Many college athletes say they took oral birth control unaware of potentially devastating side effects. In the wake of Roe v. Wade’s fall, they might be more reliant on the contraceptive than ever.
Starting back in high school in 2015, Annie Uyeki was always anxious when she had to leave a class. “I wondered, What does my teacher think?” she says. Anywhere from two to three times in an 82-minute class period, Uyeki had to step out. Her body demanded it.
Now a lacrosse player at Vassar College, Uyeki was used to infrequent occurrences of excruciating pain that came with irregular and unbearable periods.