Reasons I use OCP: Obvious Conventional Purposes

Quite the contrary, if I do say so myself. OCP actually stands for Oral Contraceptive Pill, commonly known as birth control or even the pill. Some people say with a negative connotation,  but it doesn’t seem fair for this diversely applicable medication to be stuck with such a misnomer. OCP’s do so much more than prevent pregnancies, even if it may not seem obvious. Here are some reasons why your physician might prescribe you the pill.

Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual periods) 

Blood. It’s inevitable. You can’t forgo menstruation without it, and if you can, you should definitely consult with your physician. The strength of flow varies depending on the person. Still, you may have reason to believe that your period is too strong to be normal (for example, you’re always needing to use maximum absorbance sanitary products). Ultimately, it’s your call whether or not you think the problem is significant enough to seek medical attention and diagnosis. This condition of abnormally heavy periods is twofold; not only does your menstruation uphold the fond nickname “Auntie Flow”, but you also become at risk for iron-deficiency anemia. 

Common sources of this condition include hormonal imbalance, hereditary factors, blood clotting disorders such as von Willebrand disease, and in some unfortunate cases, a severe disease. Depending on your diagnosis, your doctor will offer possible treatments. It’s very likely and reasonable that he or she will recommend OCP. Birth control contains the hormone estrogen, which thickens the blood, thins the lining of the uterus, and promotes clotting, all of which work to lighten your flow. 

Dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps)

Part of approximately every month got me feelin’ some typa way. I just can’t contain myself when I experience, as most medical websites say, “nausea, emesis, diarrhea or constipation, distention of the abdominal area, and cephalgia.” Don’t get me wrong, menstrual cramps affect almost all people who menstruate. After all, this muscle constantly tenses up and relaxes. Unfortunately, the contractions can become so strong that the uterus presses against nearby blood vessels, temporarily cutting off oxygen supply and causing you pain.

A lot of the time, these symptoms can be relieved by taking over-the-counter drugs and practicing self care routines. But some genuinely have it worse than others. It goes far beyond the variation of pain tolerance among the population. How can we define “worse” (and all of those medical terms)? Extreme symptoms may include the urge to vomit, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, bloating, and headaches. 

If it’s unbearable enough that you’re unable to attend work/school, participate in activities, and just function as a whole, this is where OCP’s come into play. Since the medication prevents ovulation it also helps to ease the uterine contractions. 

Abnormal cycles 

No fancy medical term for this one. It can be really problematic and stressful whenever your periods are inconsistent. Not being able to predict whenever you need to carry around extra sanitary products, wear black pants, or avoid doing cartwheels can be super nerve-wracking. Pregnancy scares are definitely emotionally taxing as well. We could all use a little more consistency in our lives. During a check-up appointment, your medical history is updated, including information about the first day of your most recent period. This could be a good opportunity to mention your concerns if you don’t want to be so forward about it to your general practitioner. 

OCP contains estrogen and progestin, the same hormones organically produced by the ovaries. Taking the pill everyday will regulate your menstrual cycle by mimicking the release of the hormones with a more ideal timing. Remember to take your birth control consistently or you’ll disturb this process and end up where you started. 

Acne vulgaris (pimples and face blemishes) 

I would like to start this section off by saying that you are beautiful no matter how you look. It hurts knowing that there is almost always something that you dislike about your appearance. If you’re confident in yourself and embrace every aspect of yourself regardless of appearance, you deserve it and I hope you never stop feeling that way. 

Still, I don’t know a single person that would wish acne upon themselves. Luckily, the cosmetics and skincare industry is booming right now. There are so many cleansers, toners, exfoliators, moisturizers, serums, ointments, face masks, and a myriad of other products at your disposal. It’s up to you to figure out what works for you specifically. Except you may not ever get to that point. You know you’re doomed when you can’t even remedy your acne with those overpriced products and regimens endorsed by influencers and celebrities. If it gets to the point that those ill-informed self care threads on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram don’t even work, you might find yourself thinking it’s time to give up and accept your fate.. At this point, you’re left with drinking 8 cups of water a day, perhaps from a literal holy grail. 

It’s so frustrating when people tell you “aLL yOu HAvE tO Do iS WaSH yOUr fACe!!!” Right… I’m sure you’ve never thought of that before. Before you go on blaming yourself for your inadequate self maintenance, please consider that the cause of those stubborn blemishes may be hiding below the surface of the skin. One culprit is hormone imbalance. The same hormones in OCP’s that are used to treat the other issues already discussed will help in regulating acne. For severe cases of acne, you may be put on another medication called Accutane®, generically known as Isotretinoin. Birth control is essential to the course of treatment; it must be taken in conjunction with Accutane® in order to prevent severe, life-threatening birth defects if taken during pregnancy. Remember that acne is far more than skin-deep, and there are plenty of solutions for everyone.

Coitus/Copulation (SEX!!) 

I mean it’s called birth control for a reason. Everyone is entitled to decide how they want to approach  family planning. If you’re considering going on birth control for the purposes of avoiding pregnancy while engaging in sexual activities, that’s enough of a reason. Sexual shame is a real thing, especially with the current social climate and stigmas regarding literally anything that even remotely has to do with a woman taking agency over her body (but that’s a conversation for another time….). If you engage in intercourse with intentions other than reproduction you shouldn’t have to justify it with any of the other benefits of taking OCP’s. 

I’ll finish on this note: any reason to go on the pill is a valid one. I know some people that take birth control for every single reason discussed in this post (me, I’m that person). My goal is to spread a little more awareness about the wide applicability of this medication. Of course, there are far more reproductive conditions that can be alleviated by taking it. I’ve only chosen a couple conditions that tend to be the most relatable to my peers. Always consult with your physician to get their professional medical opinion and make sure that you’re well informed about how OCP’s affect your body before making the decision to go on the pill. Hopefully this post made the purposes of birth control a little more obvious to you.

 

Art by Alessandra Olanow