Birth Control Side Effects

There are various types of birth control available to women, but perhaps the most popular are the hormonal contraceptives. While they are some of the most effective forms of birth control on the market, it is important to know that like any other type of medication, these contraceptives come with their own sets of side effects and complications.

Types

• The most popular type of hormonal birth control is the oral contraceptive known as "the pill." There is also the birth control patch, the birth control shot and the contraceptive ring.

Function

• A woman's hormones control the release of an egg and prepare the body to accommodate a fertilized egg. However, hormonal birth control contains synthetic estrogen and progestin hormones. These synthetic hormones inhibit the functioning of the body's natural hormones to prevent pregnancy. This can occur in one of three ways. The synthetic hormones may stop the body from releasing an egg to the ovary. They may alter the cervical mucus to make it difficult for a sperm to locate an egg and therefore fertilize it. Or they may make the lining of the uterus unreliable for successful implantation. Whatever the course of action, these synthetic hormones are particularly adept at preventing pregnancy.

Effects

• There are multiple side effects associated with hormonal birth control, but the majority of them are not serious. They can range from mild to severe. They include nausea, constipation, bloating, irregular periods, spotting between periods, tender or swollen breasts, weight gain, mood swings including anxiety, nervousness or depression, a decreased libido, headaches and fatigue, vaginal discharge, acne, fluid retention and sometimes hair loss and changes in hair growth. If you are concerned about the severity of any of these effects, it is best to see your doctor.

Warning

• Occasionally, there are more severe effects of taking hormonal birth control, especially if taken over a long period of time. If you experience any of the following symptoms (easily remembered by the word ACHES), you should see your doctor immediately. These symptoms include: Abdominal pain, Chest pain, severe Headaches that are accompanied by dizziness, Eye problems or blurry vision and Swelling in the legs or thighs. These symptoms may be indicative of liver disease, heart disease, gall bladder disease and especially blood clots.

Considerations

• A doctor needs to know your full medical history before prescribing hormonal birth control. Women with certain conditions such as liver disease, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, breast cancer or reproductive cancer should not be on hormonal birth control. It is also not prescribed to women over 35 who smoke because of their risk factors. Women with a first-degree relative such as a brother or sister who has experienced blood clots in the legs or lungs should also avoid this type of birth control.

Misconceptions

• Many women mistakenly believe that birth control helps to prevent STDs. Hormonal birth control only prevents pregnancy. To protect yourself against HIV and other STDs, another form of birth control is needed, such as a condom.

Benefits

• Not all of the side effects of hormonal birth control are negative. Many women report having lighter periods, fewer acne problems and an easier time dealing with the symptoms of PMS because of the hormones.