Birth control is commonly prescribed to women to do far more than prevent pregnancy. According to the Mayo Clinic, birth control can be used to solve all kinds of menstrual complaints, such as heavy bleeding, painful cycles, severe PMS and irregular or absent periods. Still, like any medication, birth control has its pros and cons. It's important to do your research before deciding if birth control is the right choice for controlling your menstruation.
Temporary Infertility
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, birth control is 99.9 percent effective at preventing pregnancy when taken correctly. Many women with irregular menstrual cycles seek to normalize them when they're trying to conceive. For these women, taking birth control pills regulates their cycles but also prevents them from becoming pregnant. Some women use birth control for a few months to see if it regulates their cycles, then stop using it to try to conceive. But this can take more than one cycle for fertility to return after stopping contraceptives.
Side Effects
For some women, birth control carries side effects. According to the Mayo Clinic, birth control can increase your risk of stroke and heart attack if you're over 35. It also causes some women to experience mood swings, weight gain, spotting, low libido and headaches. These symptoms can be mild or severe and often go away after your body's initial adjustment, but for some women, contraceptive side effects cause them to avoid the medication altogether.
Convenience
Many women choose birth control to regulate their cycles because it gives them a reliable time frame. When taking birth control, there's a designated week when a woman can expect her period. There are even brands of birth control that allow you to have fewer periods per year (although you can do this with many kinds of regular birth control). For women with irregular cycles, this peace of mind and freedom is worth any potential side effects.
Improvement of Other Conditions
According to the Mayo Clinic, birth control is often prescribed for one purpose but actually improves other conditions as well. Some people take birth control to prevent pregnancy and also get more regular menstrual cycles, decreased acne, less severe PMS symptoms or control over the symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Some women even report decreased mood swings and depression when their hormones are regulated by birth control.
Expense
The expense of birth control pills can be a pro and a con, depending on your situation. For many women, birth control is not covered under their health insurance plan. Women who have access to reproductive health clinics such as Planned Parenthood can often get birth control at a reduced price or even free, depending on their income. Still, birth control pills are likely cheaper than other medical interventions, such as endometrial ablation.
Ingredients
Many women prefer natural remedies, especially when it comes to their reproductive health. Because of this, they may be interested in changes in lifestyle and diet, as well as herbal supplements and homeopathic remedies, rather than the chemical hormonal compounds in birth control pills.
