Shortly after I started my period, I knew something wasn’t quite right. I would consistently get my period every 2.5 weeks, instead of monthly like all the other girls.

After talking with my parents, we went to the doctor, and while I didn’t get an answer as to why this was happening at that time, I did get options. Thankfully, I was able to access the birth control pill. This allowed me to have a normal cycle, regulate my hormones, and allow me to live a normal life.

Without that option, I cannot imagine how my life as a teenager would have been. After I grew up and got married, we decided to start a family, and after the birth of our first child, I was again able to access birth control—this time in the form of an IUD—to control how fast our family grew. We now have three children and have decided that our family is complete. Because I have the option of using birth control, I know that we are in control of that—and I am still able to have a normal monthly cycle instead of every 2.5 weeks.

Thank you, birth control!