When My Birth Control Killed My Mojo
Okay, so I started on this new birth control pill last year. Doc said it was great, super effective, minimal side effects. Awesome, right? Wrong. After a couple months, I noticed something big was missing… my sex drive. Like, completely gone. Zip. Zero. Nada. Felt like flipping a switch. My partner started noticing, obviously, and honestly? I missed it too. Felt like I lost a part of myself.
Started poking around online, reading forums, articles – anything. Kept seeing this was a thing for a lot of women. Not just me! That was kinda reassuring, but also frustrating. Why didn’t the doc mention this might happen? Anyways, decided I wasn’t gonna just accept this. Time to experiment.
First Fix I Tried: Just… Chill Out?
Saw tons of folks saying stress kills libido. Honestly? Life is stressful. Work, bills, the whole circus. So I tried dedicated ‘Me Time’. Like, for real tried. Started doing this:
- Stopped checking emails after 7 PM. Seriously, phone went on Do Not Disturb.
- Took 20 stupid minutes every evening just to sit. No phone, no TV. Just sat there. Sometimes stared at the wall. Felt ridiculous at first.
- Actually scheduled downtime on weekends. Like, wrote ‘Relax’ on my calendar. Felt dumb, but did it.
Took a few weeks, but weirdly? Helped a little. Not a miracle cure, but I wasn’t feeling quite so strung out. Less ‘get off me’ vibes.
Next Up: Moving This Body
Kept reading exercise helps. Hated the gym, always have. So I started with just… walks. After dinner, 20-30 minutes. Just around the block, listening to music or podcasts. Then, got brave, tried short yoga videos on YouTube. Found a 15-minute one that didn’t involve standing on my head. Tried to do it 3-4 times a week. Yeah, sometimes I skipped it. Sue me. But sticking with the walks? That was key. Felt more energy. Not suddenly super sexy energy, but just… better. More awake in my own body?
Got Serious About Supplements
Lots of buzz about certain vitamins. Read good things about zinc and maca root. Talked to my doc first – important! She said, sure, try it, won’t interfere with the pill. So I got some:
- A basic zinc supplement, started small.
- Powdered maca root. Just stirred a teaspoon into my morning coffee. Tasted kinda earthy, but not terrible.
Look, I dunno if it was just mental or what, but maybe after 3 weeks? Started feeling tiny little sparks again. Like little reminders that, oh yeah, that part still exists. Still faint, but definitely something. Kept going.
The Weird One: Fake It ‘Til You Make It?
Read this concept: “Awakening desire by engaging anyway.” Sounded like crap. But hey, desperate times. Started making small efforts:
- Purposefully kissed my partner more. Just, like, actual kisses, not just pecks. Even if I wasn’t feeling it yet.
- Said ‘yes’ to intimacy slightly more than my immediate impulse (which was often ‘meh’). Tried focusing on the sensations, the closeness, not just the big O.
- Started reading romance novels again. Silly? Maybe. But they put thoughts in your head!
This was HARD. Felt forced. But slowly? Something shifted. It wasn’t like the old days, but the spark started finding its own fuel again once it got a tiny bit lit. Less of a chore.
Finally Got Honest With the Doc
After a couple months of this DIY work (and some definite improvement, but not pre-pill levels), I went back. Told her exactly what was happening. She listened! We talked about options. Switched to a different pill formula. Said sometimes just changing the type can make a world of difference.
So, Did It Work?
Honestly? It wasn’t one magic bullet. It was all these things together:
- Reducing stress (still tryna chill, man)
- Regular movement (still walkin’)
- Supplements (still taking zinc/maca)
- Engaging intentionally (still reading them cheesy novels!)
- Switching pills
Took time. Like, several months of consistent effort. It’s not perfect, but my sex drive? It’s BACK. Maybe at 85% of what it was? Which feels like a damn victory. The biggest takeaway? You gotta try stuff, be patient, and don’t be afraid to hassle your doctor. It’s your body, your mojo. Fight for it.
