The Brilliance of Using Bedsider.org
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bedsider.org. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“Hey Mom, I want to get on the pill.”
This doesn’t seem like the typical thing one would openly say to their mother, especially when away at college and just-turned 21. But what an outsider may not realize is that my decision to start taking birth control was not for the typical desire to keep from getting pregnant, but rather for stability.
I was always very irregular then it came to my Time of the Month (TOTM). Sometimes I’d start at the end of the month, sometimes I’d have my TOTM in a three week gap, other times I’d go 2 months before starting again. This irregular cycle was crippling in my life. I would cramp up at random times, and be in extreme pain when I’d skip a month. I would get moody and irrational, and not realize until after the fact that this was due to PMS, as I didn’t know when I was supposed to have PMS. And forget wearing white or khaki, I never knew if today could be the day I started when I put on clothes. I can’t tell you how horrifying it would be to be in the middle of cheering at a football game in high school, and after finishing a routine realize that I started, and had exactly 5 minutes to make it to the bathroom before I visibly stained my white cheer skirt.
When the cramps hit, I’d often times have to stay home from school. The pain was so severe one time that I turned clammy and pale, and began vomiting. After a few years of enduring this, I knew that something was wrong and that something needed to be done.
After going to a gynecologist and testing to see if I have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), my doctor gave me options to regulate my cycle and try to bring the cramping down to a normal level. Of course, the biggest and most recommended option was birth control. She began discussing different methods, including a patch, a shot, a ring, and a pill. I was so overwhelmed that I took all the pamphlets home with me and just stared at them. How do I know which one will work? How do I know if it will help my condition, not just help eliminate the chance of getting pregnant?
The Benefits of Bedsider.org
This is where Bedsider.org would have come in great hand when I was making this decision. Upon being introduced to Bedsider, I browsed around their Method Explorer (where you can find and learn which method is right for you) and learned a lot more than I ever knew about various other birth control methods, and even more about my own method (the pill). I found it ironic that I was taking the pill to regulate my cycle rather than to increase my ability to have sex without pregnancy, yet my method was rated “great” on the “do me now” filter. No wonder the pill can have a risqué connotation!
I continued to browse the website and saw that they don’t just stop helping you with birth control after you make a decision on which one to take. Under the “Reminders” tab, you can set up a notification for Bedsider to nudge you and remind you when to take your pill (daily, weekly, monthly, etc) via email or text, and can set up a reminder to make an appointment to see your doctor. How cool is that?! No more having to worry you’ll forget or miss a dose.
Overall, the website is user-friendly and extremely helpful. The idea is that just like everyone has something different in their bedside drawer that describes their personality, there’s a different form of birth control that will fit each individual’s lifestyle just the same. Right now I am on Levora, a birth control pill that you take once a day, at the same time every day. This is easy for me, as I have an alarm set on my phone daily that reminds me. Should I ever decide to switch methods for one reason or another, I will be using Bedsider.org in order to learn more about my options.
Bedsider’s Pinterest Contest
On top of having awesome information for birth control options, Bedsider is having a giveaway in the form of a Pinterest contest, too! It’s really simple to enter, and a great way to get connected with others who are exploring their birth control options, as well! Here’s how to enter:
- Follow Bedsider.org on Pinterest.
- Create your own Pinterest board titled, “What’s in My Bedsider Drawer?”
- Repin this rules pin found here and at least one Bedsider’s 15 contest images found here from their board titled, “What’s in My Bedsider Drawer?” Be sure to tag each pin with the hashtag, #BedsideDrawer.
- Pin at least 5 additional images to represent your ideal bedside drawer. Tag each pin with the hashtag, #BedsideDrawer.
- Share your board’s URL on the Bedsider’s Facebook page here. Make sure to enter by 11:59 PM PST on May 29, 2013!
The Takeaway
I really hope that y’all will give Bedsider a try, especially if you’re thinking about trying birth control for the first time. Making such a big, important decision can be scary, and getting all the facts can help ease the pressure. They’ll help you find a method that works for you and your lifestyle, because much like one’s bedside drawer or table, everyone is different and has different needs in their routine.
Every girl has that bedside drawer that holds the bedroom essentials: their Kindle, a pair of reading glasses, sexy lingerie. – whatever fits their personality. No matter what your drawer says about you, there’s birth control that will fit right in. Find the best method for your routine and style at Bedsider.org.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bedsider.org.
 | By Sarah Lati |
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