Birth control pills, also known as oral contraceptives, are a widely used method to prevent conception of a baby, notes the Mayo Clinic. The birth control pill can cause a wide range of health problems, especially with long-term use. Use of the birth control pill over a long period of time can also cause some positive changes in health and provide a protective factor against some diseases. Talk to your doctor regularly about any symptoms while taking birth control pills.
Delay in Period Resuming
After long-term use of the birth control pill, your period sometimes does not begin again right away. This is called post-pill amenorrhea, notes MayoClinic.com. It can take months for your body to begin to create the hormones needed for ovulation and menstruation after going off the birth control pill. Typically, this problem will only last for about three months after ending pill use.
Raises Risk of Cervical & Liver Cancer
Long-term use of birth control pills will raise these risks, notes MayoClinic.com. There is also a possible link to an increased chance of breast cancer. Talk to your doctor about any family history of cancer, and discuss the risks and benefits of long-term birth control use.
Decrease Risk of Ovarian & Endometrial Cancer
Rates of ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer are lower after long-term use, says MayoClinic.com. The hormones in the birth control pills provide protection against these diseases, but it is not yet known exactly how this occurs.
Prevents Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Long-term use of the pill can prevent symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, notes The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The hormones in the pill help to regulate the menstrual cycle. Thus, disorders that result from fluctuating hormonal levels are prevented.
Increase in Blood Pressure
Longer-term use of the pill and increasing age will raise the risk of an increase in blood pressure linked to birth control pill use, notes MayoClinic.com. If high blood pressure develops while taking the pill, ask your doctor about other birth control methods.
Improve Cholesterol Levels
Birth control pill use for long periods can have a small positive impact on cholesterol levels. Birth control pills contain estrogen, which is linked to an increase in the good high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels of cholesterol and to lower levels of the bad low-density lipoprotein (LDL) of cholesterol, notes MayoClinic.com.
Increase in Depression & Anxiety
The pill can increase the incidences these mood disorders, notes The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. With long-term use of the pill, these problems can be either sporadic or ongoing. Talk to a doctor if depression or anxiety begin while taking birth control pills to discuss alternate methods of birth control or the use of a prescription drug to treat the disorders.
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