CONTRACEPTION

I recently got a contraceptive implant did at Marie Stopes (Vietnam).

I had always toyed with the idea of going on the pill but my shit memory would brick me, and, the thought of an IUD felt too close for comfort.

I am personally also not a fan of risking everything on cycle-clocks or pulling-out because 1. My periods are irregular AF
2. That’s just dancing in a thunderstorm with a soup pot for a hat TBH.

Me and Erik had long discussions about this because #efficiency and its #2018 so this is stuff you need to talk about as a TEAM.

So, CONTRACEPTION? THESE ARE YOUR OPTIONS.

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Children by CHOICE, not CHANCE.

“CONTRACEPTION? YOU HAVE OPTIONS!”

Birth Control Overview

“I CHOSE IMPLANON.”

Implanon is a hormone-releasing birth control implant for use by women to prevent pregnancy for up to 3 years. The implant is a flexible plastic rod about the size of a matchstick that contains a progestin hormone called etonogestrel.

How does IMPLANON work?

IMPLANON prevents pregnancy in several ways. The most important way is by stopping the release of an egg from your ovary. IMPLANON also thickens the mucus in your cervix and this change may keep sperm from reaching the egg. IMPLANON also changes the lining of your uterus.

How well does IMPLANON work?

When the IMPLANON implant is placed correctly, your chance of getting pregnant is very low (less than 1 pregnancy per 100 women who use IMPLANON for 1 year).

Ovarian Cross Section ABCs

It is a little stick that feels like EXTREMELY SOFT FOAM. With rubbery tips on both ends.
[Très minimalist chic!]

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It gets implanted with an applicator. This is how it gets inserted into your arm!

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The nurse was laughing because I told her my pain limit was PAPER CUT.

I was told to LIE DOWN and STAY CALM. When asked if it will hurt, she said no while avoiding eye contact.

They clean the area, inject local anaesthetic into your arm (THIS WAS HONESTLY THE WORST PART FOR ME so that means that all of you considering this will survive!), and then wait awhile before plunging the sucker in.

THIS IS ALL I MANAGED TO CAPTURE BEFORE I TURNED AWAY IN HORROR TO DR LY LAUGHING AT ME WHILE HOLDING MY HAND ON THE OTHER SIDE.

Little plasters and a CARD so you remember when to go back for your appointment but WHO AM I KIDDING I told Erik to put in a GCal reminder for us.

WRAPPED UP AND READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD.
(JK I went to eat a burger and sulk as my arm ached)

When I got back to Singapore, my mom noticed the bruise on my arm. At the crossroads of #dishonour and #honesty I picked the latter and came clean to her and my dad.

*Disclaimer: They are quite used to me dropping uncomfortable truths.
They took it with heaps of shock and horror, dusted with “Where did we go wrong”

Things I never expected to say to my parents include:

• I believe that consensual sex is part of a healthy relationship

• I do not want to be shamed for making responsible choices and taking my sexual health into my hands

• I understand that this topic makes you uncomfortable but let me try to explain how this affects the mucus linings in my vagina

• Yes I am sexually active

• No, condoms are less effective

• No I do NOT think nor believe that the number of sexual partners I’ve had lowers or diminishes my VALUE AS AN INDIVIDUAL

“The last part was a conversation for another day. But #AWARENESS people and #ACCEPTANCE for fucks sake. Its 2018, LET’S GO.”