Condoms
and Responsibilities
If someone
would ask me as to what the best and safest birth control method is, condoms
will always be my top suggestion. And I know that some boys will complain about
being less sensitive or whatnot, but that shouldn’t be the main concern.
Condoms aren’t just for birth control; they can also help you avoid getting
certain sexually transmitted diseases. And trust me, you should be worried
about that too.
Girls, hear
me out, if the boy you’re seeing is not responsible enough to be okay with
wearing a condom, it’s a red flag. NO GUY CAN EVER KNOW WHEN HE’LL
PRE-EJACULATE. So, if you’re saying he’s good with the withdrawal method, trust
me, I’ve heard that several times and I know boys who have gotten someone
pregnant because they’re supposedly good at it. And a boy who refuses to wear
condom, can you really trust him with his sexual activities? What if he’s got
something too? Because there are sexually transmitted diseases that do not show
symptoms on men, because they only become the carriers. But once it hits us,
women… Boom! I told you so.
So again,
if your guy does not want to wear condom, do not be pressured to say yes to
him. He is a walking red flag, he doesn’t respect you, and he doesn’t care for
you.
But In
Case of Emergency, What Can You Do?
The
emergency pill isn’t available here in the Philippines. However, for those who
do not have or been using any form of contraception, there is the YUZPE METHOD. The Yuzpe
Method is an emergency contraception you can use legally here in the
Philippines by taking in 4 pieces of the Trust Pills (the lighter ones) within
the next 72 hours, post-intercourse; and then another 4 pieces of the Trust
pills (still the lighter ones) after 12 hours.
Remember
that its effectiveness is dependent on how soon you take the pills. Trust pills
cost less than Php 100.00, so it’s very convenient. However, there are negative
side effects. Your menstrual cycle may change, and it can cause nausea,
fatigue, vomiting, dizziness, among others. Keep in mind that it is just an “in
case of emergency” thing and should not be done regularly. You have a lot of
other regular contraception options, and you may consult your doctor about what
may work best for you.
Implant as a Cheaper Alternative
As some of
you know, you can get your contraceptive implant for free from government-funded
institutions or non-profit organizations like the Likhaan Center for Women’s Health
provided you have Philhealth.
However, if you’re as impatient as I am or you have a very busy and tight
schedule, you can also get yours through your OB-GYN. I got mine from Doc Zhy, because I am from
Pampanga and there is no Likhaan Center around my area, and trust me, she is an
awesome and cool doctor. The contraceptive implant I got is the Implanon
and it costs Php 3,000.00. I know it sounds more expensive than your regular pills
but imagine buying pills every month compared to getting an implant that can
last for three years. You do the math.
How
was my Experience in Getting the Implant?
She first
administered the anesthesia, which was the only thing that kind of stings, but
the implanting itself was pretty quick and I didn’t feel a thing. She then put
a bandage on it, advised to avoid getting the wound wet for 3 days, but make
sure I clean it up; and to avoid sexual contact without other forms of contraception
for the next seven days, just to make sure that the implant is already in full
effect. She also gave me my Implanon card and asked me to always keep it in my
wallet so that, in case of emergency, medical practitioners would know that I
have an implant on my arm and they shouldn’t remove it without my consent.
Frequently
Asked Questions about my Implant
Does it
hurt?
You can
feel the anesthesia prior to putting the implant, but once they put the implant
on your skin, nada! Zero pain. There will, however, be bruising. So, just rest
for about 3 days, no heavy lifting, and just let it heal. It may leave a small
(kind of just like a dot) scar, but aside from that, you have nothing to worry
about.
What are
the side effects of getting it?
Your body
adjusts to the hormonal changes, but the side effects vary per person. With
mine, it’s more of the irregular bleeding. The tolerable part about it is I
only get it for 2-3 days, and it’s very light. Sometimes, pantyliners can even
suffice. I didn’t experience mood swings, nor weight gain, so I guess I’m good
on that department. Remember that every body is different, so if you feel anything
unusual, you better ask your doctor about it so you can both plan a remedy.
What if
I want to get pregnant already?
No worries
because you can have it removed anytime you want. There really is no downtime.
You can try as soon as you want once you’ve already had it removed.
Do I
need to be on my period when I get it?
A friend of
mine asked me this because of a post she saw about it. I didn’t have my period when
I got the implant, so the answer is no, you don’t need to be on your period,
unlike when you’re starting your pill cycle intake.
As someone who advocates for sex education, and is very open to discussions and conversations about safe sex, I believe that it is my responsibility to help inform women of their choices when it comes to contraception. Like what I have mentioned earlier, I have received a lot of messages from women asking about implants, Yuzpe, and other forms of contraception. Most of these women are in their late teens and early 20s. So we cannot deny the fact that younger people are becoming more and more sexually active (and sometimes careless with their choice to not use any form of contraception) no matter how “conservative” some people want and think the country should be. And it is every woman’s right to choose when they want to have kids or if they want to have kids. Never let society dictate when you should be ready and if you should ever have one.
If you have more questions about the contraceptive implant experience, you can send me a message in my social media accounts or visit your nearest Likhaan Women’s Center or OB-GYN.
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