Do Birth Control Pills Have Side Effects?

No matter whether you are waiting for your flight at the airport or traveling by train to the tourist spot in India, everywhere you will find one common thing, an excessively increasing crowd. It is an indicator of a growing population. According to the 2011 Census, the population of India was 1,210,193,422. China has the first largest population in the world and India is only next to China. Many reports have suggested that India will surpass the population of China by the end of 2025. Although experts have found a decline in the fertility rate due to the population policies, family planning programs, and welfare schemes managed by the Government of India. In urban areas, many people rely on birth pills to get rid of unwanted pregnancies. However, some questions may pop up in one’s mind when it comes to pills- is the use of birth control pills safe? Are there any side effects of birth control pills? Keep reading this blog to get all these questions answered. 

What are Birth Control Pills?

Oral control pills are known as Birth Control Pills. These pills contain hormones to prevent ovaries from liberating eggs at the time of ovulation. They play a vital role in thickening the cervical mucus to build a barrier between sperms and the eggs. Earlier, only one option was available for using oral contraceptives. Women used to take a hormone pill every day for 21 days along with a placebo pill for 7 consecutive days. While taking placebo pills, having a period is normal.

Nowadays, many variations of birth control pills are available in India. Some pills include 4 days of placebo pills while others may have not a single dose of placebo pills. The second type may also allow you to skip your period.

If you do not take contraceptive pills daily, it might not protect you from pregnancy. Nowadays, some women are using several apps to set an alarm that can remind them for taking their pills. Due to busy schedules, some women prefer other birth control methods, such as implantation or IUDs. Still, the use of birth control is the most preferred method of getting rid of an unwanted pregnancy. 

Is Using a Birth Control Pill Safe?

There are some common questions that most women want to know- are birth control pills safe? Are there any side effects of birth control pills? What are the side effects of these pills? Like any other medicine, birth control pills also have some side effects. Most side effects fade out automatically after 2 to 3 months. In this context, it is also important to note that not all women taking pills face side effects. 

Birth control pills should not make you physically unfit. There are different types of birth control, so you are free to choose an option suitable for you. If you suffer from long-term side effects of birth control pills continuously, you may consult your physician and ask him or her to recommend another brand of pills or other birth control methods. 

What are the Side Effects of Birth Control Pills?

Birth control pills can affect the hormone levels of a woman. This imbalance of hormones can lead to a multitude of side effects. Though most side effects disappear in 2-3 months, some may persist for long. If the birth control pills' side effects stay for a long period and make you uncomfortable, it is better to consult an experienced doctor immediately. 

Listed below are some most common side effects of birth control pills:

When vaginal bleeding takes place during the menstrual cycle, it may cause spotting. It refers to brown discharge or light bleeding. Spotting is one of the most common side effects of birth control pills. As the body tries to adjust to the changing hormone levels and the uterus tries to be adept with a thinner lining. If you take the pill every day at the same time, you may avoid bleeding during your period. 

Birth control pills sometimes make the breasts tender. In most cases, it happens immediately after starting the pills. A supportive bra can help you lower breast tenderness. While breast sensitivity increases, the hormones present in the pills, grow the breasts bigger.

Some women complain of mild nausea when taking birth pills for the first time. This is not a serious issue. Taking the pill at bedtime or with some foods may resolve this side effect. However, if you feel severe nausea for a long time, you need the guidance of a trusted doctor. 

Some people face emotional side effects of birth control pills, such as frequent mood changes. Hormonal changes caused by the pills might be the reason behind frequent mood changes.

Often you will find a search phrase popped in Google’s suggestion list while typing something about the side effects of contraceptive pill- “birth control pills side effect weight gain”. Some people believe that birth control pills cause weight gain. These pills may increase the rate of fluid retention or water weight. It may also increase fat or muscle mass. However, no research work has so far confirmed this side effect of contraceptive pills with proven theory.

Apart from the side effects discussed above, some other side effects are also there, such as missed periods, abnormal vaginal discharge, migraine and headache, and decreased libido. 

Some people also search for side effects of birth control for teenagers on Google. Side effects are more or less the same for adult women and teenagers. 

When do Side Effects of Birth Control Pills Start?

In most cases, the side effects of birth pills start immediately after starting taking the pills. Some women ask “can I get pregnant if I have sex during my period and can birth pills help in such situations?”. Well, sex during the period may also result in pregnancy, though your risk is very low. This is a delicate phase and taking birth pills may affect your pregnancy. Therefore, it is better to consult your doctor for advice. Even some people believe that birth control pills create polycystic ovarian diseases and that polycystic ovaries cause infertility. This is a controversial topic and there is no proven explanation that birth control pills cause cysts in ovaries. 

Some women face a phase of no period after stopping birth control pills. Many reasons can cause it, such as stress, thyroid imbalance, uterine polyps, fibroids, etc. You should consult a doctor to identify the reason so that you can treat the issue accordingly.

How to Avoid Side Effects of Birth Control Pills

As the side effects do not stay for long except in some rare cases, you may not need to do anything. But prevention is always better than cure. Keeping this old saying in mind, you can take the pills every day (without any gap) at the same time. If needed, you can get in touch with a doctor.

A Final Takeaway

Birth control pills are an effective and easy way to avoid an unintended pregnancy. Though it has some short-term side effects, they can become severe in some rare cases. You may talk to your doctor to avoid the side effects of the birth control pills and learn about other alternatives.