PERSONAL ESSAYS

Reader Feedback on "Rough Patch"

I had the same issues w/birth control pills back in the bad old days when they put about 100mg of estrogen in the pill, and experienced the same self-satisfied paternalistic attitude from the doc. They gave women way too much estrogen initially, and I had wicked migraine side effects, so never took them--luckily, it turns out. the author should try the cervical cap--much smaller than the diaphragm, you can wear it longer, doesn't give you UTIs (like the diaphragm can and does, but the MDS won't tell you this), and is way more reliable than condoms,(which you still need to be absolutely sure and to protect against STDs.) but it puts the power (and responsibility) back into the woman's hands. it holds back your flow so you can wear it during your period, just don't leave it in (use condoms). I'm so thoroughly disgusted w/the FDA, w/using women as guinea pigs (hormone replacement, thalidomide, DES, etc). If this happened to men, there's no question the drug would be pulled--or maybe not even placed on the market to begin with. Even the studies are whack. As Mark Twain said, there's lies, damned lies, and statistics. Thanks for your article and for listening to your gut instead of some tool in a white coat.
--LB
03/19

Screamingly funny despite the lurid descriptions of bodily functions. Gripping (as in "by the testicles") use of language in the weave of the story. Much appreciated even though I'm just a man... ;-)
--kyt
11/25

I had bad experiences with the Patch as well. If they can put a man of the moon, surely science can invent an easy form of birth control that doesn't drive one crazy!
--TJW
11/03

This was a genuinely great essay. I could see those visuals. I laughed, and being a patch user myself, I could most definitely sympathize!!
--SSG
10/21

HILARIOUS!! Sorry you had to experience this sordid affair with the patch, but thank you for bringing it to our attention. I sure won't be trying that shit!
--RH
10/18

"Well, that's your problem," he said, leaning back behind his big, wooden desk. "You didn't give it enough of a chance." AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I hate your doctor! It could never be that the drugs are bad for you, it's always your fault - if you just stay on the thing that is HURTING YOU long enough you'll get used to it and it will work. Thank goodness for my copper IUD that works by witchcraft. I'm so glad you listened to yourself.
--JLP
10/13

My doc wouldn't give me an IUD because I've never had a baby. When I said I didn't want one, ever, she said I'd "change [my] mind -- Everyone does."
--grr
10/12

Actually for the women who read this article, and might be on the patch I just wanted to say that I am a woman who experienced the "side effects" of the patch. In the form of a pulmonary embolism. For anyone who doesn't know that is a blood clot in your lungs. I wasn't "over 35" (where they say the risks increase), or a smoker, I was just a 19 year old girl who wanted to have a good back up, because I didn't want to get pregnant when I had sex with my boyfriend. I woke up one morning and struggled for air, my boyfriend rushed me to the nearest emergency room, where they determined I had a clot in my lungs because of the patch. I was hospitalized, out of work and school for some time, and I had to be on medication which required my blood to be drawn regularly. Before this I had NO symptoms of any problems for the year I was on it. For those of you who don't think it can happen to you it can, and I urge every woman not to use it. For the record I have an IUD now and have for the past two years and I love it. Look into that instead of the patch, the difference it could make could be your life.
--AD
10/11

You should have given the Nuvaring a chance!
--AS
10/09

try more oral sex. turn it into more than throat fucking and rapid tongue movement. it's quite an investment, so make sure you have a committed partner. my wife takes full control and i've grown to love it.
--dwp
10/09

Great read. Thanks!
--PMJ
10/09

I was on various types of hormonal birth control for 8 years, and then i switched to a copper IUD. It is truly awesome: no hormones, fewer migraines, no maintenance, and no babies.... for up to 10 years. It is a wonder. Look into it.
--rcr
10/08

I was on the Patch for less than a week when I was 17. It made me crazy enough to stand up to the Planned Parenthood nurse when she scolded me about dropping it after a few days. I feel totally vindicated by this article. Thank you.
--MSB
10/07

Um, you know that the fish thing was in no way unexpected or evidence of the harm of hormonal birth control, right? You give a male (human, fish, whatever) a high dose of estrogen for his body size, he develops female traits. That's how MTF transexuals grow boobs, reduce facial hair, etc. Similarly, you give a female high doses of testosterone, she grows facial hair, a larger clitoris, etc.
--ps
10/07

Yes! Try the NuvaRing. It's the only hormonal form of birth control I've tried, but aside from about a week of itchy vaginal issues and discharge (sorry, TMI) and some initial breast plumping (which in my case was NOT desirable, although they did firm up some), I've had no long term side effects at all for the 2.5 years I've been on it. Occasional spotting, but only when I've been living in close proximity with a whole bunch of women, which will screw up anyone's period. Thanks for this great, funny essay.
--CS
10/07

I've been very happy with the NuvaRing. The pill made me emotional and bloated (cried during lost distance phone ads, crazy) - I don't seem to notice any effects with NuvaRing (it's also supposed to be a lower, local dose of estrogen). I also recommend the progesterone-only pill for women who are at risk of blood clots. It's almost as effective (97%) and no estrogen. Also safe for breast feeding if you have one babe and are trying not to have another. But, it does have to be taken at the same time every day and I had a lot of spotting with it (needed a panty liner most days...), although I think the spotting goes away for most women. And I am a medical professional, for the record.
--MM
10/07

Yeah, I always suspected the patch to be a bad idea. It didn't even make logical sense that it would be less estrogen than the pill. Plus, why would I want to have something stuck on my skin for weeks? I can't even keep myself from picking irritably at band-aids within a few hours of their application, and their really is no good place to put it. The pill, on the other hand, has worked really well for me. It's true that all medications carry some risks, and it's riskier for some women than others. I'm low-risk and my experience has been really good--no side effects at all, and shorter periods. I only spot when I got sloppy about taking it (And I have to get pretty sloppy.) So it is something worth trying out. As for shared responsibility in birth control, I'm of two minds. On the one hand, sharing responsibilities, whatever they may be, always sounds like a good thing to me. On the other hand, if he messes up, it's still going to be me that gets pregnant.
--LT
10/07

I luuuurve my birth control pills. Passionately, unconditionally, for the past ten years. I used to go six months without a period, then bleed for a couple months straight. Now I have short, light, predictable periods. I never have cramps, I never have to use anything more than a junior tampon, and I haven't had any side effects at all. The anti-cancer effects are a nice bonus too. I know my experience certainly isn't everyone's--lots of women get nauseous the first week, some women get breakthrough bleeding, a few really unfortunate women have blood clots--but OCPs are one of the safest medications out there. It's important to recognize that ANY medication can have adverse effects, but I hope stories like this don't scare young women away from safe, reliable methods of birth control. OCPs are actually safer than a lot of the stuff we pop like candy (example -- ten Tylenol is enough to kill a normal adult -- and we give that stuff to kids without a second though!).
--lyg
10/06

I'm not sure what "emotional lability" is, but other than that this was freakin' hysterical. Oh, and informative, too. I do love a good puke story.
--gw
10/06

Great article - I hope Nerve gals share it with others. I don't touch hormonal birth control. A few years ago, a new boyfriend was urging me to go on the patch (and, no, he was not a medical professional of any kind). If I may steal a quote from the article, I told him, "Bitch, no." I actually had to tell this idiot that the sex was so infrequent and, frankly, subpar, that I wasn't about to put my health on the line for it or him. I also indicated that he was no longer my boyfriend. Anyhoo, beware hormonal patches bearing gifts. Or something like that.
--vm
10/06

Another woman happy with an IUD. Although, FAM is worth looking into too. I HATE hormonal birth control.
--SN
10/06

Since I was 18 I have tried The Pill, The Patch, The Ring, some other pills, and all of them made me moody, smell sensitive, and extremely prone to gagging. F all that, I am going 8 years strong on a mix of noticing what time of the month it is, condoms, sometimes Spermicide, and pulling out. And all my friends who used hormone based methods have babies.
--ggg
10/06

Hilarious. I hated hormonal birth control. My IUD has saved my butt (from both patch irritation and pregnancy weight). I have very few complaints, seems like the best fit overall.
--CJ
10/06

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