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(All things hormones, birth control, toxic-free living, and self advocacy)
I Don't Go Through the Airport Body Scanners (And Why You Might Not Want To Either..)

security scans are part of flying. But are they really necessary or safe?

We're all familiar with flying and the sometimes annoying scanning that comes with it. You have to strip down, comply with all these rules, and are herded through like super slow cattle. It's one thing that would stop me up frequently when I would travel for work, and I'm so glad I ended up getting TSA PreCheck. Have you ever stopped to wonder just how effective and safe those full-body scanners are anyways? I mean, you don't really have a choice whether or not to go through them, right? You might be surprised.

I don't remember the last time I went through one of those full-body scanners, otherwise known as advanced imaging technology (AIT). Now that I know the risks of them, I won't ever go through one again, either. This type of scanning was introduced in 2009 after 9/11 to prevent another terrorist attack. The two main types of AIT introduced were backscatter x-ray scanners and millimeter wave body scanners. Both of these scanners have been under scrutiny since they first came out, not only regarding the safety/efficacy of them, but also because of the lack of privacy with them. TSA actually discontinued their older scanners because of complaints about the scanners' graphic images produced. In a nutshell, the TSA agents could see wayyyy more than they should have been able to.

Backscatter scanners use ionizing radiation to detect explosives and other restricted items. The problem with ionizing radiation is that it's linked to DNA damage and causing cancer. The millimeter wave body scanners use non-ionizing radiation, which is claimed to be safer than ionizing radiation, but it can still have an effect on us. There's not a lot of research into what that effect is, but I'm sure we'll see more studies down the road when more people come forward with their own health stories due to traveling and more research is done. So basically, there's no proof of long-term health effects from the non-ionizing radiaton scanners, but there's also no absense of risk from them either. We just don't currently know. 

Moving onto efficacy of these scanners, do they actually do anything to keep us safe and protected? Not as much as you might think. Lots of sources claim that the scanners produce high false-positives, with as much as 54% measured in Germany. Some of these scanners detect body sweat as a potential weapon! Scientific American stated that "To date, there has not been a single report of aviation terrorism that was thwarted thanks to AIT." Of course the TSA is going to claim that these machines are necessary and safe, but if they're barely doing their jobs, then what's the point of them and the fuss that can come with using them on a day when stress can be high anyways with travel? 

Knowing that I'll continue to fly and multiple sources having confirmed that we're exposed to cosmic ionizing radiation from being higher in the air, I don't go through the scanners anymore. I have ways to protect myself during flying because it's that important to me to reduce that cancer risk and DNA damage. I don't even go through the metal detectors, which in theory should be safe with no radiation released. But I can't be sure. It's just one thing I can control when it comes to my health. I've yet to miss a flight from requesting a pat down, and it's not as scary as you might think :)
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Just so you know, I may earn a commission off the links on my blog at no cost to you through various affiliate programs. I appreciate your support and love sharing my favorite products with you! :)

I Felt Out of Balance

 

It all started with small rashes under my armpits. They grew bigger. They were fiery red. They burned. I couldn’t itch them since they burned so bad. They flaked. They were embarrassing. I didn’t know what they were. Then they showed up on the crook of my elbow and on the top of my right hand. I thought it might be due to a gluten or dairy intolerance, so I changed my diet. It helped temporarily and my rashes didn’t hurt as bad and weren’t as red. But diet changes weren’t enough. I was devastated. My rashes remained for MONTHS!

Then the "fluff" showed up around my belly and hips. Maybe the start of winter contributed as well; either way I swear my pants used to fit me way better…

My hair started falling out. In chunks! I’d always had some hairs come out when I washed my hair, so I was used to it. But not to this extent. I knew something was going on.

My acne became out of control, almost to the extent when I was in high school. Red, painful, cysts that I just couldn’t resist picking. And here I had spent all these years at the dermatologist “healing” my acne for it all to come back with a vengeance.

I was in tears at least once a week. I felt hopeless. I felt so alone. No one could relate besides one girl I followed on Instagram. My boyfriend was supportive, but how could he understand though? He had no idea what I was going through.

I took a deep breath, wiped my tears and trucked on. Then the next week would start all over again with a meltdown because I was fat, my hair was falling out, my acne was returning, and my rashes burned SO. FREAKING. BAD. I was angry, frustrated, confused & hopeless. 

I had heard that stopping birth control could come with some pretty gnarly symptoms. And I thought I was ready for whatever would happen. But I didn’t realize how mentally and emotionally challenging these symptoms would be.

Like many people, I started taking birth control in high school. I took it mostly for my acne, but pregnancy prevention was nice too. My hormones were manipulated for over 7 years. The birth control was prescribed by my doctor, so why would I ever question how it was affecting my body?

Turns out, I had NO idea just how much it affected me. All of me. It wasn’t until I read this book that I understood how much my body was impacted by these synthetic hormones that I didn't even realize were synthetic at the time. How hormonal birth control can be prescribed to “treat” certain conditions, yet it’s really only a bandaid fix. I didn’t want that bandaid fix anymore and I wanted to heal myself naturally. So I took the leap and ditched my birth control.

Aside from some of the challenges of getting off birth control, I noticed a whole new world of positives that came from it. For the first time in my life, I actually had energy! I no longer needed to sleep half the day away. The mental fog was gone! My mood increased, as well as my libido, which I swear was gone for good. I finally felt like I was in control of my health for the first time. Truly healthy and truly better.

My goal is to be that shining beacon of light for you if you are struggling with the decision to finally get off hormonal birth control. You are not alone in worrying how your body will react. You are not alone in this transition and your experiences. It might be challenging. But we are strong. We are healers. We are self-advocates. And only we know what’s best for our bodies.

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