Birth Control Pill

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• QCan the contraceptive pill treat period problems?

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  A Los Robles Regional Medical Center answered

  For many women, periods interfere with school, life and/or social activities. Whether a woman suffers from heavy bleeding, painful periods, fatigue due to chronic anemia (because of heavy bleeding), headaches or mood changes, the pill can often help alleviate those symptoms.
  
  Pelvic pain, either because of painful periods or other conditions, such as endometriosis or fibroids, is one of the leading causes of women missing school and work. Many women who are treated with the pill are able to function at the level they were accustomed to prior to the pain. Continuous use of the Pill can resolve the symptoms of pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder for many women.
• QIs it safe to take active contraceptive pills continuously?

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  A Henrico Doctors' Hospital - HCA Virginia answered

  Doctors are often asked about the safety of continuous dosing of active contraceptive pills—avoiding the week of inactive pills built into a typical four-week pill pack. Historically, that week of bleeding was considered normal, but continuous dosing is very safe and is an excellent option for many women. Some of the newest versions of combined pills are designed to minimize bleeding, representing a shift toward recognizing not only the safety of continuous use, but the importance of giving women more control over their cycles.

• QWill I have periods if I'm on the pill?

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  A Henrico Doctors' Hospital - HCA Virginia answered

  In the development of the contraceptive pill, a hormone-free week was built into each month in order to provide the women with reassurance that she was not pregnant. During this week, a woman may take placebo pills or no pills at all. Typically, she will bleed during this week. Some women will mistake this for a period, but it is not. The hormones in the pill prevented ovulation and stabilized the lining of the uterus; the bleeding that may occur is merely the uterus responding to the withdrawal of the hormones.

• 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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• QIs the pill effective immediately after I begin taking it?

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  A Marcy Holmes, MSN, NP , Nursing, answered

  

  The birth control pill may start to be effective after 5 days of taking it, however I would suggest that women continue to use condoms 100% of the time for safer sex and STD prevention ongoing and at least for the first month of starting the pill as a new user for several reasons.

  Unfortunately on average- most women on the pill miss, or takes late, at least 3 pills per package! This drastically reduces the protection against pregnancy.  The pill does not protect from HIV or Sexually Transmitted Infections {STD} so that is why we continue to urge women of ALL AGES to use Condoms for Safer Sex protection, at any age when entering new sexual relationships. 

  With a new pill user I’m especially concerned that they are not yet in a habit of taking the pill daily on time, so using back up is really wise for at least the first month, and ongoing for infection prevention.

  The birth control pill really does need some time to work and prevent pregnancy- and the best protection is achieved with perfect use- taking it every day at the same time. Most women likely benefit from using it for at least a full package or full month when a new user, to get optimal protection. 
  
  I hope that information helps, but certainly talk further with your GYN practitioner for specific advice in your personal situation as well!

  
• 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.

• 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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• 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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