Oral contraceptives, also called birth control pills, provide an effective method of preventing unwanted pregnancy. Fewer than 1 in 100 women will get pregnant each year if taking a birth control pill daily as directed, Planned Parenthood reports. Although oral contraceptives are beneficial in preventing pregnancy, they may cause side effects in some women. Understanding the potential side effects and benefits of oral contraceptives can help you decide if this method of birth control is right for you.
Identification
Most oral contraceptives contain the female hormones estrogen and progestin, although some types of pills only contain progestin. When you take birth control pills, your ovaries don’t release eggs every month -- if there is no egg, there is nothing for the sperm to fertilize and pregnancy can’t occur. Birth control pills are also helpful in preventing pregnancy because they thin the uterine lining, preventing implantation of a fertilized egg, and stop sperm from entering the uterus by thickening the cervical mucus. The cervix is located at the lower part of the uterus and contains an opening that allows sperm to enter the uterus and menstrual blood to exit the body. During childbirth, the cervix enlarges to permit passage of a baby.
Benefits
Oral contraceptives are covered by many prescription plans and are relatively inexpensive, depending on the coverage your health insurance plan provides. If you take oral contraceptives, your periods might be shorter, lighter, and involve less cramping. The American Pregnancy Association reports that a woman's chance of developing ovarian and uterine cancer decreases after using oral contraceptives for several years. Oral contraceptive use might also be helpful in reducing harmless cysts in the breasts and ovaries and may also provide some benefit if you have anemia or endometriosis.
Side Effects
When you first start taking birth control pills, you may experience some bleeding between periods called breakthrough bleeding. This usually stops by the second or third month as your body adjusts to the hormones in the oral contraceptives. Nausea, vomiting or tenderness in the breasts can also be side effects when you begin using oral contraceptives. Although serious side effects are rare, taking oral contraceptives can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in some women, particularly those who smoke. If you develop pain in your thigh or calf, have trouble speaking, experience blurred vision or other visual changes, or develop trouble breathing or pain your chest or abdomen, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
YASMIN and Yaz Side Effects
YASMIN and Yaz brand birth control pills may cause unique side effects because these pills use a different type of progestin than traditional pills. This type of progestin, called drospirenone, can increase potassium levels in your body. Higher potassium levels might increase your risk of developing heart problems or could worsen diseases that affect the adrenal glands, kidneys or liver. Be sure to tell your doctor about any diseases or conditions you may have before using either of these oral contraceptives.
