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Concerns about the birth control pill…

I'm 19 and I'm about to go on the pill (my appointments in a couple weeks). I was going to do it before i went into my first year of college, but I was really nervous and unsure about it at that time and decided to put it off for a little while, now I'm going into my sophmore year and I feel it's something i need to do. At the same time though, I'm still uncertain about it...

I don't follow any homeopathic regiments, nor do i use any homeopathic treatments of any sort, but I do feel I follow the mentality of those who do. I've always felt weird about putting medicines into my body (such as things like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, etc) and normally avoid it at all costs. Now that I'm going on the pill I feel really weird about putting hormones into my body, which will stop my body from doing something it's supposed to do naturally (even though it's rather convenient that it does stop it) and potentially change my body physically. Do the hormones change your personality in any way? Or your body? Is there anything that might surprise me that happens once I get on the pill?

I have really bad/annoying symptoms when it's that time of the month and I feel like I'm out of commission for two weeks out of the month, and I really don't want to be out of commission for half of my life, as it's already been a problem for 7 or 8 years of my life. I know the pill will help with the irritibality, mood swings, acne, etc, which I am SO looking forward to, cuz I'm generally a very kind hearted person who occasionally lashes out at people (generally my mother, perhaps that's natural, lol) because I can't control my hormones. So basically, i'm saying I want to take the pill, and it's my choice to go on it, I'm just a bit nervous and don't know what to expect, even though both my mom was on it, and my older sister has been on it for some time, just because this time it has to do with MY body.

One other thing is that I know there are different levels of dosages you can get, ones with less hormones and such in them, and i was just wondering if the ones with less hormones are therefore less effective against the side effects of having your period (mood swings, irritability, etc)?

Sorry for all the concerns and questions, I just want to do this right, as it is my body afterall.