Know the Benefits and the Disadvantages of Taking Birth Control Pills
Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2008
by Rcon Franchesca Pascua
Today, sexually active young and adult women have wide variations of birth control options to choose from. Among the most popular contraceptive options are the barrier methods, the hormonal methods, the natural family planning, and sterilization.
In the various birth control methods developed for females, majority of them prefer to use birth control pills, for these are highly noted for their efficiency, usage convenience, and affordability. Aside from the pills' effectiveness in preventing unwanted pregnancies, oral contraceptives also provide other health benefits to users, thus, making them one of the most in-demand forms of birth control methods in the market.
Below is list of the benefits and disadvantages of each type of birth control pill:
1. Progestin-only pill or POP
Benefits:
a. This pill can lessen or relieve menstrual pain and cramps.
b. This pill can avoid or decrease blood loss during the menstrual cycle.
c. This pill is highly recommended for women who just delivered their babies for breast-feeding.
d. It is easy to discontinue the intake.
Disadvantages:
a. This pill requires a strict intake schedule.
b. This pill causes irregular bleeding cycle.
c. This pill is less effective than the combination types of oral contraceptive.
d. This pill does not protect the user from STDs.
2. Combination pill
Benefits:
a. This pill lessens cramps, pain, and menstrual blood loss.
b. This pill lessens the user's susceptibility to cancer, ovarian cysts, and topical pregnancy.
c. This pill lessens the user's premenstrual symptoms.
d. This pill regularizes a woman's menstrual cycle.
e. This pill can treat the physical and emotional symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
f. This pill has positive effects on cholesterol.
g. This pill helps improve acne condition.
Disadvantages
a. This pill may cause hypertension.
b. This pill may cause spotting, nausea, and vomiting.
c. This pill may help in the formation of liver tumors and gallstones.
3. Emergency birth control pill
Benefits:
a. This pill prevents conception even after a few days of unprotected sexual intercourse.
b. This pill is widely available.
c. This pill is a convenient alternative birth control in case other contraception forms failed.
Disadvantages:
a. This pill may pose difficulty in usage timing. In this type of oral contraception, one should take the first pack within a specific number of hours after engaging in an unprotected sexual intercourse.
b. This pill may cause headache, dizziness, fatigue, vomiting, as well as nausea.
c. This pill may cause bleeding.
d. This pill may cause breast soreness and abdominal pain.
Women should know the above mentioned benefits and disadvantages of the three types of oral contraceptives (even if health practitioners or doctors will most likely discuss them during consultation), for these info will help them decide if birth control pills are suitable for their health condition and lifestyle.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)I have a head condition, which I've had neurosurgery for in the past & this has caused me to get migraines almost daily, would i still be able to take the pill? Because I've heard your not advised to take the pill if you get migraines.
well im 15 and a mother . im now on the pill and it makes me hrow up and have very bad headaces .
Ok, honestly to the 15 year old mother..i dont want you to get offended from this..but birth control does not always work. Places like Plan Parent hood offer Children under 18 to get birth control without a parent. They are pretty much saying, " hey were going to help you hide this from your parents " until something goes technically wrong and you get pregnant when your on the pill. Do you think they are going to tell your parents for you? Dont think so!!! they are on your side until you get knocked up like everyother teen on the planet is doing. Then they bail on you..make you tell you parents yourself. Its like saying " well have sex, just take this birth control. Truly i have met more teenage girls get pregnant while on birth control then those not on it. Try to rethink the birth control ladies. Its not always the safest way to go!!!
I am 30 and still single. I had sex with my boyfriend a year ago and i took an unwanted pill soon after having sex.As I am scared of getting pregnant before marriage. So, there fore is there any affects for my health and also is it possible to have baby when I get married. I am getting married soon.
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