Birth control pills, commonly referred to as “the pill,” are considered one of the safest methods to prevent unintended pregnancy. They are a highly effective contraceptive when taken correctly (at the same time daily).
There are two types of contraceptive pills, both of which consist of synthetic forms of hormones produced naturally in the body.
The pills either contain progestin alone or estrogen and progestin together. These hormones regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle, and their fluctuating levels play an essential role in fertility.
Apart from preventing pregnancy, there are many pros of using birth control pills, including reduced menstrual cramping, regularity of menstrual cycle, acne-free skin, and lower risk of ovarian cysts as well as ovarian and endometrial cancer.
However, birth control pills can have many side effects, which doctors may not tell you. Here are the top 10 side effects of birth control pills your doctor may not tell you.
1. Blood clots
the most common side effect of birth control contraceptives. Birth control triples your chances of having blood clots, while pregnancy and childbirth increase your chances five to ten fold. If you experience any signs of blood clot, such as swollen leg or chest pain, immediately stop the pill and consult your doctor for an evaluation.
2. Mood Swings
Mood swings, as well as symptoms of depression, are another side effect that some women may experience during consumption of pills.
3. Breakthrough Bleeding
This is most commonly found to be effective of low doses of birth control. It is considered to be caused by hormones making the endometrial lining thinner and more fragile, and even more exposed to wear and tear. However, some studies have shown that the longer you take the pill, the less likely you are to experience breakthrough bleeding.
4. Milk Production
This is extremely important to those who are breastfeeding. Birth control medications can decrease breast milk production by up to 5%. Progestin-only pills like Nor-QD or Ortho Micronor don’t interfere with lactation but have to be taken at the same time every day, since they are slightly less effective than combination pills.
5. Faux Premenstrual Symptoms
Everyone knows the before feeling – the headaches, breast tenderness, water retention, nausea, and mood swings. While these things usually occur before you start the menstruation cycle, with birth control you might experience these out of random.
6. Disrupts Ovulation
The synthetic hormones contained in birth control regulate release and timing of specific hormones in the body to prevent ovulation. The pills avoid the maturation of a follicle for ovulation, one of the ovaries most important jobs. Over time, the ovaries may “forget” how to do their job on their own because they haven’t been signaled with the right hormones at the correct time in the menstrual cycle.
7. Destroys Good Digestive Bacteria
Birth control pills actually destroy the useful bacteria in your intestines, which makes you more susceptible to yeast overgrowth, lower immunity, and infection.
8. Cervical Mucus Change
The pills has been shown to thicken cervical mucus so that sperm cannot reach the egg. Healthy cervical mucus is important for conception because it helps sperm travel through the vagina and the cervix to meet and fertilize an egg.
9. Damages the Lining of The Uterus
The pills changes the uterine lining to make it unreceptive to the implantation of a fertilized egg. By controlling the body’s estrogen and progesterone levels with synthetic hormones, a pill does not allow for the proper levels of progesterone to build a healthy uterine lining for implantation
Sources: top10homeremedies.com, healthynlifez.blogspot.com
