Disclaimer: This post involves "female topics." If you're one of those men (or women) who scowl whenever you see a commercial for birth control or tampons, even if you're watching Oxygen or WEtv, then you should probably stop here.

I remember the day that I found out about birth control pills (BCPs).

I was 15 years old and having the kind of "sick" day that involves a heating pad and half a bottle of Midol. Flipping through the pages of Seventeen, I found an ad about Ortho Tri-cyclen that piqued my interest: Birth control can give you shorter, lighter periods with fewer to no cramps.

Shorter, lighter periods?!

No cramps?!?!?!?


I ran to the kitchen and exclaimed, "Mom! I want to get on birth control!"

Horrified, but always as cool as a cucumber (a trait that I didn't inherit), my mom said, "Okay.... Is there something you want to talk about?"

"Yes!! It can get rid of my cramps. It can make my periods lighter. I hate missing school. It sucks missing cheerleading practice."

"I hate that word -- 'sucks.' Don't say that."

"I know, I know. It's not lady-like. I'm sorry. Anyway, can we please go to the doctor and get a prescription? I'm realllly sick of this period crap."

"I hate 'crap,' too. Sucks, crap, pissed off. So harsh! I don't understand how they became a part of kids' language today. [*shakes her head*].... Well, I think we should go to the library first and look up some more information about the pills. I never took them, but you can also talk to your sister about her experience."

"Cool!"

"Are you sure there's nothing else you want to talk about?"

"Huh?"

*Gives me one of those "Mom" stares.*

"No! Geesh, not everybody's having sex.... You watch too much Lifetime."

"Weelll, most of those movies are based on true stories."

*Pause. Then both of us laugh.*

Fast-forward almost a decade of 4-day periods that came the fourth Wednesday of every month at 7 PM with no cramps, and 24-year old me begins to wonder if my body could use a break from those hormones.

Not only are Lu and I celibate, but just maybe my body had figured out this whole menstrual cycle thing on its own.

So one month, I ignored my reminder to refill my BCP prescription. Then a few weeks later, I took the final pill in my last pack, and that was that.

For the rest of the month, I was nervous. What is a "natural" period like? What if I have cramps that tear me in half? Or worse, what if I have one of those middle school horror stories, and everyone sees my stained white pants?

It actually wasn't that traumatic. One day, about four weeks after taking my last pill, I had a slight headache and was extremely tired. I guzzled down several cups of coffee and nothing was helping. Thinking I was getting sick, I went home and took a nap. I woke up, went to the bathroom, and my period had started.

"Hmmm, well that wasn't so bad."

Thirty-one days later, the same thing happened. Then another thirty-one days, and I was officially on a "cycle."

I began to note the interesting monthly changes in my body:

Week One: Normal Val
Week Two: Normal Val
Week Three: Sensitive but Mostly Normal Val
Week Four: Crying/Angry Val + 3 lbs., a snickers bar, and a few zits
P-Day: Tired Val + Headache

I learned to control the changes, so that they wouldn't affect my life. I drank tons of water, so I wouldn't retain those extra pounds. I did yoga and practiced self-talk to try to control the wave of emotions I would feel during the fourth week.... I would still eat my snickers bar.


As far as the few zits, I used spot treatments for the first month, which helped but dried out my skin. The following month, I created a skincare regimen for the first time in my life, and my face completely rebelled.... By the next month, I had about a dozen blemishes on my face -- fresh zits, almost-healed zits, scars from zits.

When I was an adolescent, I really didn't have problems with acne. Sure, I had the Clean & Clear and Stridex pads, but my face didn't really break out. On top of that, I have dry, sensitive skin. Most products for acne were too harsh for me to use on a daily basis.

By the time I was in high school, I got used to having a few pimples here and there. They lasted a few days and were no big deal. By the time I finished high school, my complexion was flawless... despite the fact that I only used regular Dove soap and Palmer's cocoa butter lotion... only in the morning... sometimes.

Therefore, dealing with acne in my mid-twenties was beyond annoying. After shelling out money on cleanser, toner, and moisturizer, I noticed that my face was softer but still broken out. Frustrated, I did research on various acne treatment systems -- most of which were still too harsh for my dry skin.

What could be causing these breakouts? The change in weather? Stress? Not drinking enough water? More importantly, what could I do to get my face back to normal?!

Like most things people search for in life, I found the answer to my problem when I wasn't looking for it.

After Lu and I got engaged, I knew that I wanted to start birth control about 3-4 months before the wedding. That way, my body could go through any physical and/or emotional adjustments that it needed to before the big day.

My first month back on BCPs, I only had two new pimples. By the second month, most of my old zits had healed. As I begin my third month back on birth control, I only have a few scars from my several months of breakouts.

That's when I remembered the one benefit of birth control that I'd completely forgotten about: BCPs help with mild to moderate acne.

I didn't "outgrow" my acne like I'd assumed. My body just doesn't have crazy hormone surges when I'm taking pills. Like my clockwork periods, my flawless face was a positive side effect of being on birth control!

I'm not suggesting that everyone with acne should run out and get The Pill. There can be side effects, some severe. It's definitely a decision that should be discussed thoroughly with a doctor. Personally, I'm glad that I started using BCPs again... and my face is thankful, too.