Birth control has become a very necessary thing now to keep the population at check. There are more than 15 different birth control methods out there that have proven to be very effective. However, birth control pills are far more popular than any other methods as they are easy to take and do not require any complications. Not only pregnancy, but the pill also helps to resolve some issues like painful periods, irregular cycle, endometriosis, PMS (Premenstrual syndrome), acne, and many more. But many people do not know that these hormone-based pills that they are consuming to prevent pregnancy, comes with various side effects.
These birth control pill side effects are mostly very common and less harmful, but some of them can be severe and very dangerous for your health. A large percentage of women use birth control pills very often to prevent pregnancy. So, you need to know what the side effects are before taking these pills. The most common ones are given below:
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Headaches/Migraine
When talking about birth control pill side effects, headaches are the most common ones that come to mind. Birth control pills contain different hormones that increase the chances of developing migraines and headaches. Different types of pills can cause various symptoms that can affect you badly. Using a high dose pill can cause a migraine that will damage your body from any damage. Headaches take a lot of time to develop from taking birth control pills. So, if you are having severe headaches just after taking pills, then you will need to visit a healthcare professional immediately.
Intermenstrual Spotting
Another very common side effect of the birth control pill is the intermenstrual spotting. After you start taking the pills, having breakthrough vaginal bleeding is common between the expected date of periods. However, it gets resolved within 3 months from the starting date of pill taking. If you take the pill correctly without missing any doses, then the pill will be still active during spotting.
If you see that you are having heavy bleeding for more than 3 days, or continuous bleeding for more than 5 days, then you need to visit a doctor immediately. Mostly, this bleeding comes from the different adjustments of the body. The hormone levels in the body changes by taking the pills as it contains different hormones. Also, the thinner endometrial lining can cause this bleeding in the body.
Weight Increase
According to studies and reports, there is no link between weight gain and birth control pills. However, in different places like hips and breasts, fluid retention might occur. There are many studies out there that claim that only using a birth pill that contains progestin for more than 6 to 12 months adds almost 2 kilograms of weight. The result is also the same for other birth control methods. Working out can help you very much to keep the weight in check. Make sure to consult with your doctor before trying anything, they will help you to know that if your health condition is good to gain some weight. Some birth control pills are out there containing hormones that help to decrease body mass.
Decreased libido
This is one of the obvious birth control pill side effects that happens to most of the girls. The hormones of birth control pills can have a very deep impact on sex. Having low libido can create complications in relationships, decrease sexual satisfaction, and many more. If the low libido continues for a long time, then seek the help of a doctor to know how to restore it. However, things might get the opposite, and libido can get a very high boost.
High libido helps to prevent any type of concerns like pregnancy, and others. Apart from that, if you are having pain from the menstrual camping, different symptoms, uterine fibroids, premenstrual syndrome, endometriosis, and others.
Tenderness in breasts
If you are having tenderness in breasts after taking pills, then most probably it is happening as a birth control side effect. It takes a few weeks before the tenderness to develop in the breasts. If you notice a lump on the breast or around the breast that causes a lot of pain, then contact a doctor as soon as possible. You can take the help of a supportive bra and reduce the intake of both caffeine and salt to make the process easier.
Vaginal discharge
Change in the nature of vaginal discharge is a very common and known birth control pill side effect. It can happen naturally, and it can also happen from the result of using increased or decreased lubricant. In the case of a dry vagina, you can use a lubricant to make the sex more comfortable. These changes in vaginal discharge color and nature are not harmful, but it can indicate an infection. Changes in odor and others can make people confused about the changes, talk with a medical provider to be sure about the condition.
Mood changes
Changes in mood are one of the most common birth control pill side effects. Major emotional changes like depression or risk of emotional changes are very common by the consumption of birth control pills. If you are having slight mood changes, then you have nothing to worry about. But if you are experiencing huge ups and downs in mood, then you can take the help of a medical provider to address it as fast as you can.
Eye changes
The birth control pill contains many hormones that can cause the cornea of the eyes to thicken down. Eye disease is not very well known as birth control pill side effects. But changes in the cornea can prevent you from wearing any contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, then you should consult an ophthalmologist before using these pills.
Missed periods
Missing periods are very common birth control pill side effects even after taking it regularly. Some of the things like stress, travel, illness, and thyroid can affect the periods. If your period is missing while you are taking your pills, do a test of pregnancy.
These are some of the most common side effects of the birth control pills that you need to know if you are planning to use them.