These days, a woman virtually has full control over contraception. There are many different methods that women choose to counteract conception, but the most widely utilized is the birth control pill. Birth control is easy to manage, and it has a very positive track record in terms of preventing pregnancy.
Birth control pills are typically housed in small compartments, and they usually come in numbers of either 21 or 28. These pills are usually taken once a day, and the extra 7 pills (spacers or “blanks”) in the 28-pack help women stay in the habit of taking one pill a day. When the pills are being taken, the body puts the ovulation process on hold until the spacer pills come into play or there are no more pills left to take for the month.
Advantages
Birth control pills come with its own sets of advantages and disadvantages (as with most medicine available). Birth control provides quite a few advantages like:
- ease of use
- acne reduction
- pregnancy prevention
- helps with women who experience irregular periods
- helps with sufferers of PMS (premenstrual syndrome)
Disadvantages and Side Effects
Of course, birth control pills come with disadvantages and side effects as well, but many of them have been eliminated due to new medical breakthroughs and advances. There are many side effects that women universally experience while on “the pill,” and some of these include:
- fatigue
- dizziness
- headache
- weight gain
- mood swings
- stomach pain
- tender breasts
- vaginal dryness
- decreased libido
- nausea & vomiting
The good news about these side effects is that many women report them clearing up after a few months of consistent and regular use of the birth control pills. Because the body needs time to adjust to the new hormones that the pills introduce, these side effects are completely normal. However, it’s not good to continue use of birth control pills if you feel uncomfortable taking them. It helps to speak with your health care provider about what you’re experiencing, and this is especially true if the side effects are interfering with your daily life.
More serious drug side effects are:
- blurry vision
- severe headache
- numbness in arms
- severe abdominal pain
- chest pain with shortness of breath
These are side effects that shouldn’t be looked over. If you’re experiencing any of these side effects while taking birth control pills, stop use immediately and contact your health care provider.
