Birth Control Pill

Recently Answered

• QHow can taking birth control pills affect sexual desire?

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  A Dr. Eva B. Cwynar, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Although the pill itself contains no testosterone, persuasive research has shown that women who use oral contraceptive pills may develop long-term sexual health problems because their bodies are filled with low amounts of "unbound," or free, testosterone, which is bad news for women as it can potentially lead to continuing negative sexual, metabolic, and mental health consequences, including a flat libido.
  
  Put another way, the birth-control pill increases the number of sex hormone binding globulins (SHBG) so that they attach to testosterone more readily, leaving less testosterone to freely circulate through the body -- making us less horny.

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• QCan taking birth control pills during pregnancy affect my baby?

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  A Patricia Geraghty, NP , Women's Health, answered

  No, taking birth control pills during a pregnancy does not harm the baby or the mother. This information comes from large studies of women, many who did not know they were pregnant while taking pills.
  
  At the same time, the package insert for birth control pills says pregnant women should not take them and rates them as a class "X" medication for use in pregnancy. This can be confusing. The reason is that the class is determined by the benefit a medication provides during pregnancy measured against any possible harm it might cause. Since birth control pills don't provide any benefit to the pregnant women, they are automatically given an "X" classification. In this case, this should not be interpreted as possible danger to the pregnancy.

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• QHow do birth control pills affect menstruation?

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  A Dr. Jeanne Morrison, PhD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

  Birth control pills contain reproductive hormones that influence the menstrual cycle in various ways depending on the type of pill you are taking. More traditional pills regulate your menstruation by mimicking a 28-day cycle. In recent years several pills have been developed that extend the cycle and reduce the number of periods you experience each year. Some types of birth control pills can actually eliminate periods for some women.

• QWhat are common side effects of using birth control pills?

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  A Medical City Alliance answered

  Common side effects of using birth control include headaches and nausea. The estrogen component in birth control may increase the risk of thrombus formation, or blood clots. Also, because estrogen is metabolized by the liver, there could be some adverse issues in people with gallbladder disease and hepatitis.

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• QWhich foods and drugs interact with oral contraceptives?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  In the following list, you'll find the most common and easily avoided sources of adverse drug reactions concerning oral contraceptives. Keep this list handy and review it whenever you bring home a new prescription for an oral contraceptive—even after your doctor and pharmacist have vetted it with you.
  
  

  • Oral contraceptives interact with antibiotics such as penicillin and tetracycline and may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.
  • Oral contraceptives interact with St. John's wort. May reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.
  • Oral contraceptives interact with ginseng and may increase the potency of estrogen in oral contraceptives, causing estrogen-related side effects such as weight gain or breast cancer (if long term).
• QCan birth control pills protect me from sexually transmitted diseases?

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  A Dr. Lisa Rogo-Gupta , OBGYN (Obstetrics & Gynecology), answered

  Birth control pills are not recommended to prevent transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They are used for birth control, control of bleeding and other menstrual symptoms.

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• QWhat types of oral contraceptives are available in the United States?

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  A Riverside Women's Health answered

  Currently, two types of oral contraceptives (OCs) are available in the United States. The most commonly prescribed OC contains two man-made versions of natural female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) that are similar to the hormones the ovaries normally produce. This type of pill is often called a "combined oral contraceptive." The second type of OC available in the United States is called the minipill. It contains only a type of progesterone.

  Estrogen stimulates the growth and development of the uterus at puberty, causes the endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus) to thicken during the first half of the menstrual cycle, and influences breast tissue throughout life, but particularly from puberty to menopause.

  Progesterone, which is produced during the last half of the menstrual cycle, prepares the endometrium to receive the egg. If the egg is fertilized, progesterone secretion continues, preventing release of additional eggs from the ovaries. For this reason, progesterone is called the "pregnancy-supporting" hormone, and scientists believe that it has valuable contraceptive effects. The man-made progesterone used in OCs is called progestogen or progestin.

  Because medical research suggests that some cancers depend on naturally occurring sex hormones for their development and growth, scientists have been investigating a possible link between OC use and cancer risk. Researchers have focused a great deal of attention on OC users over the past 40 years. This scrutiny has produced a wealth of data on OC use and the development of certain cancers, although results of these studies have not always been consistent. The risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers is reduced with the use of OCs, while the risk of breast and cervical cancers is increased.

  This answer is based on source information from National Cancer Institute.

• QWhy do I miss periods on the pill?

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  A Boston Women's Health Book Collective , Administration, answered

  It is not uncommon to miss a period while on birth control pills. If you miss one period and you took all of your pills correctly and you don't have any signs of pregnancy, the chances of pregnancy are very low. If you often miss periods and are taking the Pill correctly, talk to your provider about whether you should change to a different pill.

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• QHow effective are birth control pills?

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  A Dr. Daniel R. Spogen, MD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine

  Birth control pills are up to 99.9 percent effective when taken correctly. Birth control pills are a method of hormonal contraception that women take by mouth to prevent pregnancy.

• QWhere can I get mini pills for birth control?

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  A Patricia Geraghty, NP , Women's Health, answered

  What is commonly called a "mini" pill is a birth control pill that contains only one of the female hormones, progesterone. The dose is very low. The steady state of progesterone thickens the mucus in the cervix, making it harder for the sperm to reach the fallopian tubes where fertilization must occur. In some women the progesterone only pill also stops ovulation. Because of the very low dose of hormone, the pill must be taken within the same three hour window each day to work effectively. And because the pill doesn't have estrogen, the United States Medical Eligibility Criteria says it may be used by women who have migraines or who have had blood clots. 
  
  You must get a prescription from your health care provider to obtain this pill.