Birth Control

I started my period on the later side: nearing my 16th birthday, I was the last in my close-knit group of girlfriends As if arriving fashionably late weren’t enough, my period made a dramatic entrance I experienced a heavy flow and painful cramps from the start After a few months it became apparent that a severe period and nausea-inducing cramps would be my norm So my mom began exploring options to ease my monthly struggle I was prescribed hormonal birth control before the end of the year

And it worked Within a few months, my periods were completely different Consistent down to the day, with lighter bleeding and no cramps, it seemed my problems were solved But while the positive side effects of birth control — eased cramps, reduced acne, and a lower risk of ovarian cancer — were generally…