What 17 Magazine Didn't Tell You About Birth Control

The April 2012 issue of Seventeen Magazine ran what I guess you can call an article, but it is really quotes from 3 teens about the types of birth control they take, titled “What no one tells you about birth control” (you can find it on page 92).  All of these quotes have positive, it has changed my life, better then sliced bread, tones to them. While I was reading this all I could think was that I know this, and I know that, and you have to be clueless not to know that! So in response to this article I’m going to tell you the things you are less likely to know about birth control.




Intrauterine Device (IUD) “No one will ever know I’m on it”

Intrauterine devices are placed in a woman by a doctor and will keep a fertilized egg from settling in the lining on the uterus. If you believe that life begins at conception then this is not the birth control for you. I personally classify these devices as abortifations, because they cause “mini” abortions. The sperm has fertilized the egg creating an embryo. The IUD keeps the embryo from implanting in the lining of the uterus, and since it never settles it can never fully develop into a fully grown baby. I must stress that conception HAS occurred with this type of birth control. No one has know you have it but you, your doctor, God, and all the children that where conceived and never born.

Depo-Shot “I don’t need to remember it everyday”

This is a shot that you get about every six months. Mechanisms of action are not very clear. However, it is believed to alter the cervical mucus and the endometrial environment preventing penetration by sperm, and prevent implantation of an embryo. Also it may suppress ovulation. Altered cervical mucus, could be a change in its density and/or a change in its acidity level.  This along with change in the endometrial environment makes it hard for sperm to survive when in a woman. It also could prevent implantation of a fertilized egg, because of the change in the endometrial environment. Suppressing ovulation will keep the ovaries from releasing and egg each month.

The Pill “It cleared up my skin”

Yes the pill will clear up your skin, its true. The pill is full of hormones that will keep you skin pretty clear. And if that’s the only reason your taking the pill, don’t call it birth control, call it hormones. However, I worked for a cosmetics retailer for a while, and I feel I can say confidently that keeping a strict skin care regimen with washing, exfoliating, moisturizing, and using specialty products will keep your skin clear too.

There are many different types of “the pill”, but most just generally change hormone levels to inhibit ovulation, thins the cervical mucus, and prevent implantation of the embryo of the uterus.

“The Pill” should be used cautiously if there is a history or possibility of:
·         Pregnancy
·         History of blood clots
·         Valvular heart disease
·         Diabetes
·         Uncontrolled hypertension
·         History of breast cancer
·         Liver disease
·         Regular/reoccurring headaches

Taking other drugs such as penicillin and drinking alcohol can lower the efficiency of “the pill”.

Taking corticosteroids and beta blockers can put someone taking “the pill” at risk for toxicity, thus increasing the risks and effects.

Smoking can increase the risk of pneumonia caused by an embolism.

The four most dangerous side effects all involve the cardiovascular system, which includes your heart veins and arteries. 

·         Cerebral hemorrhage- Bleeding in the brain
·         Cerebral thrombosis- Blood clot in the brain. If it becomes an embolism can cause stroke.
·         Coronary Thrombosis- Blood clot in the coronary arteries, connected to the heart. If it becomes and embolism, it can cause a heart attack, and death.
·         Pulmonary Embolism- A Blood clot that has been released and has traveled to the lungs. Can cause severe drop in blood pressure, collapse, and death.  

These are things that I believe someone should know about before taking birth control, the information is there and all you have to do is ask your doctor. All of this information came from Davis Drug Guide, a book that you can purchase in Barnes and Noble. This is also information that you can just google. So why did Seventeen Magazine not put any hint of it in their article that was supposed to be about what you didn’t know about birth control…?  I just urge you to do your homework before taking any medicine, cause you never know if the side effects are something you want to risk. God made us the way we are and humanity has survived for thousands of years because of it. So why would you mess with the chemical balance that was made perfectly when the only thing that could go “wrong” is to end up pregnant?


~Bridget