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YEARS OF PAIN
The Pill destroyed my life – I was consumed by rage, couldn’t look in the mirror & my boyfriend called me a ‘b**** 24/7’
Katy Russell relives her hellish ordeal in a tell-all video
A WOMAN claims the contraceptive pill left her so "nasty and rude" it destroyed her life.
Katy Russell says it ruined friendships, disrupted her relationship with her boyfriend, and saw her given the nickname 'Rowdy Russell'.
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Despite all of this, doctors failed to realise she was intolerant to the drug, and continued to recommend she take it.
Katy started using contraception as a teenager in a bid to relieve her period symptoms.
While in a relationship in September 2021, she was prescribed the combined pill, which contains two hormones and stops the ovaries releasing an egg each month.
But after she began to experience severe mood swings, outbursts of anger and weight gain that she claims became detrimental to her mental health, she knew something wasn't right.
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At the time, Katy claims doctors told her these symptoms were just her body getting used to the pill so she stayed on the medication until February 2022.
But soon her friends began to distance themselves from her due to her mood swings that saw her acting "nasty" and "just not someone people wanted to hang around with".
Eventually, even her boyfriend asked her to come off the pill as she was being a "b**** 24/7", so she began looking into alternative contraception.
The now-22-year-old said her options were limited as she suffered from migraines but decided to try the implant to save her relationships.
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Unfortunately, her contraceptive experience only got worse.
And when she began to experience extreme bloating, back acne and a six-month heavy period, she had the implant removed and the hormonal coil fitted in January 2023.
Desperate mum 'consumed by rage' forced to pull out her own contraceptive coil 'as GP didn't have time'
Katy claims the coil left her "crippled" in pain and after having it removed in June 2023, she says doctors discovered she was intolerant to progestogen - a hormone present in all the contraceptive methods she tried.
She claims it took years for doctors to discover her intolerance and says she's been left "traumatised" by her birth control experience.
Katy, who is from Manchester but now lives in Bristol, said: "You [go on the pill] because it is a safe option but then someone is telling you to come off it because you're really horrible and it's like, 'I don't really know what else to do'.
"I either become a nasty person with all these struggles or potentially get pregnant and have a child and I don't want that.
"My friends called me 'Rowdy Russell'.
"During that time of the month, I would be an absolute b****; I was so rude, so snappy and just not someone people wanted to hang around with.
"It also gave me really bad acne and I gained quite a lot of weight so I didn't really stick it out for very long.
"I think it was maybe about nine months before I came off of it."
I couldn't look in a mirror because I was so bloated all the time
Katy Russell
Describing her experience with the implant, Katy said the first couple of weeks were "fine".
But for the following six months, she was "consistently" on her period.
"I was constantly bloated all the time, to the point where it almost started to form body dysmorphia," she said.
"I couldn't look in a mirror and understand what I look like normally because I was so bloated all the time. I would just cover myself up.
"[With the acne that came from the implant], it's one thing being on your face but on your back it's a harder area and thicker skin as well.
"It wasn't until I actually came off the contraception that my 'bacne' and the spots on my face really started to go away."
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When Katy had her implant removed, she claims doctors discovered it had moved from her arm to her elbow.
It meant she had to undergo surgery and has now been left with a permanent scar.
The marketing executive also claims her coil experience caused her to develop an ovarian cyst, which she is now having to have surgically removed.
What is progestogen?
Progesterone is a naturally-occurring hormone made by cells in the ovaries as part of the menstrual cycle.
Progestogens are synthetic versions of progesterone.
They feature in many forms of contraception, including tablets, injections, implants and coils.
While rare, progestogen can cause side effects, including mood changes, unscheduled bleeding, constipation, bloating, vaginal dryness, breast tenderness, acne and weight gain.
Some people also experience ovarian cysts, cardiovascular disease and jaundice.
If you are suffering with any of these issues or believe you might be intolerant, please speak to your GP.
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Katy said: "It was a bad procedure [having the implant removed] because I had two ladies basically cutting my arm and pulling my arm open trying to find this implant which had moved.
"I've now got a scar from where I first got it placed and a scar pretty much on the other side of my arm from where the implant ended up.
"Within six months of getting the implant it went from the front of my arm and then down and around to my elbow.
"As soon as I started getting cramps [while on the coil] I couldn't walk; I was basically just crippled on the floor in agony, tears and consistent pain.
"The pain was so unpredictable. I could have been driving and then suddenly have to pull over because the pain made me physically unable to drive.
"Sometimes it would be that bad that my friends would have to drive out and get me and I'd have to leave my car so that I could get home."
After years of struggle, Katy says her intolerance diagnosis has come as a "relief" but she's now been left with even fewer birth control options if she ever decides to go back on it.
Katy said: "The majority of contraceptives have progestogen in them.
"My only options now are condoms, a certain type of pill or the copper coil but I'm scared of the copper coil and the pill because my experiences were horrible.
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"I don't want to have to go through any mental or physical changes again. I don't even think it's worth it.
"I would rather use a condom because I can't do it again."
Methods of contraception on offer
There are numerous contraception options available on the NHS and privately, and finding the right one for you can take time.
Speak to your GP about which of the following might suit you best:
- Combined pill (contains progestogen and oestrogen)
- Mini pill (contains progestogen only)
- Copper coil or intrauterine device (inserted into the womb and doesn't contain hormones)
- Hormonal coil or intrauterine system (inserted into the womb and releases progestogen)
- Implant (inserted under the skin on your arm and releases progestogen)
- Injection (progestogen)
- Patch (worn on the skin and releases progestogen and oestrogen)
- Vaginal ring (put in the vagina and releases progestogen and oestrogen)
- Condoms (worn on the penis)
- Internal condoms (put in the vagina before sex)
- Female sterilisation (permanently stops eggs meeting sperm)
- Vasectomy (permanently stops sperm being ejaculated)
- Diaphragm or cap (put inside the vagina before sex to stop sperm getting into the womb)
- Natural family planning (includes tracking your menstrual cycle to avoid sex when you are most fertile)
- Morning after pill (to be used in emergency situations three to five days after sex)
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