Birth Control Side Effects

Birth control side effects can range for minor to significant for each individual but it is important to understand what is prossible so that you can make an informed decision.

The pill, also known as birth control pills or Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills (COCP), is a synthetic combination of two hormones, the estrogen and the progestin. It is taken orally to inhibit the normal fertility process in women. When using the pill for birth control, it has both advantages and disadvantages to the human body.

Advantages of the Pill

Researches have discovered through clinical trials that those women who used the pill for five years have shown a decreased risk of cancer of the ovary and in the endometrial lining of the uterus. Also, it has been proven to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, dysmenorrhea, acne, premenstrual syndrome and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Despite the key advantages, the side effects of the pill have also been a subject to many clinical researches.

Birth Control Side Effects of the Pill

A majority of women, about 60%, report that when using the pill, they don't experience any birth control side effects at all and the remaining percentage only felt a few of the side effects of the pill. Some of the top side effects that are based from current research are as follows:

Breakthrough Bleeding

According to one French review article, 50% of the women who took the pill for the first time experienced bleeding irregularity side effects such as amenorrhea or breakthrough bleeding. The bleeding is generally light, just like typical spotting. However, some women may experience bleeding which is heavier and may persist for a couple of days.

Weight Gain

Is one of the least preferred birth control side effects! Older, high-estrogen pills that are used in the past can cause weight gain due to fluid retention. However, the pills used today have lower dose of estrogen. If birth control weight gain occurs, it is most probably because the pill caused a slight impairment in the body's ability to respond properly to insulin.

Decreased Libido

The pill can inhibit sex drive because it acts directly on the sexual hormones, particularly on the androgens, which is one of the hormones that are responsible for the pleasure that is experienced during a sexual intercourse.

Depression

The high estrogen content especially in the first generation pills have been shown to decrease serotonin levels of the brain. Serotonin is an essential neurotransmitter in the brain that when dropped below normal levels can lead to depression.

Leukorrhea

Leukorrhea or an increase in the secretions in the vagina has been linked with the intake of low-dose pills. It is associated with estrogen imbalance, either an increase or a decrease in its level.

Mastalgia

Mastalgia or breast tenderness is felt due to imbalance of hormones that is brought about by taking the pill.

Acne

Acne is one of the most common birth control side effects of the pill. Majority of the women stopped taking the pill due to this reason. However, in some women, the pill may even reduce their acne.

Increase in Blood Pressure

Pills that contain progesterone are known to show a significant increase in the blood pressure. It is because progesterone can directly affect the pressure within the small blood vessels in the body.

Nausea and Vomiting

This is typically experience with those women who are taking older high-dose pills. Nausea and vomiting occurs due to the changing levels of the hormones that the body has not been accustomed to.

Headache

Headache is related to the estrogen content of the pill. Estrogen and estrogen-withdrawal is known to inhibit headache.

Before deciding if the pill or any other method is the right birth control method for you, you have to consider your own personal circumstances and seek for medical advice to ensure you understand the birth control side effects.