If you’re reading this, I assume you’re either already on your period or on the verge of it. But whether or not you’ve begun your period yet, you’re probably aware that taking a pill every day can help regulate it. Some of the more popular OTC female products, such as Ortho Evra and Ella, are specifically designed to help with menstrual pain and irregular bleeding. But while they may be effective at reducing your menstrual discomfort, how can you tell if a pill is actually doing its job?
Fortunately, there are several telltale signs that will let you know if your pill is actually doing its job:
You Feel Better
One of the primary reasons why people choose to take a pill instead of going through with their period is because they want to feel better. While it may be difficult to tell whether or not your period is causing you to feel bad, taking a pill daily should make you feel better overall. This is especially relevant if you’ve recently begun your period or are just about to begin it. In these cases, you may experience some mild discomfort or pain, but taking a pill should relieve this. Just remember: sometimes the period hits you harder than other times. If you’re already feeling better when you don’t need to be and still want to avoid having your period, you may want to try a different solution.
You Have More Energy
Another major reason why people choose to take a pill rather than having their period is because they want to have more energy. While it may be difficult to tell whether or not your period is preventing you from being energetic, taking a pill on a regular basis should give you more energy overall. This is especially relevant if you’re a teensy bit short on sleep or if you just woke up. Sometimes a sudden burst of energy can even make up for a really crappy night’s sleep. Don’t get me wrong, though. It’s not always easy to determine what’s causing your lack of energy. Sometimes there’s not even a clear cut answer. Sometimes it’s just one thing. Sometimes it’s a little bit of everything. But in any case, if you’re already feeling more energy and want to keep on keeping on, you should try to find out what’s causing it and fix it. Talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner about potential causes and solutions. They may have some suggestions or tips for you. Maybe you can try a new supplement or vitamin. Or you could change how you’re feeling about your period by talking to a professional counselor or trying a new method of birth control. Remember, though, that not all sugar rushes or energy boosts are created equal. Some may even cause you to gain weight. So be careful with this one!
You’re Not Craving Certain Foods
Sometimes when your period stops, you may notice that you’re no longer craving certain foods. Maybe you used to crave sweets and are no longer eating them as often. Or maybe you’ve moved on from chocolate to another kind of chocolate, and the thought of chocolate makes you sick to your stomach. While these kinds of cravings may be difficult to deal with, especially if they’re happening at the same time as your period, becoming desensitized to certain foods and beverages is a good idea. Instead of focusing on what you’re missing during your period – like eggs and chocolate – you may want to try to focus on what you have in abundance. Like the energy you’re feeling or the relief that your period has brought you. Remember, though, that some people may experience heightened senses related to their period. So if you’re noticing that your food cravings have disappeared but you’re still experiencing period symptoms like cramps or water retention, try not to worry about it too much. It’s probably not you, it’s probably just your body adapting to the change. Bring it up with your doctor or nurse practitioner if you’re still not feeling better after a couple of weeks. Maybe they can suggest new ways for you to deal with it. Or if it’s happening too often and too strongly, you may want to consider trying an alternative method of birth control. Remember: your body is unique to you, so what may work for one person might not work for another. So try as much as possible to relate to what your body is telling you rather than what you think it should be telling you. Your instincts may be trying to protect you, but sometimes they might be preventing you from being healthy. It’s a catch-22 situation. But if you want to get better, you need to listen to your body and trust your instincts. Your body is always trying to keep you alive, and sometimes it’s telling you that you need to stay alive for a certain person. For example, if you’re pregnant and you’re experiencing period symptoms, then it could be that your body is trying to protect the fetus within you. So while you may want to ignore or deny these urges because you don’t want to be a detriment to anyone, your body isn’t having any of it. This sort of thing is why we have to be so careful when it comes to our health. Because ultimately, we’re the ones who have to live with the consequences. So be kind to your body and trust your instincts. Like I said, it’s a catch-22 situation, but hopefully, you’ll never have to find yourself in that position. So if you want to go through life craving sugar and experiencing energy dips, then that’s your problem, not your body’s. Your body will always try to tell you that it’s wrong, that you don’t want to eat that, that you need to eat this. So just because your body is going through something doesn’t mean that you have to put up with it. You can still live a fairly normal life, albeit with a slight adjustment. Just because your period is happening doesn’t mean your life has to revolve around it. You can still be a functioning member of society, just like everyone else. You’re not alone in this either. There are countless others out there going through similar situations and wondering how they’ll ever fit into society after having a baby. It gets better with time. I promise you. So don’t give up. Try to find support where you can and remember: it’s not your fault. Your body is doing exactly what it’s supposed to be doing. So as long as you take care of yourself and your baby throughout both their pregnancies, things will work out perfectly fine. You’ll be able to enjoy your sweet baby girl or boy, even if it’s a little rough at first. And who knows, maybe they’ll even grow up to be doctors or nurses just like their mama. You never know.
You’re Not As Forgetful As You Used To Be
Another major reason why people choose to take a pill is because they want to be less forgetful. Whether or not you actually forget things, forgetfulness is a common side effect of aging. And, for some people, it can be severe. Especially if forgetfulness leads to accidents or mishaps. While taking a pill may not always prevent you from being forgetful, it can certainly reduce the number of incidents you have where you accidentally do or say the wrong thing. And that’s all it takes for something to become a problem. One small slip up and you’ve got yourself a situation – like say, an accident, an angry spouse, or a lawsuit. So while it may not always make sense, sometimes people choose to take a pill just to be on the safer side. Just remember: reduce your risks as much as you can and try to avoid these sorts of situations. The more you know, the better, especially when it comes to your health. If you want to be extra careful, take a pill once or twice a day. It doesn’t take much to reduce your forgetfulness. One or two extra precautions here and there can save you a whole lot of heartache down the road. And, for some people, it’s all they need to feel like their old selves. A little bit of dementia is sometimes the best medicine. Even if it’s not something you want to get into, it may be something you need to get out of. Take a good look at your life. Do you really want to continue on this path toward disaster? Or are you prepared to make some changes? Sometimes it takes a little bit of confusion, along with a healthy dose of paranoia, to see the reality of things. Only you can decide what’s best for you. But try to avoid making these sorts of decisions when you’re upset or confused – especially when there’s a problem that could be easily corrected. Otherwise, things could get very messy. And that’s something you don’t want to have to deal with. So just take your pill and try to be less forgetful. Live your life to the fullest and make the most of every moment. That’s the best medicine. You’ve got this.