Is the pill safe?

Are you tired of pesky pregnancies and constant debates about birth control? Look no further, because today we’re going to dive deep into the controversial question on everyone’s minds: is the pill safe?

A Brief History

Before we explore whether or not this little hormone-filled tablet is risk-free, let’s take a blast through history. Did you know that in ancient Egypt women drank mixtures made from crocodile dung as a form of contraception? Yum! It wasn’t until 1960 when Enovid became the first oral contraceptive approved by the FDA.

The Basics

First things first, what exactly does “the pill” do? Simply put, it provides an artificial dose of estrogen and progesterone hormones which prevent ovulation from occurring each month (aka no egg means no baby). According to Planned Parenthood, over 9 million US women rely on these little pills as their method of birth control.

But with great power comes great responsibility (thank you Uncle Ben). You should always speak with your doctor before starting any new medication; especially one that can alter your hormone levels! Here are some potential side effects to keep in mind:

Common Side Effects

  • Nausea
  • Headaches/Migraines
  • Breast Tenderness
  • Mood Swings
  • Irregular Bleeding

Don’t worry ladies – irregular bleeding just means light spotting between periods. Think Christmas lights year-round!

Serious Side Effects

Thankfully rare occurrences but still important to be aware of:

  • Blood Clots
  • Stroke

This may sound alarming but remember a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found certain types of newer generation progestin-based contraceptives were associated with up to tripled rates for blood clot formation comparedagainst non-hormonal methods. It’s important communicationwith your doctor if you experience symptoms such as pain or swelling in your legs or arms, shortness of breath, chest pain, vision changes or headaches.

Who Shouldn’t Take the Pill?

While sounding like a miracle cure for some pregnancies out there, the pill is not right for everyone. Individuals who smoke and/or have high blood pressure are at an increased risk of developing blood clots on the pill. Additionally those w/ history of specific diseases should talk to their doctor before starting hormonal birth control:

  • Breast Cancer
  • Cardiovascular Disease

Also worth noting that certain medications (ie antibiotics) may interfere with how well contraception works.

Long-Term Effects

So far we have covered potential benefits along with risks associated when using contraceptives but what about long-term use effects? Does it damage future fertility?

The answer is no! Hormonal birth control has not been found to lower fertility rates once discontinued; however can take up to six months after stopping usage before ovulation returns backto normal. Interesting enough, one study showed higher oral contraceptive dose lowered pregnancy ratedespite more frequent unprotected intercourse.

Conclusion

Like many pharmaceuticals out there, there will always be debate over safety vs benefitsand each woman’s body reacts differently when navigating through this sensitive healthcare topic. So while taking these pills may help prevent pregnancy and provide other uncomfortable period symptoms relief,it’s important you discuss all options available with your health care provider first

Good luck Ladies (;

Sources:

https://www.aafp.org/

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/

 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 Medical News Today being our sparknotes

    https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/21/6/1496/2550040

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