Speaking from the perspective of someone with endometriosis and PCOS, I have experienced a challenging time navigating through health decisions that should primarily involve me but have instead been dominated by professional medical input, often to my detriment. Sadly, the depo injection, which was supposed to reduce my endometriosis symptoms, caused an unexpected increase in weight as well as making my endometriosis symptoms much worst.

Consequently, I am now deemed unsuitable for the combined contraceptive pill due to my weight.

However, I believe that the it should be my right to decide which contraceptive I use, assuming full responsibility for any potential risks associated. Hence, this petition calls for a reconsideration of current policies stipulating weight restrictions for the combined contraceptive pill. It is well established that overall health, and not just weight, determines risk factors when it comes to contraceptives. A study by the World Health Organization uncovered that the advantages of using hormonal contraceptive methods outweigh the risk for most women, regardless of their weight (Source: WHO).

This issue extends beyond myself. It is about patient autonomy and choice. It's about decency and trust that each patient knows their body and potential risk more than anyone else.

A lot of medical prescriptions have a medical risk to the patient. However a lot of the time that decision is given to the patient for them to make the decision. Just the same with surgery, the patient is given all the information to know the risks and then is given the choice as to whether they would like to proceed or not, why is that not an option for women who want to go onto the combined contraceptive pill. I am deemed as over weight by the government. but i work out i eat healthy, i do everything they tell me to do, and with someone with PCOS it is so extremely difficult for me to lose weight. So that means something that can help just stabilise my periods, is taken away from me because of something i cannot control? 

Please, sign this petition in support of allowing individuals to make their personal health decisions, including the choice to commence the combined contraceptive pill, irrespective of their weight.