Birth Control: The Case for and Against Contraceptive Pills is a guest post co-written by Kelly Joyner. See more about her below.
The chances of a woman getting pregnant are influenced by many factors, such as the frequency of having sex and age. To avoid unintended pregnancies, the use of prevention methods is recommended. These methods significantly lower the chances of conceiving, as well as minimize the risks of contracting any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
There are various pregnancy prevention methods, including birth control pills, birth control implants, condoms, intrauterine devices, vasectomy, and vaginal rings. None of these methods are 100% effective, but birth control pills are often considered the most convenient and practical.
But there are always two sides to every coin. There are those against taking contraceptive pills and they certainly have their reasons. So let’s dive in.
The Case For Birth Control Pills
Contraceptive pills function by inhibiting the woman’s natural cycle of hormones responsible for ovulation. If taken exactly as directed, the pills are around 99% effective in pregnancy prevention (this figure falls to around 91% with normal, imperfect use). However, these pills do not guarantee protection against sexually transmitted diseases. This is why you should also use condoms to protect yourself from STDs, especially if you don’t have a regular sex partner.
Beyond pregnancy prevention, pills are great for other health benefits that come with their use. Such benefits include:
Regulation of Menstrual Cycles
Most women prefer using the pills because they make the menstrual periods regular, lighter, and easier to predict. The pills contain hormones that have the capacity to regulate the menstrual cycle. They also lower the severity of menstrual cramps.
To women who prefer having some periods-free months, contraceptive pills can help you skip periods safely.
Acne Treatment
All women produce small amounts of some male hormones. These hormones occasionally trigger acne, a skin condition where dead skin cells and skin oil clog the hair follicles, resulting in pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads. Doctors may recommend the use of contraceptive pills to clear your skin from acne. These pills regulate the male hormones in women by slowing down their release.
Lowers Cancer Risk
Contraceptive pills minimize the risk of cancers such as endometrial, ovarian, and colorectal cancers. These pills flatten the lining of the uterus, which lowers the risk of getting endometrial cancer or any other cancer that may occur in the cervix. These benefits may even last for over a decade after you discontinue using birth control pills.
Anemia Prevention
Heavy menstrual periods may lead to excessive loss of blood, which puts women at risk of suffering from iron-deficiency anemia. With the use of contraceptive pills the risk of anemia is reduced, and women can even choose to skip periods as well as have their periods made lighter. This naturally saves them from the risk of iron-deficiency anemia since very little blood is lost during their menstrual period. The contraceptive pill works by introducing more of the hormones estrogen and progestin into a woman’s body. These hormones are responsible for the change in the menstrual flow, making it lighter and more regular.
Medical Related Benefits
Contraceptive pills offer a lot of other health benefits to women who use them. These include treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome, lowered effects of pre and post-menopause, minimized menstrual migraines, and reduction of endometriosis pain.
Convenience
The use of any pregnancy prevention method is a personal matter. However, spouses and sex partners can agree on the best birth control method to consider. One of the factors to consider when choosing the best pregnancy prevention method is whether the method will inhibit you from conceiving after you stop using it.
Fortunately, for contraceptive pills, you can get pregnant immediately after you stop taking them. Although it might take a few months before the periods return to their normal cycle, it is still possible to get pregnant after you stop using the pills.
Contraceptive pills are small in size and easy to carry wherever you go. They are administered through the mouth, making them the most comfortable and most convenient method of contraception. However, a prescription from a doctor is necessary because birth control pills are not right for everyone. The doctor must assess your current health status before prescribing the contraceptive pills.
The Case Against Birth Control Pills
Image by Marco Verch via Flickr.
The STD Issue
The biggest issue with birth control pills is that it gives a false sense of security when being intimate with someone you may not know that well. It doesn’t protect against any STDs. Casual sex is a dangerous business when on birth control because the pregnancy prevention part is taken care, but often STD prevention gets put on the back burner.
Alteration of Microbiome
Lately, there have been some studies that have shown some long-term unintended consequences of taking birth control pills. Longer-term use can result in a higher risk of developing Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Crohn’s disease. This is the case because, the hormone change actually alters the microbiome in our guts.
Medical Complications
Like all medications, they carry a small risk of complications. Although rare, they include heart attack, stroke, blood clots, and liver tumors.
Hopefully the above case for and against birth control pills have helped you weigh the pros and cons of taking them!
About the Guest Author
Kelly Joyner is the founder of RegularityFitness, where she and associates blog about the best fitness exercises, weight loss methods, diet, muscle building. That will help you get a good shape and healthy. You can also connect with Kelly on Twitter.
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