“I’m Convinced I’m Infertile” — Four Nigerian Women on Why They Don’t Use Contraceptives 

Whether it’s in his wallet or abandoned on a bedside table, there are two things you can almost always find around a sexually active young Nigerian man. The first is condoms, and the second is lip balm. Surprisingly, both cost about the same price. Usually ₦600–₦3,000, depending on his preferred brand.

Unfortunately, women-focused contraceptives only enjoy the same luxury when it comes to short-acting modern options like post-pill and birth-control pills, which range from ₦1500 to ₦3,000.

With these numbers, it’s easy to assume everyone is having safe sex. But in reality, of the estimated 115 million women who make up Nigeria’s female population, only 18% use modern contraceptives. 

For some women, the problem is access. But even with access, many women still refuse contraceptives. In this article, four women share their experiences with contraceptives and why they choose not to use them. We also had a chat with Dr Zeenaht Abdullahi (an obestrician\gyneacologist), who shared insight into each woman’s experience.

I had sex for the first time a month ago, and I’ve had sex two more times after that. I didn’t use contraceptives both times, and moving forward, I don’t think I will. 

I have PCOS, and I have to take really strong painkillers for my periods to avoid getting hospitalised. This also means that my hormones are all over the place. Adding birth control pills to the mix will mess with a system that is already unbalanced. 

I was anxious about getting pregnant,  so I spoke to my doctor, and he confirmed my fears. According to him, the only form of contraceptives I can use is emergency ones. Specifically, Postinor or Plan B, but the problem is that since I weigh over 80kg, there’s a high probability that the pills won’t work for me. 

I’m not too worried about pregnancy, though, because my chances of getting pregnant are very slim. Except, of course, God wants to punish me. 

Doctor’s note:  PCOS with menstrual cycle abnormalities, such as very painful periods, can actually be managed with COCP, aka the daily pill. You should look into killing 2 birds with 1 stone (using the pill for contraception and to help manage your condition). PCOS does not automatically cause or translate to infertility.

Also, the morning-after pill (AKA Postpill, Postinor, Plan B, etc.) does not automatically cause or translate to infertility.  It was not designed to be the major method of contraception in sexually active women. It works by delaying or preventing ovulation and can be taken at any point during the cycle. For maximum efficacy, it should be taken before the third to fifth days following unprotected intercourse. IT (typically) DOES NOT NEED TO BE TAKEN MORE THAN ONCE PER CYCLE. This is a common mistake most women make, which then causes adverse side effects and symptoms such as heavy bleeding, irregular periods, etc. It also cannot be used to terminate an ongoing pregnancy and  is not a substitute for medication used in the medical termination of pregnancy 

 I’ve had about ten or more male sexual partners since my first time (I don’t really keep count). My first partner used to insist on condoms because we were 15-year-olds who were terrified of pregnancy. The second one hated condoms but insisted on morning-after pills. He got them for me because his father is a pharmacist. After him, I stopped using contraceptives because most times, I have sex impulsively without thinking of the consequences. Half the time, the sex is so spontaneous that there are no condoms nearby. The few times condoms are available, I ask my partners not to use them because they make me very dry. 

At some point, I started using post-pill again. Then I started having side effects like heavy periods and really bad acne,  so I stopped. I don’t think about contraceptives much because I can’t fathom being pregnant. My periods have always been irregular, so pregnancy scares are a dime a dozen. Fortunately, the panic never lasts because as soon as I begin to worry that I’m pregnant, I duck into the nearest bathroom to take a test. To be honest, I have more pregnancy tests than lip gloss in my bag. 

Also, I don’t bother with contraceptives because we have a history of endometriosis in my family, and I already have some of the symptoms. I haven’t gone to the hospital to confirm because I can’t afford it, but with the number of times a man has finished inside me, I’m either infertile or a scientific miracle. Either way, a win is a win. 

Doctor’s note:  Try substituting the multiple pregnancy tests for water-based lubricants so you can enjoy safe sex without getting dry. An endometriosis diagnosis can take over a year to be made, and if you have already started showing symptoms but aren’t ready for children yet, an IUD is probably the best contraceptive option for you. It prevents pregnancy but has also been proven to relieve some symptoms of endometriosis.

I started having sex three years ago with my boyfriend at the time, and when we broke up, I converted him to a friend with benefits. While we were dating, we had sex once every two months.  Since we broke up, we see each other once every four to six months. 

Before we started having sex, he asked if I would be willing to try contraceptives, and I said yes. But they really scare me. My mum got the implant when I was younger, and she bled for a whole year. Sometimes, she bled so heavily that it soaked through her car seat. My health is a little fragile, and I didn’t want to mess up my hormones like that. I was even too scared to use over-the-counter pills from a pharmacy. I decided to go to the hospital, but they gave me vitamin C when I asked for contraceptives. 

Since I already knew how to track my cycle, I just decided to use it as a form of contraception. I’ve been tracking it for ten years, and it is freakishly accurate. It is always a 28-day cycle, and it lasts for exactly five days. I always know the exact day I’ll start my period. The only thing that varies is what time of the day it’ll come. 

My partner and I  never have sex when I’m ovulating, and he always withdraws. I’ve never had a pregnancy scare since we started having sex. But I also know that sometimes, pregnancy is the least of your worries as a woman. I ask him to do a full STI checkup every four months.  Even though we’ve not had sex in six months, he still sent me his test results two weeks ago. 

Doctor’s note: Kudos to you on your cycle tracking and regular STI screening for yourself and your partner. I am so sorry for your experience with trying to procure contraceptives. Side note to all health workers reading this, sexual and reproductive health are basic human rights and MUST NEVER be denied.

My partner was my first and is currently my only sexual partner. We met about two years ago, and we started having sex soon after. At first, it didn’t really occur to us to use contraceptives during sex, but after my first pregnancy scare, I became conscious of the fact that what we were doing could really have consequences. 

I tried post-pill once, but became too scared to try it again when I learned that it destroyed my friend’s cycle. She was getting her period three times a month, bleeding heavily and battling intense cramps. Condoms also didn’t work for us because after having skin-to-skin contact for so long. Sex with a condom feels unpleasant. 

The first time I had a pregnancy scare, I called my boyfriend to tell him. He first hung up and went to cry before calling back to ask what we were going to do about it.  He has tried to get me to use contraceptives, but to me, pregnancy prevention is not worth all the side effects that I read about on the birth control pamphlet. 

We’re always very careful, and the withdrawal method has been working well. But we have pregnancy scares every Eke market day. In fact, I get them so often that I don’t even panic anymore. I’m the one who now has to reassure him every time my period is late. 

Doctor’s note: All medications have side effects, but it varies from individual to individual. If you aren’t comfortable using the pill or any form of hormonal contraceptive, and you have a regular menstrual cycle, then she can use cycle tracking to avoid intercourse during your fertile periods. Then you can avoid pregnancy scares.

Next Read: “My Boyfriend Asked If It Was His” — Nigerian Female Students on Pregnancy Scares

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