Birth control pills are widely used as a convenient contraception option. It is one of the easy and most preferred methods of birth control. Read on to learn more about birth control pills.Many women opt for birth control pills as a contraception option due to its ease of use and dependability. Birth control pills provide 99.9% protection against unwanted pregnancies and this is the reason why they are so popular among the couples. But it is important to consult a doctor before taking these pills. In this articleWhat are birth control pills?Should one take these pills during menstruation?What if I forget to take the birth control pill one day?Can I take the birth control pill if I am breast-feeding?What are the side effects of taking birth control pills?What are the risks of taking birth control pills?What are birth control pills?Birth control pills, also called oral contraceptives, contain hormones like estrogen and progesterone. There are two kinds of pills, combination pills and mini pills. The mini pill is so called because it contains only progesterone. However, 99% of all pills are combination pills, which contain both estrogen and progesterone. If you are starting on birth control pills, you should start them on the fifth day of your period, regardless of whether bleeding has stopped.Should one take these pills during menstruation?All combination birth control pills come in packages of 21 or 28 pills. If the pack contains 21 pills, then the woman should take the pill each day, at roughly the same time, for 21 days. She should then stop taking the pill for 7 days (during which time she will most likely menstruate) and then start again on the next pack of 21 pills. If the pack contains 28 pills, the woman is expected to have a pill for 28 days, and then without missing a day, start with the next pack (regardless of her periods). The reason is that the pack of 28 pills contains not only 21 hormone pills, but also 7 blank pills with no active ingredients.What if I forget to take the birth control pill one day?If you forget to take one pill then take two pills the next day. If you miss two pills in the third week of the pill pack, then start a new pack immediately because this is your fertile period.Can I take the birth control pill if I am breast-feeding?You should not take the combination birth control pills if you are breast-feeding because it may decrease the quantity of milk supply. The doctor can prescribe you the mini pill instead. If you are breast-feeding and want to start taking birth control pills, you must consult a doctor.What are the side effects of taking birth control pills?Taking birth control pills may give rise to the following side-effects.Unexpected vaginal spotting or bleedingSoreness in breastHeadaches or nauseaMood swingsIncrease in weightFluctuations in the levels of sexual desireDelayed menstruationIncrease or decrease in vaginal dischargeAlthough, the above side-effects can be experienced, these side-effects fade away after certain period of time. It is necessary to inform your doctor about the kind of side-effects that you are experiencing so that he or she can suggest appropriate measures to deal with such side-effects.What are the risks of taking birth control pills?The use of birth-control pills is linked with health disorders that can arise in the long run. Birth control pill usage is linked with health disorders like formation of blood clots, stroke and heart attack. It is also likely to increase the risk of problems like rise in blood pressure levels and benign liver tumours. There are also slightly higher chances of getting affected with breast cancer due to the intake of birth-control pills in women as compared to other women who do not take them. Birth-control pill usage for a longer period of time is also linked with the increased risk of liver cancer and cervical cancer. If you are taking birth control pills and if you want to get pregnant, you must stop taking them immediately. Consulting a doctor can be helpful if you are taking birth control pills and if you are planning to have a baby.
Birth control pills are widely used as a convenient contraception option. It is one of the easy and most preferred methods of birth control. Read on to learn more about birth control pills.Many women opt for birth control pills as a contraception option due to its ease of use and dependability. Birth control pills provide 99.9% protection against unwanted pregnancies and this is the reason why they are so popular among the couples. But it is important to consult a doctor before taking these pills.
What are birth control pills?
Birth control pills, also called oral
contraceptives, contain hormones like estrogen and progesterone. There are two kinds of pills, combination pills and mini pills. The mini pill is so called because it contains only progesterone. However, 99% of all pills are combination pills, which contain both estrogen and progesterone. If you are starting on birth control pills, you should start them on the fifth day of your period, regardless of whether bleeding has stopped.
Should one take these pills during menstruation?
All combination birth control pills come in packages of 21 or 28 pills. If the pack contains 21 pills, then the woman should take the pill each day, at roughly the same time, for 21 days. She should then stop taking the pill for 7 days (during which time she will most likely menstruate) and then start again on the next pack of 21 pills. If the pack contains 28 pills, the woman is expected to have a pill for 28 days, and then without missing a day, start with the next pack (regardless of her periods). The reason is that the pack of 28 pills contains not only 21 hormone pills, but also 7 'blank' pills with no active ingredients.
What if I forget to take the birth control pill one day?
If you forget to take one pill then take two pills the next day. If you miss two pills in the third week of the pill pack, then start a new pack immediately because this is your fertile period.
Can I take the birth control pill if I am breast-feeding?
You should not take the combination birth control pills if you are breast-feeding because it may decrease the quantity of milk supply. The doctor can prescribe you the mini pill instead. If you are breast-feeding and want to start taking birth control pills, you must consult a doctor.
What are the side effects of taking birth control pills?
Taking birth control pills may give rise to the following
side-effects.
- Unexpected vaginal spotting or bleedingSoreness in breast
- Fluctuations in the levels of sexual desire
- Increase or decrease in vaginal discharge
Although, the above side-effects can be experienced, these side-effects fade away after certain period of time. It is necessary to inform your doctor about the kind of side-effects that you are experiencing so that he or she can suggest appropriate measures to deal with such side-effects.
What are the risks of taking birth control pills?
The use of birth-control pills is linked with health disorders that can arise in the long run. Birth control pill usage is linked with health disorders like formation of blood clots, stroke and heart attack. It is also likely to increase the risk of problems like rise in blood pressure levels and benign liver tumours. There are also slightly higher chances of getting affected with breast cancer due to the intake of birth-control pills in women as compared to other women who do not take them. Birth-control pill usage for a longer period of time is also linked with the increased risk of liver cancer and cervical cancer.
If you are taking birth control pills and if you want to get pregnant, you must stop taking them immediately. Consulting a doctor can be helpful if you are taking birth control pills and if you are
planning to have a baby.
