During the week of placebo pills, you’d have your period. A 2004 review found that hormonal birth control users experienced higher levels of anxiety compared to non-users. Similarly, a 2018 study revealed that people using hormonal IUDs also had increased rates of anxiety. It might, especially if you tend to break out during your period.
most common birth control pill side effects
Even if you decide against that, they can talk to you privately if you’re confused, unsure, or just curious about sexual activity. Emergency birth control can cost anywhere from about $10 to $60, depending on the brand. See which stores have which brands to find the best option for you. Most of them use between 20 and 35 micrograms of estrogen along with some progestin.
Having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) can make you more likely to get PID. If what are the side effects of the birth control pill you’re at higher-than-normal risk for an STI, your doctor should test you before placing the IUD. Depo-Provera, the birth control shot, can reduce bone density. That loss of bone density could make you more likely to get osteoporosis and break bones later in life.
Sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythm
The pill and other hormone-based birth control can help balance out hormones and prevent migraines in some women. But in other women, this type of birth control makes these headaches worse or more frequent. According to the American College of Cardiology, the risk of stroke related to combined pills is lower than the risk of pregnancy-related stroke. Each year, 3 to 9 out of every 10,000 people who use combined birth control methods develop a blood clot. An older 1999 study found that people who used the combined pill for at least 10 years had an 80% lower risk of developing endometrial cancer.
Ovarian Cysts
Take our quiz to get your symptom score and start uncovering the why behind your symptoms. This may be a result of the change in gut microbes and estrogen’s negative impact on gut permeability. A doctor, nurse or pharmacist will check if you have certain risk factors before prescribing the pill. Visit our dedicated hub for more research-backed information and in-depth resources on women’s health. Follow the instructions on the packaging, or ask your provider or pharmacist if you have questions before you start.
What Are Birth Control Pills?
However, the pill, patch, and ring can also be effective. While the exact cause of PMS and PMDD is not fully understood, they’re likely linked to hormonal fluctuations during your cycle. Research indicates that disturbances in this internal clock can increase the risk of anxiety and depression. The pill might impact your sleep-wake cycle due to its effect on estrogen, which helps regulate your circadian rhythm or internal 24-hour clock. One of the largest studies on this topic was conducted in Denmark in 2016.
If the pill causes vaginal dryness, and a person wants to engage in sexual activity, using lubrication can help make this more comfortable. Changes in vaginal discharge may occur when taking the pill. This may be an increase or a decrease in vaginal lubrication or a change in the nature of the discharge.
- If you have any of these risks, a different form of birth control might be safer for you.
- The role of progesterone is to prevent pregnancy, while estrogen helps to control menstrual bleeding.
- Slight increases in your basal body temperature often signal ovulation.
- Pick the birth control pill that’s easiest to work into your routine, and take it consistently.
- Another brand of combination bill control pill called Nextstellis works a little differently.
Often, taking birth control pills causes the breasts to feel tender, especially soon after a person starts taking them. Wearing a supportive bra can help reduce breast tenderness. Your healthcare provider will advise you on whether it’s best to take a combination pill versus a progestin-only pill based on your medical history. Birth control pills are a popular, effective way to prevent unintended pregnancy.
- If you’re interested in birth control, talk with a healthcare professional about which type is most effective for you.
- Although the increase is typically mild, there have been rare cases where a person’s blood pressure rose to dangerously high levels while they were taking birth control.
- The pill may reduce the body’s production of progesterone, which is converted into allopregnanolone, a hormone known for its calming effects.
- A non-hormonal IUD is typically made of copper and works by altering the way the sperm swims, preventing it from meeting an egg and therefore preventing pregnancy.
Also, the pill can slow the amount of time it takes for alcohol to leave your body. If you’re taking a pill with drospirenone, talk with your doctor about your risk. It is very important to take the minipills at the exact same time each day. Before you start taking your pills, talk with your doctor about what to expect, and follow their instructions about what to do if you don’t have a period.
One study, focused solely on vitamin B12, found that birth control pill users had consistently lower vitamin B12 concentrations than non-users, independent of their dietary intake. When taken correctly—meaning no missed doses—the pill is extremely effective at preventing pregnancy, with fewer than 1 pregnancy for every 100 users each year. Progestin-only pills appear to have little effect on the risk of heart attack or stroke. They also don’t appear to be linked to hypertension or high cholesterol.
Depression
They can help you weigh any other factors that might increase your risk and help you choose an option you’re comfortable with. The freedom that birth control pills provide does come with a few side effects, though. Read on to learn more about them and other considerations.
Decreased risk of certain conditions
Birth control pills prevent pregnancy 99% of the time when you take them every day, exactly as prescribed. Unlike other types of birth control, like condoms, the pill doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). You’ll need to use additional protection along with the pill to reduce your risk of STIs. Birth control pills are generally safe to take over a long period of time.
This may help the drug have fewer negative side effects, like breakthrough bleeding. Hormonal contraceptives (the pill, the patch, and the vaginal ring) all contain a small amount of hormones. These hormones inhibit your body’s natural hormones to prevent pregnancy in a few ways. Hormonal contraceptives usually stop your body from ovulating.