Everything To Consider Before Taking Birth Control Pills

Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) are readily available, reliable, and a highly convenient means of contraception. Still there are several questions you may have regarding them; about how they can affect your health, the benefits and risks, and the newer options available. Here are some of the most common questions people have about birth control pills, answered by us.

Can I use birth control pills to control my periods?

According to the Mayo Clinic, you can delay or stop your periods with the use of birth control pills. Earlier regimens had birth control pills packaged as 21 days of active hormone pills and seven days of inactive pills. While you take inactive pills, menstruation-like bleeding happens.

These days you have many more options– from regimens with 24 days of active pills, and four days of inactive pills to all active pills.

Some extended-cycle regimens have active hormone pills every day for three months, followed by a week of inactive or low-dose oestrogen pills, where you have menstrual bleeding for that week. While others involve taking pills for a year, which can stop all bleeding.

These regimens have several benefits such as preventing hormone changes that cause bleeding, cramps, headaches and other discomforts. Moreover, if you experience iron deficiency due to heavy bleeding, they can reduce bleeding.

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How soon after stopping birth control pills can I have a baby?

Usually ovulation starts again a few weeks after stopping birth control pills. As soon as you ovulate again, you can get pregnant. You may not have a period if it's your first cycle off the pill. Make sure to take a pregnancy test if you’ve had unprotected sex and your period has not returned.

What if my period does not come back after I stop taking the pills?

You may be suffering from post-pill amenorrhea if you don’t have a period for several months after stopping the pills. Periods usually resume within three months after you stop taking the pill. See your gynaecologist incase periods don’t return after three months.

What happens if I have birth control pills while being pregnant?

There is little to no evidence that exposure to hormones in birth control pills causes birth defects. Once you learn that you’re pregnant, you should ideally stop the birth control pill.

What type of birth control pills can be used for emergency contraception?

You can use the standard oestrogen-progestin pills for emergency contraception. But you need to consult your gynaecologist to get the proper dose and timing. Certain types of pills are specifically designed to stop you from becoming pregnant, which are called the morning-after pills. Morning-after pills either contain levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate. While levonorgestrel pills are over-the-counter, ulipristal acetate are only by prescription.

A copper intrauterine device or an IUD with 52 milligrams of levonorgestrel can be also used. These IUDs are placed by your doctor, ideally within five days of unprotected intercourse.

Do birth control pills cause weight gain?

In the early 1960s, birth control pills had high amounts of oestrogen and progestin, which could cause weight gain due to increased appetite and water retention. But current pills have lower amounts of hormones, so weight gain is likely not a problem, according to WebMD.

What are the health risks of birth control pills?

• According to the National Cancer Institute, women who have used oral contraceptives for five or more years are more prone to cervical cancer than women who have never used oral contraceptives.

• The oestrogen combination birth control pills are not advised if you have a history of blood clots – venous thromboembolism. Progestin-only pills can also increase the chance of blood clots, but the risk is lesser.

• If you already have high blood pressure, talk with your doctor about whether you should consider another form of birth control.

• Birth control pills can affect your cholesterol levels, but its effect depends on how much progestin or oestrogen it contains. In general, though, the changes are not significant.

Can I take birth control pills if I’m older than 35?

If you’re healthy and you don’t smoke, you can take these pills after the age of 35. But if you’re 35 or older and you smoke, in that case the risk of cardiovascular disease increases. So, quit smoking before you can safely continue taking the pills.

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Can antibiotics interfere with birth control pills?

Antibiotics do not affect the efficiency of birth control pills, except rifampin (Rimactane), which can decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills in preventing ovulation. But this is not widely used today.

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