30) The Cliterati Chronicle
Tips to Sweeten the Dracula Tea Bag
⭐️ Check out our merch! ⭐️
🎉Welcome to Issue #30
*Disclaimer: Our thoughts are not meant to replace the recommendations of your medical provider. This isn’t advice, just what we found interesting*
Hey there, fellow adventurers of the hormonal roller coaster! I want to take you on my journey into the wild wild world of contraception. Aside from it being a hot button topic right now, it’s also something I’ve recently tried. This isn’t a dry medical spiel, just a cheeky version of how difficult it is to get a NuvaRing into the vaginal canal. (It’s not actually difficult, just kind of tricky.)
Picture this: you're in your early thirties and living life in the fast lane, when you suddenly decide to give birth control a try because why not, you like experimentation. Plus, heavy periods, PMDD, and painful cramps have been kicking your ass for about two decades. So, you do your research on birth control. You’re too forgetful to take a daily pill, too scared of IUDs, and aren’t yet ready to tie your tubes so you decide on the NuvaRing (cue angels singing and heavenly lights pouring down).
The NuvaRing is a “small flexible vaginal ring” made of I-don’t-know-what material that releases Ethinyl Estradiol and Etonogestrel into the vagina, preventing pregnancy and causing a decrease in all the magically awful symptoms of menstruation. You insert it and let that puppy do its work.
So, after failing a few times, I got it in and felt most accomplished. I was powerful now. Back off period symptoms and sperms out there trying to come for my Ute! I have a ring protecting my cervix like a shining knight armored with hormones. Fuck yea! Of course, all those feelings went away when the nausea and sadness kicked in.
As the days turned into weeks, I found myself becoming intimately acquainted with my new friend: the ring. It resided in me, and I had to protect it from randomly falling out. The symptoms slowly went away, and I barely noticed it anymore. Even though it was the first BC I had tried, I saw very little changes in my body. Even my period and its accompanying symptoms never really ceased to exist…it still happens every month, just with less vigor.
For other people the symptoms/side effects are different. People have reported mood swings, nausea, weight gain/loss, or even a change in their libido (this one is pretty big deal for people).
But amidst the chaos and occasional emotional turbulence, there's a sense of liberation that comes with knowing you're in control, I guess. I don’t know what the future holds for me and birth control and where our journey will end but for now, I’m going to keep using the ring.
To everyone out there embarking on a birth control journey, whether you're a seasoned pro or a newbie like me, remember you’re not alone and there’re a lot of options we have now. So whatever works for you, give that a shot.
Until next time, stay fabulous and may your pill (or ring) packets always be full.
Period Tips By Phase
*note: not all periods or phases are equal. You might spend a longer or shorter number of days in each of the phases than other women, girls, trans and non binary people you know that menstruate.*
🩸Menstruation (Day 15 - 28) → Take it easy
✮ Prioritize self-care. Create a comfortable environment with heating pads, stay hydrated, and eat nutritious meals. Plan a flexible schedule, incorporating gentle exercises and allowing for breaks. Communicate your needs to others and prioritize rest and relaxation to support your body's natural rhythm.
Are you focused on fertility, have PCOS or endometriosis, are transitioning f > m, or want specific tips? Drop us a note and let us know so we can share info for you!
Know more about your cycle’s phases → Read
Track your cycle manually → Read
Track your cycle with apps, apps, and more apps → Download
Period Aesthetics
Lost in the rhythm, we find our truth
This image is by photographer Tyler McAuley, showing the beautiful flow of the human female form.
It’s Provocative
A Complete Guide to How Birth Control Has Changed Over the Years → Read
Thanks for reading Pink Lemonade. Make sure to share these tips with all your fellow menstruators to sweeten their time of the month. Be someone’s period fairy this month. 🪄
Meme’s for days
😺Thank You for Reading Issue #30!
Know someone who would enjoy something from this issue?