Birth control pill: Everything you need to know about the side effects

The combined oral contraceptive is often described as one of the most significant medical advances of the 20th century.

The contraceptive is a combination of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone and comes in two forms; the pill and the patch. The pill is taken every day for 21 days, and the patch is taken weekly for three weeks.

Dr. Grace Kanyi, a gynaecologist, explains that there are women who cannot be put on contraceptives because of health complications like unexplained vaginal bleeding, diabetes, and breast-feeding mothers.

“The pill is not for everyone, especially for people with health challenges; if they have had a blood clot before, severe migraine, breast cancer, active liver diseases, stroke, blood thinners, or uncontrolled high blood pressure,” explained Dr. Kanyi.

Besides their obvious intent, which is to prevent unplanned pregnancy, many women rely on oral contraceptives for other benefits like regulating periods, combating hormonal acne, alleviating painful cramps, and so much more.

Some women have also complained of side effects.

"The trick is to find what works for you, with the help of your gynaecologist. If the first pill you try doesn’t work out for you, there are always other options. Anytime we’re giving hormones, we’re altering what’s already occurring in the system, and there is always a chance you will encounter side effects,” she said.

Below are some of the side effects of the pill and what causes them:

More regular periods

Women with unexplained bleeding use contraceptives to regularise their cycle, especially for people with irregular cycles. More people who use the pill find that their periods are more regular. Experts note that having a regular period also decreases your risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer.

“We also have women with heavy bleeding; the pill can be used to bring down the bleeding. For women who have extremely painful cramps, the pill can be used to reduce the pain with the guidance of a gynaecologist,” explained Dr. Kanyi.

Lighter periods

The pill is effective if used correctly and offers good cycle control. Low-dose pills are designed to suppress the growth of the uterine lining, most of which the body expels during menstruation; this usually means a lighter, shorter period that's more regular.

"Many women who use oral contraceptive pills notice that their periods become lighter on the pill. This happens because the medication's hormones make the lining of the uterus thinner, making your periods lighter,” the gynaecologist stated.

Nausea and vomiting

Some people feel nauseous when they start taking the pill, notes the doctor. The symptoms should disappear after three months, this happens because the body needs to adjust to the new level of oestrogen and progesterone.

Breast tenderness

It is completely normal for women to take birth control pills to experience pain around the breasts and breast tenderness, this is according to Dr. Kanyi. She notes that the tenderness tends to go away after a few months of starting the pill.

Severe headaches

Dr. Kanyi encourages women who are on the daily pill to see their doctor if they notice migraines and severe headaches after taking the pill.

She notes that some people are sensitive to the amount of oestrogen in the pill and may experience headaches soon after taking it.

In that case, Dr. Kanyi suggests talking to your doctor about it and working with other options.

Mood disorder

If you are not careful, you might miss the signs. Anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders may be made worse, especially for people with a history of depression.

“People with mood disorders tend to experience an increase in the severity of their symptoms once they start using the pill,” she said.

According to the gynaecologist, since the pill regulates how much oestrogen and progesterone enter your body, your periods follow a more predictable schedule. Once you get adjusted to the pill, your periods may become lighter, which can mean less painful menstrual cramping.

Acne is largely influenced by high levels of androgens, like testosterone and androstenedione, so taking a pill that contains oestrogen and progesterone can help scale back the prevalence of pimples on your face, 

Oral contraceptives may increase the risk of blood clots, especially for individuals with a history of the same.

The kind of blood clots you may develop from hormonal birth control are different from other blood clots that are related to your menstrual cycle. Sometimes, people interpret blood clots from birth control as ones you get from vaginal bleeding. It is a blood clot that develops in the blood vessels of your legs or lungs.

“The clot may develop in the blood vessels of your legs or lungs. This can be concerning and become life-threatening, so it's worth telling your doctor ahead of time if you have any family history regarding blood clots before starting the pill,” she said.

Unexplained spotting

Dr. Kanyi explains that the unexplained spotting happens because of the change in the hormonal level in the body while taking the pill. While this is considered common, it can be annoying for many women, especially if it persists.

"It typically resolves within the first three months of use,” she said.

Nausea and vomiting

Some people feel nauseous when they start taking the pill, notes the doctor. The symptoms should disappear after three months; this happens because the body needs to adjust to the new level of oestrogen and progesterone.