Birth control

On June 21, 2020, I experienced a pulmonary embolism. I was at work when all of a sudden my arms went numb and my vision became blurry. I thought was talking to a customer, but there were no words coming out. An hour later, I couldn’t taste or hear and could barely see anything. I…

I’m extremely active, working out 5-6 days a week with lifting and spin classes. Until recently, I have never had any health issues. But for about a year, I was experiencing pelvic pain off and extreme fatigue. I brushed off these symptoms as a result of my age and IUD. In March 2025, I had…

On October 29, 2024, I began experiencing persistent pain in my right calf. The discomfort was significant enough that, five days later, I drove myself to the nearest hospital. Unfortunately, no blood work was conducted, and the ultrasound performed on my leg was brief and inconclusive. I was diagnosed with a muscle cramp and advised…

On September 30, 2023, I was driving up a mountain to a fall festival near my home in West Virginia with my husband and parents when I began having difficulty breathing, and my heart started racing. By the time we stopped, I could not breathe deep enough and almost passed out. I had to sit…

I have always been an avid runner. In August 2024, I was training for my seventh marathon when I developed pain and swelling in my left leg. I thought I had strained my calf and did physical therapy, but I didn’t make any progress. I attempted the marathon but ultimately dropped out at mile 8…

I took oral birth control starting at age 18 until 33, when I got pregnant. I delivered twin boys by C- section in May 2024 and resumed taking the same birth control shortly after. In September 2024, I noticed my left leg was swollen and began turning a dark red/purple color. I went to the hospital…

I went on a strenuous hike and my whole body was sore afterwards. A few days later, the soreness subsided everywhere except for my left calf. I thought I had a muscle strain injury. A few days later, the pain got worse, and I could barely walk, so I went to urgent care. I knew…

As told by Karlie’s mother, Celina. Last June, my 17-year-old daughter Karlie mentioned pain in her left leg. She was a dancer, and dancers always have pain: a pulled muscle, a pinched nerve, or sciatica. The pain increased and moved into her groin area. We treated it as the internet said: heat, ice, and elevate.…

I had suffered with a sore knee for quite some time and eventually ended up needing keyhole surgery on it. I was on the combined pill at the time and was not told of any clotting risk factors before my surgery. The operation was successful, and I went home with crutches, thinking that my knee…

My story began in late 2018. I was on oral birth control for a few weeks in October 2018 and stopped as it caused mental health symptoms. A short time later, I experienced sudden increases in heart rate every time I got up to move, and progressed to sudden shortness of breath and a feeling…