In high school, I started experiencing extreme period pain and symptoms: I’d spend more than a week vomiting and sweating, with severe cramping and heavy bleeding.
I was missing out on life.
During my periods, I was in so much pain that I couldn’t focus on anything other than trying to manage the symptoms.
I missed classes each month, but I was visibly unwell and the majority of my absences were excused. I spent hours catching up on missed lectures or assignments.
In one instance, my symptoms hit while I was at the salon for a hair appointment. I was sweating, shaking, and vomiting, and started crying and pacing because I couldn’t sit still in the pain.
I used to have to get up in the middle of the night to take an hour-long shower to cool myself down and soothe my period pain. And when I felt guilty for using too much water, I would lie on the bathroom tile so that I could be somewhere cold.
I didn’t want to make a habit of taking over-the-counter painkillers, so my mother and my doctor advised me to consider birth control as an option.
At the time, I wasn’t even aware that birth control could be used to combat period symptoms, but with both of their okays, I went for it.
After I started taking the pill, my period stayed the same length, but it became exponentially more manageable. (And later, when I switched to the IUD, my period almost completely stopped.)
For the first time, I didn’t have to worry about missing important events, planning my life around my cycle, staying home sick, or convincing people that I was legitimately incapacitated by something that doesn’t sideline most of the female population.
Before going on birth control, I would go through boxes of menstrual products every cycle. Overnight, I’d have to use two pads, shaping them into a kind of makeshift diaper to avoid leaks. I used tampons, but it was always better to wear a liner as well, just in case.
Alternatives like menstrual cups ended up being a waste of money because they just weren’t a good fit for me. Over time, the cost of replacing underwear, clothing, and bedding—as well as constantly stocking up on a variety of feminine care products—really adds up.
The pill was a great option before I was sexually active. I wasn’t great about taking it every day, so while it worked for pain management, it wouldn’t have prevented pregnancy.
As a sexually active adult, I needed a solution that was more comprehensive. My physician recommended an IUD, which has allowed me to get the best of both worlds when it comes to my sex life and period management.
My period—if I even get it—lasts no more than two days and is virtually painless, and my days of pregnancy scares ripped-condom-induced panic attacks, and just-in-case Plan B popping are over.
Since the reversal of Roe v. Wade, it’s hard not to worry about women losing access to birth control.
In the meantime, especially with the semi-permanence of an IUD, I’m comforted by the knowledge that my reproductive system—and, in turn, my physical and mental health—are still in my control.
A lot of people think sexual freedom is about having a lot of sex or indulging in kinks—but for me, it’s about making personal choices and planning my life according to my needs.
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Meagan Lane, 24, is a concierge and college preparatory advisor in Washington, DC. You can follow her on Instagram at @meaganhlane.