Birth Control Drugs
...are of. Cigarette smoking, for example, increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects when combined with oral-contraceptive use. The risk increases with age and heavy smoking (35 years and up, or 15 or more cigarettes per day). More serious side effects include: blood clots, heart attack and strokes, gallbladder disease, liver tumors, and cancer of the reproductive organs. Other possible side effects include: nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal symptoms (such as abdominal cramps and bloating), breakthrough bleeding, spotting, change in menstrual flow, amenorrhea, temporary infertility after discontinuation of treatment, edema, melasma which may persist, breast changes (tenderness, enlargement, secretion), change in weight (increase or decrease), change in cervical erosion and secretion, migraine, rash (allergic), mental depression, reduced tolerance to carbohydrates, vaginal candidiasis (yeast infection), intolerance to contact lenses, changes in appetite, headache, nervousness, dizziness, vaginitis, and acne. The good thing is that most of the general side effects disappear after 3 months of continuous use. Finding the right brand or the right dosage for you can also relieve these general side effects. Although it is important to be aware of the negative side effects, there are also some positive ones. For example, using birth control has some helpful effects on menses which include: increased menstrual cycle regularity, decreased blood loss and decreased incidence of iron-deficiency anemia, and decreased incidence of dysmenorrheal (severe cramps). There are also some positive effects related to the inhibition of ovulation which include: decreased incidence of ovarian cysts and decreased incidence of ectopic pregnancies (pregnancies that occur outside the womb). There has also been proof of health benefits from long term use including: decreased incidence of fibroadenomas (benign breast tumor) and fibrocystic disease of the breast (presence of one or more cysts in the breast), decreased incidence of acute pelvic inflammatory disease, and decreased incidence of ovarian cancer. An important thing to be aware of is that the use of antibiotics while on “the pill” can reduce the pill’s effectiveness. A second form of contraceptive, for example a condom were someone to engage in intercourse, would be necessary to ensure full protection from pregnancy. The “mini pill” is another form of oral contraceptive containing only the hormone progestin and is taken every day. It works by thickening the cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching the egg and also by keeping the uterine lining from thickening—preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. The mini pill is not as effective as the combination pills because they must be taken at the same exact time every single day in order to maintain its effectiveness. The mini pill is a good option for women who cannot take estrogen such as those who are breast feeding or who experience uncomfortable side effects from the combination pill. The main side effect of the mini pill is an irregular menstrual cycle—a woman may not have her period for months, or may experience spotting in between menstruation cycles. You do not get the same benefits from taking the mini pill as you would with the combination pill. For example, protection from ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus in the fallopian tubes) is not as strong with the mini pills as it is with the combination pills. The emergency pill is not meant to be taken on a regular basis such as the combination or mini pills. It is a type of contraceptive which must be taken no more than 72 hours after unprotected intercourse. The emergency pill contains the same hormones as the other birth control pills, but at a much higher dosage. There are 2 pills to take; the second one is taken 12 hours after the first. Taking the emergency pill disrupts the menstrual cycle and is not 100 percent effective. Side effects can include: nausea and vomiting, headaches, breast tenderness, dizziness, and bloating. There are also emergency pills that contain only progestin, this type is proven to cause fewer side effects. An Intrauterine Device (IUD) is a reversible method of contraception that is inserted into a woman’s uterus. An IUD is a small, T-shaped device that contains copper or a hormone to avert pregnancy by preventing the fertilization of an egg. There are three kinds of IUD: copper, progesterone, and Levonorgestrel Intrauterine System (LNG IUS). The copper is good for up to ten years and included copper parts that form a barrier between the sperm and egg. The progesterone is good for only one year and it distributes progesterone into the uterus which interferes with ovulation. The LNG ...