Birth control pills are really good at preventing pregnancy—over 99% effective if used perfectly—but as many women will know too well, they can cause a few side effects.
Luckily there’s a lot of options out there if your pill gives you unwanted symptoms, or doesn’t quite do enough to tackle the side effects of menstruation.
So if the first pill you try doesn’t do what you want it to, or has stopped working as well for you over time, don’t give up – there are alternatives.
Understanding common side effects of birth control pills
Getting the hang of birth control pills isn’t always a smooth ride, especially in the beginning. Those initial months on the contraceptive pill can bring some unwelcome side effects that might throw you for a loop: feeling a bit queasy, battling unexpected headaches, or finding yourself on an emotional rollercoaster. Then there are the surprises like tender breasts or unpredictable bleeding. It can all be part of the package deal when starting out on birth control pills.
These side effects are pretty normal as your body adjusts to the new routine. While some might breeze through with minor hiccups, others might find these symptoms a tad bothersome.
But here’s the catch – these effects vary from person to person and often go away with time. Sometimes, they can be managed by adjusting the pill regimen like taking them at different times, or trying different brands of pill before you find the right fit.
Practical approaches to ease side effects of birth control pills
Managing the side effects of birth control pills involves a combination of different strategies and approaches to help reduce discomfort. Some of these include:
Switching your pill time
If taking the pill in the morning makes you feel queasy, switch to having it in the evening with dinner. Taking the pill with food or before going to bed can be effective because taking the pill with food or before sleep ensures your stomach isn’t empty, which may reduce feelings of nausea.
Regular exercise
Doing regular exercise like a run, yoga or going to the gym is good for your health and might help with some side effects of birth control pills. Not only can it keep your weight in check but exercise also makes you feel good overall, helps you handle stress, and might tone down mood swings by encouraging endorphin release.
Increasing water intake
Drinking the right amount of water could help prevent headaches that some women report because of birth control pills. When you’re not drinking enough water, headaches can get worse due to dehydration, so it’s essential to drink plenty of water throughout the day (around 2 litres ideally).
Taking supplements
Taking certain supplements like magnesium might make headaches caused by hormonal changes less frequent and painful. While vitamin B6 is good for balancing moods and might help manage mood swings that some women experience when using birth control pills.
Which birth control pills have the least side effects?
Some birth control pills have less of the hormones that might cause side effects. They’re called “low-dose pills” because they contain lower levels of estrogen. These pills are designed to have just enough hormones to prevent pregnancy but with a reduced chance of causing side effects.
Then, there are mini pills. They’re different because they don’t have any estrogen at all. Instead, they only contain progestin, another hormone used in birth control. These are good for women who are breastfeeding or for those who feel sensitive to estrogen.
Because they don’t have estrogen, mili-pills might have a lower risk of causing certain side effects that can come with estrogen-containing pills like bloating and breast tenderness. They also don’t carry the same raised blood clot risk that some combined pills do.
What are the helpful effects of birth control pills (besides contraception)?
Birth control pills can offer benefits beyond contraception. They can be used for regulating irregular or painful periods, managing acne, and addressing conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). They can also reduce the risk of developing ovarian and endometrial cancers.
By stabilizing hormone levels, birth control pills can bring about more predictable and lighter periods, providing you relief from menstrual discomfort. Certain birth control pills are known to be effective in managing acne. These pills can lower the levels of androgens, which are hormones that can make your skin produce more oil. When your skin makes less oil, it’s less likely to get clogged in your pores, which means fewer pimples and breakouts.
Are there any long term side effects of birth control pills?
Several misconceptions surround the long-term use of birth control pills. One myth is that birth control pills can lead to permanent infertility. In actuality, when you stop using the pill, fertility usually goes back to normal pretty fast. There’s also a misconception that using birth control pills for a long time can raise the risk of getting cancer.
But research shows that long-term use of birth control pills like the mini-pill has been associated with a decreased risk of developing ovarian and endometrial cancers. The progestin in birth control pills can help suppress ovulation, leading to a lower risk of ovarian cancer. Additionally, they can reduce the growth of the endometrial lining, which may lower the risk of endometrial cancer. [popover id=ref3]
While certain birth control pills have been known to increase the risk of blood clots, this has been more pronounced in women with a history of smoking, high blood pressure, or other risk factors. The majority of healthy women have not experienced blood clots with long term use of birth control.
All in all, birth control pills are super important for reproductive health. They’re great for preventing pregnancy and sorting out menstrual issues. It’s smart for you to chat with doctors to pick the right pill and handle any possible side effects well. This way, you can make choices that suit your health and lifestyle needs and preferences.
References:
[1] Cooper DB, Patel P, Mahdy H. Oral Contraceptive Pills. [Updated 2022 Nov 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430882/
[2] Słopień R, Milewska E, Rynio P, Męczekalski B. Use of oral contraceptives for management of acne vulgaris and hirsutism in women of reproductive and late reproductive age. Prz Menopauzalny. 2018 Mar;17(1):1-4. doi: 10.5114/pm.2018.74895. Epub 2018 Apr 11. PMID: 29725277; PMCID: PMC5925193.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5925193/
[3] Collaborative Group on Epidemiological Studies on Endometrial Cancer. Endometrial cancer and oral contraceptives: an individual participant meta-analysis of 27 276 women with endometrial cancer from 36 epidemiological studies. Lancet Oncol. 2015 Sep;16(9):1061-1070. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(15)00212-0. Epub 2015 Aug 4. PMID: 26254030.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26254030/
