Maureen Wroblewitz opens the topic on the potential side effects of hormonal contraceptives.
The Asia's Next Top Model Cycle 5 winner took to Instagram on February 23, 2024, to speak on the impact of birth control outside of its primary purpose.
For one, Maureen related how she turned to birth control after seeking solutions to abnormalities in her menstrual cycle.
"I went on birth control for my irregular periods at 18 (l’d get heavy periods twice a month that would last 8 days)," she wrote.
"I had so many side effects and kept changing brands to look for one that worked for me.
"They especially affected my mood [so] I finally decided to completely stop at 22."
However, what followed was a series of adverse reactions that not only affected Maureen's physical well-being, but also took a toll on her mental health.
She also noticed a shift in her skin condition: "A few months later I started getting more and more breakouts but they were pretty manageable until I moved to LA.
"I started getting cystic acne (climate, food and stress)," she revealed.
"l used to have the clearest skin. Even as a teenager, l’d get a pimple here and there, but my skin was mostly clear."
This made the 25-year-old beauty queen to feel self-conscious about herself: "I didn’t want to leave the house without makeup.
"And even while wearing makeup I would hide my face with my hair, which, of course made it worse."
Her journey towards clearer skin took a proactive turn as she delved into extensive research on skin care products.
Maureen wrote, "I have since spent so much money on skin care and nothing worked until I started researching the products I used for pore-clogging ingredients.
"I think I’m finally finding products that work for my acne-prone skin but I’m still not completely there yet. I get facials every month for maintenance too."
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REACTION
Netizens can't help but thank Maureen for normalizing the topic and providing a platform where women get to express their own experiences with hormonal interventions as well.
Miss Grand Philippines 2023 Nikki de Moura commented, "This is literally what I'm going through rn and it sucks!! You're so real girl [heart emojis]"
Others shared their own experiences, with one individual highlighting, "I’m still experiencing the effects (acne) even after I stopped taking them for 2 years already. I don't stress over it anymore but thank you for posting about this."
Another seconded, "Omg girl, same here! I was on the same birth control for 10 years... but I kept getting migraines, and when I went to get my next supply the doctor told me I should have never been on the pill in the first place because of the heightened risk of stroke [emoji]
"I've been off it now for 4 years and my skin has been up & down ever since! We should definitely normalise talking about this - it can be so upsetting! Sending love!"
Read: Maureen Wroblewitz sparkles in Bangus-inspired costume for Miss Universe Philippines
Someone also heeded caution about taking pills in the first place, without professional advice nor medical prescriptions.
On a more helpful note, a few users gave tips on how to overcome these issues, including taking yearly pap smears and adjusting daily lifestyle choices.
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