It is impossible to talk about the cultural, societal, economic, and technological revolution of the last few decades without giving the pill the credit it deserves. But unleashing the power of this tool can often come at a cost. It is important to understand Birth control pill side effects, and you are at a great place to start.
Why are there Birth Control Pill Side Effects?
If you are wondering why birth control pills have side effects at all, you should look at how they work. The pill prevents women from becoming pregnant through the control of hormone levels. When you manipulate natural hormone levels, you can get side effects that surpass the reproductive system.
Common Symptoms:
Here are some of the most common birth control pills side effects:
· Nausea
· Spotting between periods
· Decreased libido
· Breast tenderness/pain
· Headaches
· Weight gain
· Mood swings
· Missed periods
· Acne
· Ovarian cysts
As you can see, when hormone levels change, they can affect a wide range of systems and organs. Therefore, it is important to monitor for these side effects, and consult with a doctor if they appear.
There are a wide variety of birth control pills available in the market. If you got any side effects, that might mean you should change the pill brand or type that you are taking. A physician would be able to help you find the right kind of contraceptive pills for you.
What do birth control pills do to your body?
Birth control pills affect hormone levels in the body, which in turn affects the way your organs work. But not all birth control pills we recreated equal, even if they all seek to achieve the same objective: prevent you from getting pregnant.
Since pregnancy requires a certain process with multiple steps to happen in a timely manner and to follow a certain order, interfering with that process at any point would make it more difficult to get pregnant. It is important to note that contraceptive pills are not 100% effective.
To interfere with the pregnancy process, hormones and hormone levels can be manipulated to do one of the following:
· Prevent ovulational together – Combination (estrogen and progesterone) pills act to interfere with ovulation
· Thickening of cervix mucus– Which prevents sperm from reaching the egg. The mini pill – small amounts of synthetic progesterone or progestin, no estrogen – can do this
· Altering the lining of the uterus – Thus preventing the egg from attaching to the walls of the uterus
What are the most common side effects of birth control pills?
The most common side effects of birth control pills can vary depending on the kind of pill you take, Nevertheless, the most widely reported birth control pill side effects regardless of the kind of pill used, are the following:
· Nausea
· Headaches
· Breast tenderness/pain
· Spotting between periods –especially common with mini pill, or progestin pills
If you have any of the above for a prolonged period of time or you keep on getting them repeatedly throughout your cycles, you should contact your physician.
What are long-term side effects of birth control pills?
We tend to focus on short-term side effects when we take any kind of medication, contraceptive pills included. But there are some long-term effects associated with birth control pills you should be aware of:
· Studies suggest there is a higher risk of cervical cancer for women who take birth control pills containing estrogen
· The same studies suggest, however, that 10 years after women stop taking these pills, that risk decreases and reaches normal levels
· Increased risk of blood clots which may lead to stroke or heart conditions
Awareness about these long-term side effects of birth control pills is especially important because many women take oral contraceptives for years. Research also suggests that there is no significant benefit in suspending the use of birth control pills for a period o time to avoid long-term side effects.
If you are worried about the long-term side effects of birth pills, consult with your doctor to explore the alternatives available.
