Since I got my IUD about a year and a half ago, I have been a huge advocate for long-term
birth control.
I mean I'm busy, I'm focused, and I don't want kids right now.
So the Mirena IUD, generally fitted my plan.
But, when I interviewed three other super-busy entrepreneurial women, they didn't quite follow
my logic.
I've tried um, I've tried Yaz, I've tried the NuvaRing, I've tried, um, a few of them.
And they just, I mean I'm prone to depression anyway, and I just really feel like they make
me down and really emotional.
I tried Depo Provera the, um, the shot, and I had a bad experience with that.
Mostly I couldn't have an orgasm.
You know, condoms, I'm like, I'm chilling when it comes to actual birth control right
now, because I just don't like the effects on the body.
And like I said, I'm in the age bracket where it's like, the more I can stay off of that
stuff, in preparation for a couple years when I want to have children, I just, I feel like,
the better it is.
If you haven't guessed, these women are not into hormonal birth control.
And it wasn't until I watched my interviews with them that I began to wonder, how informed
are busy women when it comes to all their birth control options?
So, I consulted an expert on professional women.
I'm gonna say a lot of times, your gynecologist isn't going to say "what do you know about
the latest products on the market?"
They're like "Well what do you want?"
So you almost have to go in knowing your order, and you never have seen the menu.
So a lot women don't even know how many options they have.
Like, I know that I didn't until I continued to read up, and I'm like "Wow, there's something
new," usually every time, every year there's something new.
So if you haven't, if you've been on this pill ten years and you've never brought up
this decision, the doctor's just going to write you another prescription for the pill,
or get you another shot, or get you whatever else, not knowing there's such a range of
options.
So for professional women, I think this is one of the areas of your life where you have
to be just as passionate and informed as you are on what neighborhood you're moving in
or what school your kids go to, like how am I gonna protect myself?
And how am I gonna pick something that works for my lifestyle?
Of course, I had to ask her about her birth control plan.
My current form of birth control is condoms.
Um, I've done the pill.
I ordered an IUD, prematurely before talking to my doctor, I went to a press event and
they were talking about this hormone-free IUD and I was like "Ooh I want one of those!"
And I went online and I ordered it- it was 500 dollars!
And then I went to my doctor and she said "Actually, because of my geography, I guess
the way my body was formed that I wasn't the best to have the IUD before I had children.
I definitely was like "Oh my God, I could put it in now and be done."
Really, I didn't do my part.
It's also a medical decision so you definitely should be engaged with a gynecologist you
trust.
And since that experience I've changed gynecologists because- she's great the woman I went to,
but even in talking with a second opinion, I had other doctors say "Well actually, you
could have done that."
As Sharia found out, and as I can testify for myself, the IUD is totally fine for women
who have never had children.
In fact, there's a new one coming out this month, that's designed for those women in
mind.
It's called Skyla, it lasts for three years, and it has a lower hormone rate than the Mirena
IUD.
And while I know the women I interviewed are on top of their birth control of choice, it's
worth mentioning that the way most couples use condoms, 18% of them will experience pregnancy
within a year.
Personally, I want something more foolproof than that.
I know there are amazing women who work and parent, but I can't quite see myself doing
it.
But, Sharia assures me it's possible.
Absolutely possible for a woman to be at the top her career, to achieve all her dreams,
and have children.
And that is possible with planning and with sacrifices.
And so all the women that I've interviewed and profiled, there definitely is a plan.
These aren't women who life happens to, these are women who are in control.
Whether you're parenting, working, or both, what better way to take control, than with
your birth control?