<p>[50th</a> Anniversary of the Pill: Love, Sex, Freedom and Paradox - TIME](<a href=“http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1983712,00.html]50th”>http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1983712,00.html)</p>
<p>[Five</a> Myths About the Birth Control Pill - Barbara Kantrowitz - Newsweek.com](<a href=“http://www.newsweek.com/id/237496]Five”>http://www.newsweek.com/id/237496)</p>
<p>I’ve enjoyed listening/reading about this anniversary and the impact this tiny little pill has had on our lives. Hard to imagine what life was like prior to its development.</p>
<p>The first birth control pill had 150 mcg of its estrogen in it. Today, the highest about of estrogen in any birth control product is 50 mcg.</p>
<p>A side affect of the pill I was never told about, but which I experienced. Some women, after being on the pill and then stopping it to try to achieve pregnancy, will never begin to spontaneously ovulate unassisted. Twice I had to take clomid in order to stimulate my ovaries to release eggs after waiting for that to happen naturally for 6-9 months. Dumbly, I went back on the pill eventually and then wanted off again to conceive. Again, natural ovulation would not occur and so it was back to clomid. After the last pregnancy, I never went back on the pill for fear that I would be unable to achieve a consistent time of spontaneous periods on my own. I have now been pill free for 15+ years and would never go back on them again. I wish I had known this was a real risk for some women.</p>
<p>I think the Pill has been an excellent “invention” for many, many women. Unfortunately, it was never a good option for me (migraines). My D tried it due to cramps & acne … MAJOR mistake for her. It wasn’t a good option for me, but it was a terrible option for her! It caused a year of health issues, including hair loss, depression, anxiety, abdominal pains, worsened migraines, etc. I finally took her to a naturopath who helped get her hormones on balance with supplements (that is, the underlying problem was treated, not the symptoms).</p>
<p>It’s not that I don’t think it’s great. I just think that if the medical world could understand that there are a number of women for whom the Pill is not a viable option, there might be some research into new methods of contraception. I feel like that ended when the Pill gained such wide-spread popularity. I struggled with birth control until my H had a vasectomy when we were in our mid-30’s.</p>
<p>I’m 51 and guessing I wouldn’t be here if the pill was 51 also. Whewwww.</p>