Birth Control Pills Side Effects

Birth control pills, also called oral contraceptives, are pills that are taken by women to prevent pregnancy. In this age, when couples are opting for small families or no children at all, birth control pills are considered to be an effective method. However, many women who opt for birth control pills among the different methods of family planning do not know that these can cause certain health problems as well. Before moving to birth control pills side effects, it is important to know how these contraceptive pills actually work.

Birth Control Pills

Conception occurs when the egg is fertilized by a sperm. When this fertilized egg or zygote attaches itself to the woman's uterus she is said to be pregnant. The function of the birth control pills is to prevent the sperm from meeting the egg. During every menstrual cycle, natural hormones in the woman's body help in ovulation, preparing the body for pregnancy. Oral contraceptive pills are a form of hormonal contraception which releases artificial hormones (estrogen and progesterone) that control the actual hormones from performing their function. Prevention of pregnancy through oral contraceptive pills can occur due to various reasons. Birth control pills aid family planning by stopping the production of the ovum or egg. Use of contraceptive pills thickens the cervical mucus in the uterus, thus preventing the sperm from reaching the egg. Another way is by making the lining of the womb unfit for the zygote to get attached.

Birth control pills have to be taken everyday continuously for 21 days. Once you stop taking the pill, you will get your period and you have to resume taking the pill after seven days. These pills have to be taken regularly, at the same time, because if it is forgotten even for a day, there can be a chance of pregnancy. Though birth control pills are quite a popular form of contraceptive pills, many are unaware of the potential side effects that accompany it.

Side Effects of Birth Control Pills

• Some of the most common side effects of birth control pills are bloating, constipation, vomiting and nausea. Women are also quite likely to experience irregular periods as well as spotting.
• Women taking birth control pills may experience dizziness, headache, and fatigue. It is also common for them to go through mood swings, depression, and anxiety. It can even lead to high blood pressure and cholesterol.
• One of the major disadvantage of birth control pills is that they do not protect from sexually transmitted diseases. Like other contraceptives, for instance condoms, birth control pills do not reduce the risk of the person from getting infected by STDs like HIV, genital herpes, etc. Moreover, these birth control pills are only 95% foolproof and there are have been cases where pregnancy has occurred even after consuming these pills.
• Most of the common side effects of birth control pills are temporary and may be seen only when women start taking these pills. But, these pills can also lead to serious health complications. Some of these problems include vision impairment, blood clots in the heart, legs, brain and lungs. There is also a risk of having a stroke, heart attack, cervical cancer, jaundice, suppression of the immune system, etc.
• Many times, women experience an infertile period once they stop taking the pills. This happens because the body takes time to get readjusted to work without the pills. The time required for conception in this case would depend on the type of pills and also on the total time the pills were taken for. Birth control pills are also said to cause complications in future pregnancies. There have also been cases where the use of contraceptive pills have led to ectopic pregnancies and even miscarriages.

Some believe that there is a link between birth control pills and breast cancer. However, this is not a proven fact and so cannot be relied on. However, other birth control pills side effects are quite dangerous and harmful to the body. If you want to opt for birth control pills as an option for family planning, you should first consult a gynecologist. The doctor would ask whether you have a history of health problems or any allergies. Accordingly, he/she would advise you about the birth control pills you should use. If you suffering from diseases like diabetes, breast cancer, heart problems, etc. the doctor would ask you to avoid consuming these pills, as it may increase the risk of having severe side effects. In a nut shell, it can be said that though birth control pills are an effective way of averting pregnancy, you have to analyze the side effects to prevent any serious health complications.