, go through worse periods than pre-pill life, and lead to me spiralling into depression. I was not happy in myself at all. Things have changed a lot and I feel like my pre-pill self again (finally!).
You really won’t be missed, condoms are much better for me now!

Georgia, UK

Left a Scar

Dear Implant,

I read so many reviews and talked to friends before finally deciding on you. You were a bit painful to begin with. We had 9 lovely carefree months together. I didn't have to worry about a thing but I was worried about everything and anything. I became depressed and anxious, maybe not entirely your fault. However, I decided we should part ways and it was a nice clean break-up. You've left me a scar but I am happier now, hormone free and surprisingly worry free.

Switching to condoms was easier than I thought with my partner supporting me 100%. I feel lucky to have them and now to be hormone free.

Love
Lucy

Lucy, Scotland

Peace of Mind

Dear The Pill,

From the age I first got my period (12) to 18, I was suffering from horrible cramping, irregularity and intense PMS symptoms. I dealt with it until I become sexually active was constantly spending money on pregnancy tests due to my irregular period causing fear that condoms hadn't worked. I finally decided enough was enough and started you, Pill. You changed my life. Not only have you regulated my period and made it a million times less painful, I can have sex with the peace of mind that if a condom was to break, there's a very low chance of me becoming pregnant. Most importantly, you have improved my mental health dramatically. Thank you Pill for making my life easier

Much love,
Louisa

Louisa, Australia

Goodbye Pill, Hello Condoms!

Dear Pill,

It's been a while since I've given you much thought.

I'd say I'm sorry but I'm not.

October 2019 (9 months ago) after many years of yearning for change. I stopped taking you. You suited me at the start, throughout my late teens and early 20s but I grew anxious at the thought of you and what effects you were having on my body. We spent 7 years together but during most of that time I feared a missed pill, the long term effects on my body, infertility but above all I knew my mental health was suffering badly! I did consult my doctor about non-hormonal methods but all in all I didn't get great help, they tried. Saying goodbye to you was the best decision of my life! I feel like myself.

The pms symptoms I get have changed a bit now (sorer menstrual cramps, headaches, fatigue, moodiness, sore/heavy boobs) but at least I can rest assured that it is my natural body doing its thang! I'm lucky to have a loving supportive boyfriend who has been so helpful. We use condoms at all times and though I thought it would stress me out so much, I actually feel more in control then I ever did with you, pill. Our relationship and our communication has benefited so much through navigating condoms and everything else. I'm just so happy, dont know what I was so afraid of!

Thanks for the time you gave me,

You did come in handy in fairness

So long old friend,
Claire x
Claire, Ireland