You can lead an active lifestyle without smoking or drinking alcohol, but the fact that you use birth control pills can completely deprive you of your health. Millions of women every year take hormonal contraceptives to avoid an unwanted pregnancy, and some do so that menstruation passes easily and quickly. However, taking them regularly has its own side effects, some of which may even be life threatening.
Here are the most common ones:
1. Blood clots
Even if you do not smoke, but take oral contraceptives, there is a high risk of blood clotting and blood clots. Studies have shown that birth control pills contain drospirenone - a synthetic form of progesterone, which just increases the risk of blood clots.
Blood clots can form in any artery or vein. Although they can dissolve on their own, they can also block the blood flow in the lungs, brain or heart, leading to the most dire consequences.
2. Migraine
If you have ever had a migraine, you probably know how debilitating it is. In some women, migraines stop after childbirth, but this does not happen in everyone. Migraines result from a drop in estrogen levels. Often this happens during birth control pills.
3. Benign liver tumors
Oral contraceptives can also cause benign liver tumors. Although benign tumors are not cancerous and usually do not pose a great risk to health, those types that are formed precisely because of birth control pills can be dangerous for some women. Hepatocellular adenomas can cause abdominal bleeding. Due to the hormones contained in oral contraceptives, the growth of existing tumors may occur. In the latter case, tumors have to be removed surgically.
4. Vision problems
Do you have to constantly look for glasses to read a book? This may all be because you are taking birth control. They can greatly affect vision. This is not such a serious problem, and it can be eliminated with saline drops. However, this visual impairment cannot be ignored. With increased dryness, the eyes are more susceptible to infections, the formation of corneal ulcers and inflammation.
5. Heart attack
Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Alas, to get a heart attack, it is not necessary to smoke or lead the wrong lifestyle. To do this, it is enough to use oral contraceptives. The estrogen contained in the tablets can increase the risk of blood clots, and blood clots can cause a heart attack.
True, not everything is so bad. If you are under 35 years old, you have normal weight, and you do not smoke, you will not have heart problems. If you are middle-aged, smoke and do not move much, you should only use progestin-containing tablets and avoid drugs with estrogen. Otherwise, you have a very high risk of cardiovascular disease.
6. Depression
Hormonal birth control pills have a negative effect not only on the physical health of a woman, but also on the mental. Some associate depression precisely with the use of these drugs and note that after they stop taking medication, depression does not have to be remembered. Depression is the most common reason women refuse birth control pills, despite the fact that the connection between hormonal birth control and depression is still unclear.
Some people think that if a woman takes pills containing both estrogen and progesterone, her depression will be more severe than those who take just one hormone. If you constantly experience a feeling of despondency and anxiety, the pill you take may be the fault.
7. Gallbladder disease
Another side effect of taking oral contraceptives is gallbladder disease. Gallstones are hard, so they can cause severe pain. They can even block the bile ducts. In this case, the pain becomes even stronger. If you experience back or stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, chills, and your skin color turns yellow, you should consult a doctor.
8. Cancer of the breast and cervix
Researchers have been trying for many years to prove the link between birth control pills and cancer. It was found that there is still a connection. These remedies can lead to breast and cervical cancer. It is curious that the risk of cancer is significantly reduced after women stop taking contraceptives.
9. Stroke
Blood clots, or blood clots, are not scary in themselves. They are bad in that they can block the vessels of the brain. In this case, ischemic stroke occurs. Since some birth control pills increase the risk of blood clots, the risk of stroke increases.
A stroke can occur in those who take contraceptives containing both progesterone and estrogen. Scientists at the American Stroke Association argue that even if there is little estrogen in the pills, the risk of stroke remains very high. Of course, your general state of health and age also matter, so from time to time you need to see a doctor for preventive purposes.
10. High blood pressure
The cause of the increase in pressure is progesterone. It is he who exerts influence on small blood vessels, as a result of which there is an increase in pressure. If someone in your family suffers from hypertension, especially if it is a woman, this means that you are also at an increased risk of this disease. This means that you need to regularly measure blood pressure and, if it rises, consult a doctor. You may be prescribed drugs with less progesterone.
11. Reduction of milk
After childbirth, you can again return to taking oral contraceptives, but it is better to do this after feeding the baby. The thing is that pills, estrogen content, can reduce the formation of milk. This can make feeding your baby difficult.
12. Yeast infections
Antibiotics are commonly used to treat yeast infections. If antibiotics do not help, this means that hormonal contraceptives interfere with them. An increase in estrogen levels leads to proliferation of vaginal yeast. If yeast infections do not cause problems and the woman does not treat them, they can cause serious complications. If untreated, they can enter the bloodstream and harm organs in other parts of the body.
The good news is that modern birth control pills contain low doses of estrogen, so the likelihood of yeast infection is minimal. This, however, does not mean that estrogen pills are completely safe for women.
13. Crohn's disease
If there have been cases of Crohn's disease in your family, it is best to give up birth control pills altogether. Although Crohn's disease is more often caused by genetic factors, its causes can also be an increased body mass index, smoking, and an improper lifestyle. If you have a long history of smoking, birth control can cause you an increased risk of ulcerative colitis.
14. Painful intercourse
Sex should be fun. However, some women taking oral contraceptives do not experience this. If the unpleasant sensations during sex began after you started taking the pills, you can discern the connection between them. Using hormones can cause vaginal dryness. Since tablets can lower testosterone levels in the body, women may experience a decrease in libido. Not all pills are the same. If some give you inconvenience, you need to see a doctor, and others will prescribe you.
What can be used instead of pills?
Avoidance of unwanted pregnancy is possible not only with birth control pills. The same effect can be achieved with the help of intrauterine devices and other means. To understand what to choose, you need to see a doctor.
