hey! i’m going to be furthering my studies in the uk somewhere in september this year so i’m planning on getting started with pills by the end of may. reason one is me and my boyfriend are thinking of getting intimate before i leave, and reason two for general protection against pregnancy since i’ll be moving abroad all on my own (quite scary!)
i’ve did some research online and read some posts here on reddit and came to conclude that it would take around three months to get used to the hormones. for reference, i have a normal cycle (rarely ever irregular, it’s only ever late if i’m really stressed) and i’m not on any other medications. so i’m assuming that the time frame from may to september is enough time for my body to not freak out when i’m in the process of settling down in the uk (please advise me!)
however, where i live, the stigma around contraceptives if you’re unmarried is terrible. i have several friends who were asked unnecessary or even rude questions when they tried to get their pills from pharmacies or government clinics, some even were denied them. overall, it’s a pretty bad position to be in. our parents are pretty strict with us too, so hiding and taking the pills on time for me is gonna be quite challenging.
if there’s any way to make it less awkward, ways to overcome the anxiety or just some reassurance i’d really appreciate it! i just really needed to get this off my chest because i’ve been thinking about it for a good few months haha