Every decision regarding your health needs to be made wisely, and why not, your body is the only place you have to live in. The modern world has seen a tremendous change in the way people perceive their bodies. It’s more of a taking-your-body-for-granted kind of a situation. With an increasing number of women opting for oral contraceptive pills to control pregnancy and enjoy worry-free sex, there’s also an increase in the number of women suffering from the downsides of these pills.
Popping a birth control pill isn’t just about your baby-maker getting the necessary treatment; it’s your entire body that gets affected. Each pill contains hormones that change the hormone levels in the body. Birth-control pills contain synthetic forms of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Combination pills contain both of these hormones whereas some pills contain only progesterone. What you really need to know is how these pills affect your body in the long run.
The side-effects of hormonal contraceptives
1. Nausea, cramping and irregular bleeding between periods.
2. Breast soreness or tenderness- Seen in the initial phases of starting the pill.
3. Mood swings- Feeling anxious, low or depressed frequently is a common sign.
4. Decreased libido or sexual desire – The pills quiet the ovaries leading to decreased production of testosterone which actually controls the sexual desire.
5. Headaches- Caused when pills contain high doses of hormones.
6. Missed periods- Periods could be influenced due to hormonal or thyroid abnormalities.
7. Nutritional deficiencies because of increased need of B-complex vitamin, Vitamin C by the liver.
8. Graver side effects include increased risk of breast cancer, increased risk of blood clotting, heart attack and stroke, birth defects in children later.
How to avoid the problems?
1. It’s important to do some research to learn about various methods of birth-control that are available in the market. There are a lot of safer methods of birth-control sans the side effects.
2. If you’re still looking to use oral contraceptives, make sure you have a detailed discussion with your gynecologist about their pros and cons, about which one would be best suited for you and about how they could affect you in the long run.
3. If you’re taking the pill, make sure you take it regularly, at the same time every day.
To learn about the alternative forms of contraception, visit your doctor today.
