What Is A Birth Control Pill?
Oral contraceptives, commonly known as birth control pills or simply “pills”, are an effective way to delay pregnancy. There are various methods of preventing pregnancy, one of which is the birth control pill. The route of administration is oral. The pill is a combination of hormones estrogen and progesterone.
To learn more about Oral Contraceptive Pills and their effectiveness, find Oral Contraceptive Clinical Trials near you.
How Does A Birth Control Pill Work?
Hormonal contraceptives contain a limited quantity of human-made estrogen and progestin chemicals. These chemicals restrain your body’s normal chemicals to forestall pregnancy in a couple of ways.
The hormonal pill as a rule prevents the body from ovulating. They further alter the cervical bodily fluid to make it challenging for the sperm to go through the cervix and track down an egg. They can likewise prevent pregnancy by modifying the lining of the womb so it’s far-fetched that the fertilized egg will be embedded.
What Are The Risk Factors Associated With Birth Control Pill?
As effective as the pill is, there are certain risk factors related to it as with any other treatment modality. These include:
- Unintended Pregnancy,
- Blood Clots,
- Cholesterol Levels,
- Migraine, and
- Cardiovascular Diseases.
What Are The Actual Side Effects Of Taking Birth Control Pills?
Combination pills can cause side effects like any other medicine:
- High blood pressure,
- Nausea,
- Bloating,
- Bleeding or spotting.
It can also increase the risk of certain conditions including:
- Blood clots in legs,
- Heart attack if you smoke,
- Liver disease,
- Gallbladder disease, etc.
Does Birth Control Affect Mood?
In comparison to women who don’t utilize hormonal contraception pills, individuals who do, are bound to report feeling blue, agitated, and irate as per a study. However, those side effects do not include the rundown of normal after-effects.
Different examinations have turned up no huge connection between chemical mixes or fixations and disparities in temperament. In any case, more investigation has found that women on the pill and those taking dummy pills report relative side effects, suggesting that any impact they saw was irrelevant to the original pills.
Does Birth Control Make You Gain Weight?
It is a general misconception regarding birth control pills that they are responsible for weight gain in women taking pills to prevent pregnancy. There has been a lot of research on this subject but there is no proof that oral contraceptives cause permanent weight gain. However, it can be a side effect in some cases due to fluid retention.
Birth Control Purposes – Beyond Preventing Pregnancy:
Surprisingly, the “pills” have incredible benefits besides preventing pregnancy. They help in regulating periods and relieve cramps and endometriosis. They also help clear up the skin and prevent unwanted growth of hair. Oral contraceptives are also good for combating hormonal acne. They are also known to aid in reducing migraines related to menstruation or severe side effects due to PMS.
Debunking the Myths Related To Birth Control Pills:
These pills are a common method of delaying pregnancy. However, not a lot of people approve of it because of the myths linked to it. So, let’s read up on some facts and bust those myths.
Myth 1: Risk of birth defects with Oral contraceptive consumption.
Fact: Studies show that the pills won’t cause birth deformities and won’t in any case hurt the baby assuming a female becomes pregnant while taking COCs (Combined Oral Contraceptives) or incidentally begin to take COCs while she is pregnant.
Myth 2: Oral contraceptives can cause cancer.
Fact: The utilization of oral contraceptives is demonstrated to lower the chance of two gynecological tumors (ovarian and endometrial). Nevertheless, it is challenging to know the impact of oral contraceptive use on breast cancer and cervical cancer.
Myth 3: It will impact sex drive.
Fact: There is no evidence that birth control pills influence sex drive. However, some women have reported increased or decreased interest but nothing is yet established regarding it.
Myth 4: The oral contraceptives get absorbed in other parts of the body resulting in severe diseases and tumors.
Fact: After the pills are consumed, they disintegrate in the digestive system, and the chemicals they contain are retained in the circulatory system. After they produce their preventative result, the chemicals are then broken down in the liver and stomach and are then wiped out from the body. They don’t accumulate in the body at any place.
Myth 5: There is a risk of infertility or delayed fertility.
Fact: Oral contraceptives do not cause infertility, instead, they offer to conserve the pregnancy by protecting from pelvic inflammatory diseases, ectopic pregnancy, and endometriosis.
Impact of Oral Contraceptives on Brain Activity:
Many women take pills for different purposes so it is important to learn about their effects on the brain and body. As per a study, the use of oral contraceptives is connected with huge primary changes in the brain centers involved in memory and emotional cycles. It likewise modifies stress reactivity.
Strengthening Society with Birth Control Pills:
Pregnancy planning achieved through the accessibility and affordability of birth control drugs also helps society to overcome issues such as poverty, health disparities, etc. Oral contraceptive pills also provide women with an opportunity to work and play their part in the betterment of society, which in turn has a positive impact on the economy of a country as well.
Things to Keep In Mind While On Oral Contraceptives:
- Use more than one type of contraception, such as condoms. They may be available in the event that you forget to take a pill.
- Take your pills with you in the event that you sleep somewhere else.
- Take your pill simultaneously every day and consistently.
- Have a backup ready in case you run out of pills. Try not to hold on as late as possible. And buy your pills before you run out.
- Oral contraceptives are drugs. Keep your doctor informed of your symptoms.
What Other Options Do You Have?
You may have various options to prevent pregnancy but when it comes to choosing one, it’s never an easy decision. There is a whole range of methods that can help delay pregnancy, which we will be covering in this section.
The birth control methods are categorized according to their effectiveness as most effective, effective, and partly effective. Most effective Birth Control Methods include:
- Tubal ligation,
- Vasectomy,
- Copper IUD,
- Hormonal IUD, and
- Implantable Rod.
A hormonal IUD is a device having both estrogen and progestin that assist in preventing pregnancy. It condenses the mucus in the cervix to prevent sperm from interacting with the egg.
The Outlook:
Needless to say, Birth Control Pills are a great invention that has helped a lot of women struggling with various gynecological problems. However, it is essential to understand that oral contraceptives are prescription drugs that cannot be taken without your physician’s recommendation, as it does have few side effects. Find paid clinical trials near you in Michigan that might help you in choosing the right and most effective anti-conception method.
Also Read: 8 Tips for Choosing an Internists