A Tale of No Babies
There are a lot of misconceptions about sex, family planning, and birth control; especially in Nigeria. In our teenage years while our hormones were running amok in our bodies barely anyone helped us understand how normal it was. Instead, we were shamed for crushes and mistakes when all the while, we needed gentle guidance. So, here I am telling you some of the things I wish I knew awhile ago.
According to Wikipedia; Birth control, also known as contraception and fertility control, is a method or device used to prevent pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth control only became available in the 20th century. Planning, making available, and using birth control is called family planning. Some cultures limit or discourage access to birth control because they consider it to be morally, religiously, or politically undesirable.
I was prepared for the judge Judy stares and the cynical dismissal... Nigerian nurse style, letting you know your ailment is a burden and not regular programming. I was not prepared for the super low prices and detached efficiency. I don't think there's enough information about birth control and family planning... especially for young sexually active people available off the internet. Having children can be very scary even when you're a "responsible" adult who is prepared to have them. Although abstinence remains the best protection, abstaining doesn't work for everyone. Additionally, birth control can perform many other functions beyond preventing pregnancy such as; reducing the risk of uterine cancer, aiding with dysmenorrhea, manage endometriosis, reduce the risk of ovarian cysts, etc.
When I finally stumbled upon Birth Control in my twenties, I truly believed the myth that using them would affect my future chances of getting pregnant. A very valid concern but also false. Additionally, there is also a direct correlation between emotional, mental health, and FINANCES when a woman is able to choose when to have children and space them widely too. “According to a 2013 Guttmacher Institute review of more than 66 studies, spanning three decades; reliable contraception allows women to be better parents. Among the findings: couples who experience unintended pregnancy and unplanned childbirth are more likely to have depression and anxiety—while adults who plan their children tend to be happier. Relationships are more likely to dissolve after an unplanned birth than a planned one. And those who are unprepared to be parents are more likely to develop a poor relationship with their child.”
Anyway, after much deliberation and countless Google searches, I made a trip to a Federal Medical Center, ie funded by the government, and directed myself to their family planning clinic. Personally, my major concerns when selecting my birth control method; of which there were A LOT of options included getting a minimally invasive technique, not having to remember to take pills diligently every day, access a method with the highest possible efficiency; 99% nor increase my frequency of migraines since I’m a sufferer. The nurse took my temperature, weight, height, and medical history after which she asked me to go pay 650 naira to the cashier. Um, eskiss ma, did you mean 6500? or 65k? She said no, six hundred and fifty naira only. I'm not sure you can get diapers for 650 naira.... and here I was getting 3 years’ worth of pregnancy free months for 650 naira. I could've kissed her in elation.
I chose the Levnorgestel implant inserted on the inner side of my left arm. The needle and syringe looked very scary to be honest but it was just a mild pinch and I was good to go. The Levnorgestel implant is a hormonal device placed subdermally in a woman’s arm and is about the size of a match stick. It releases small doses of the progestin hormone which tells your ovaries not to release eggs and makes the mucus in your cervix thicker as well which prevents sperm from getting to any eggs that are released. This method aids with painful periods have a 99% efficiency rate and reverses its effects almost immediately it’s taken out. On the downside, it is contraindicated for people with high blood pressure, diabetes or persons who are overweight. The removal was another matter but let's focus on only the positives for today. The insertion took such a short while and really put my mind at ease afterward. I'm not the best judge of character but I would say I've acted pretty normal since then; the mood swings, weight gain, and any other side effects have not been horrendous.
I'm a firm advocate for women owning their bodies and doing what's right for them at whatever point they are at. I definitely wish that male partners could take more responsibility towards family planning and even just wearing condoms because birth control does not prevent STI's & D's. In the absence of that, there are so many options open to women that we should definitely explore. This article is a personal experience and does NOT presume to offer medical advice or supersede the instructions of trained medical professionals. May the days of pregnancy scares stay safely behind us... Love and Light