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Birth control pills are most popular and secure method of contraception. Pills were used by millions of women during several decades and for now many scientific long-term investigations were completed.
Despite the fact that Birth Control Pills are safe for most women, they do carry some health risks. Before you start birth control pills, you need to know everything about risks and side effects.
BIRTH CONTROL PILLS’ SIDE EFFECTS
In most cases there are no side effects especially since the mow doses of estrogens are used for now in modern birth control pills. Most side effects are temporary and they should not be a reason to discontinue the method – in most cases side effects usually disappear after 1-3 months.
The majority of birth control pills’ side effects are temporary and not serious. They include the following:
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Nausea occasionally occurs when you first start taking birth control pills and will often go away in a few days. It is recommended to take pills in the evening before going to sleep (minimum chances for side effects).
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Weight gain/Weight change (mainly increased weight) noted in women with specific metabolism type. There are no calories in the pill but sometimes they somehow slow the metabolism. Healthy lifestyle and weight control would be the best advice - avoid fast food, and eat 5–7 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Drink lots of water and don’t forget to exercise!
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Sore or swollen breasts happen very occasionally - breasts may become tender and/or get larger, but usually they will stay the same. Some young women “like” this side effect of pills and feel happy with enlarged breasts.
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Small amount of blood, or spotting, between periods can occur during the first 1–3 weeks of starting the birth control pills, or if you miss a pill. If the bleeding becomes heavier or lasts more than a few days or the bleeding happens after you have been on the pill for a few months, you should talk with your health care provider.
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Lighter periods are very typical because of suppression of hormones and normal ovulation (birth control pills prevent ovulation by maintaining more consistent hormone levels).
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Mood changes - feeling up and down emotionally can sometimes happen to anyone and is unlikely to be caused by birth control pills. Exercise and a healthy diet can help. Stress management tools are pretty useful in these cases.
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Headaches can occur because of stress at school or home, too little sleep, sinus infections, or migraines. Birth control pills can make headaches better or worse. If you have migraine headaches, better talk to your doctor about whether birth control pills are right for you.
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Most women don’t pay attention to above mentioned side effects and continue using birth control pills because they are 97-98% effective.
Some side effects are less common but more serious. If you experience any of these, contact your doctor immediately. If you cannot reach your doctor, go to an emergency room or urgent care center for evaluation.
These symptoms may indicate a serious disorder, such as liver disease, gallbladder disease, stroke, blood clots, high blood pressure, or heart disease. They include:
* Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
* Chest pain
* Headaches (severe)
* Eye problems (blurred vision)
* Swelling and/or aching in the legs and thighs
If you would have any of above mentioned symptoms – immediately contact your doctor.
BIRTH CONTROL PILLS’ RISKS
All healthy girls and women can use birth control pills without any worries. But it is very important to check all contra-indications for birth control pills’ use.
Birth control pills are not recommended for women who have had blood clots, high blood pressure, certain types of cancers, heart attack, stroke, liver disease, gallbladder disease, undiagnosed uterine bleeding, cardiac problems, epilepsy, sickle cell disease, chronic renal disease, smokers, prior to elective surgery, suspected pregnancy, obese women, certain types of migraine headaches, or uncontrolled diabetes.
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| Age and smoking |
If you are over 35 and smoke or have certain medical conditions such as a history of blood clots or breast or endometrial cancer, your health care professional may advise against taking birth control pills |
| Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) |
Birth control pills do not protect from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the virus that causes AIDS, or HPV, the human papillomavirus that can cause cervical cancer.
But women who use birth control pills are less likely to develop symptomatic pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes or other reproductive organs. PID is a complication of STDs, especially chlamydia or gonorrhea, and may make you infertile or cause chronic pain. If you are at risk for contracting an STD, you should also use condoms. |
| Heart attack |
Newly developed/produced birth control pills do not increase risk of heart attack, but they do increase risk of blood clots. The review stated that hormonal contraceptives should be selected only after weighing the potential risks and benefits to each patient and that women age 35 and older should be screened for additional heart disease risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, migraines and other vascular diseases. |
| Ischemic stroke |
There is a small, but significant increase in ischemic stroke risk when using birth control pills. This was a particular concern with early oral contraceptives that contained higher doses of estrogen, but newer preparations containing less estrogen are associated with a lower risk of stroke. In healthy young women (nonsmokers without persistent high blood pressure) the risk is low. |
| Migraines and stroke |
Women who take oral contraceptives and have a history of migraines have an increased risk of stroke compared to nonusers with a history of migraine. Your risk is greatest if you have migraines with "aura"—neurologic symptoms related to vision, such as blurred vision, temporary loss of vision or seeing flashing lights or zigzag lines. As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that for women over age 35 who get migraines, the risks of oral contraceptive use usually outweigh the benefits. |
| Venous thromboembolism |
This rare condition causes clots to form in your blood vessels and can cause symptoms including pain, swelling and varicose veins, and may block the flow of blood. The risk may vary with the type of progestin used in the pill. Smoking and obesity may also increase this risk. |
| Worsen severe diabetes |
The estrogen in birth control pills may increase glucose levels and decrease the body's insulin response, while the progestin in the pills may encourage overproduction of insulin. Use of birth control pills by diabetic women should be limited to those who do not smoke, are younger than 35 and are otherwise healthy with no evidence of persistent high blood pressure, kidney disease, vision problems or other vascular disease. |
| Possible acceleration of gallbladder disease |
Estrogen may cause bile to become oversaturated with cholesterol, which can lead to gallstones. |
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BIRTH CONTROL PILLS’ INTERACTION with other drugs
Some drugs can reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. Likewise, oral contraceptives can interfere with the effects of some drugs.
These are the medicines that affect birth control – Antibiotics (used for several reasons), Rifampin (used to treat tuberculosis), Phenobarbitol (sedative and anti-siezure medicine), Phenytoin, Dilantin (anti-seizure medication), Carbamazepine, Tegretol (anti-seizure medication) and Griseofulvin (potent anti-fungal).
If you take any medication either on a short- or long-term basis, be sure to ask your health care professional or pharmacist about possible interactions with birth control pills and how you should avoid or manage them.
For example, you may need to use an additional contraceptive (such as condoms) as a backup contraceptive method or take a higher or lower-dose pill formulation.
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