Side effects of birth control pills, until now are still the subject of discussion among women. In general, contraceptives have various types, including hormonal contraceptives, such as pills. In Indonesia, contraceptive pills are better known as birth control pills or family planning pills.

Birth control pills prevent pregnancy through the content of the hormones estrogen and progestin, by blocking the ovaries from ovulating or releasing eggs. In addition, the pill will also make it difficult for sperm to reach the egg or block the egg from attaching to the lining of the uterus. With various opinions about the side effects of birth control pills, rather than assuming, it's good to understand the effects that can actually be caused by birth control pills.



Possible Effects of Birth Control Pills

In line with the effects of birth control pills in preventing pregnancy, not infrequently the side effects of birth control pills are also felt by users. Starting from the very light, to the quite disturbing. Here are some of the risks of side effects of birth control pills that might occur:

Nausea

This reaction is likely to disappear within two months. Try to make sure to return to the doctor about how to use it. Maybe you need to eat it together with food or after meals, to avoid nausea, before deciding to switch to another method of contraception.

Headaches and discomfort in the breast

Side effects of these birth control pills will usually be felt at the beginning of taking birth control pills. This is influenced by an increase in hormone levels when using birth control pills. If the effect does not diminish or is very disturbing, consider consulting a doctor for treatment or other types of family planning alternatives.

Sudden bleeding outside of menstruation

Users of birth control pills can experience side effects such as unexpected bleeding, outside menstruation. Taking birth control pills at the same time every day might help alleviate. But if you feel worried or uncomfortable, consult a doctor.

Weight gain

Initially the estrogen levels contained in hormonal contraception are much higher than now. So it might affect weight, both due to increased appetite and accumulation of body fluids.

Now the results of various studies, found that estrogen levels contained in birth control pills, especially types of combinations have been calculated in such a way as to no longer cause weight gain. If you are a user of birth control pills and have this complaint, consult a doctor, there may be other conditions that underlie your weight gain.

Decreased sex drive

If you experience this, you can try different types of birth control pills. Maybe you need birth control pills that have the hormone work to resemble the nature of androgen hormones to restore sex drive. If that doesn't work, change your contraceptive method according to the doctor's recommendation.

Sudden changes in mood

If there is nothing else that causes it and the birth control pill is felt to be the main cause, your doctor may suggest you switch to a non-hormonal contraceptive method.

When just starting to take medication, the side effects of birth control pills can be annoying. However, generally the side effects of birth control pills will decrease as the body adapts to drug use.

Possible More Serious Impact

For most women, birth control pills are safe for consumption and only cause mild side effects. However, there is a higher risk for women with certain conditions.

The hormone estrogen in birth control pills can cause blood to clot more easily. If a blood clot forms, it can cause deep vein thrombosis in the legs, blood clots in the lungs, even strokes or heart attacks.

Research on the association of side effects of birth control pills with breast cancer is still ongoing. There is a possibility of using birth control pills to make the risk of breast cancer higher. But by stopping taking birth control pills for 10 years, the risk of developing breast cancer will decline again. As for the risk of cervical cancer and liver cancer, it has not been proven to be fully related to the use of birth control pills.

The more serious side effects of birth control pills include:

Chest pain.

Stomach ache.

Vision disorders, for example blurred or faint vision.

Unbearable headaches.

Swelling or pain in the legs and thighs.