In my sophomore year of college, I decided to go off of the pill and get an IUD inserted. I had pondered making this change for a while, but was hesitant for a long time, as I had been on the pill for three years, and the small amount of information that I had heard about the IUD was scary. But, as a sexually active 20-year-old, I felt like I had no choice but to be on birth control and needed a change.
My consultation, which was done before the insertion at the University Health Center, was a quick spiel about how to prepare myself for the procedure, how it would go, and then how to take care of myself afterward. When the doctor told me that all I needed to do beforehand was take four ibuprofens, I didn’t know quite what to expect, but nothing could have prepared me for the pain that I would feel.
What I still describe as some of the worst pain I’ve ever felt, I do not at all regret my choice to get an IUD, but I do have quite a lot to say about it. Most passionately, there should be access to better pain alleviation for people with female reproductive organs undergoing this procedure, as well as the need for greater male involvement around birth control, with procedures like vasectomies.
There is no doubt that when it comes to these procedures, the issue of pain management is very often overlooked. Many women that I have talked to have a similar experience as myself: excruciating pain that four ibuprofens realistically cannot do anything about. Although it is a common contraceptive choice, the discomfort and pain that is very often associated with the insertion process can be a significant barrier to access for some.
With experiences varying among individuals, what may be tolerable to one person may be agonizing pain for another. Women deserve to have the right to access better pain alleviation methods with these procedures, which not only include physical pain management but also emotional support and informed consent throughout the process, which many do not receive.
Additionally, when discussing reproductive health and family planning, the conversations tend to focus on women, but men play an equally important role. Here, I want to bring up vasectomies, a form of contraception that I feel is often overlooked. A vasectomy is a very safe and highly effective form of contraception for men but is very much underutilized and stigmatized.
It seems as if many men are reluctant to get vasectomies because they feel that it may emasculate them. According to the Mayo Clinic, vasectomies have lower risks of complications and are much less expensive than female alternatives. By promoting more education around contraceptive options to all sexually active people, hopefully, we can encourage more men to take an active role in family planning.
True reproductive justice requires deconstructing barriers and creating a more positive culture around support and understanding of the many different available options. As taboo as some may see it, the conversation around safe sex must continue so that we can reach a point in which everyone has the resources and support needed to make the reproductive choices that are fit for them.