When people get sexually involved they do not necessarily want kids. To avoid pregnancy, people resort to various birth control methods. But a lot of them could have serious side effects on a woman's body and on the couple's sex life. This article explores various birth control methods and what their side effects could be and what birth control methods should be preferred for a healthy body and lifestyle.
The practice of preventing pregnancy dates back to the existence of humans. The information coming your way might sound gross to you but the Egyptian writings which date back to 1850 BC talk about birth control methods where a device made of crocodile dung and dough was placed inside a woman's vagina. Plugs made of gum and honey were also used. Thankfully the things have changed.
The timing and age of a pregnancy affect a woman as an individual- it effects her ability to attain her aims and is a part of her well being too. Keeping these factors in mind a woman might choose the birth control methods keeping in consideration these factors- risks, safety, ease, cost, etc.
There are numerous methods of birth control some of which are: Hormonal methods, Barrier devices, IUDs, Spermicides, Permanent, emergency contraception. Most of these can have serious side effects and a couple, especially a woman should be aware of those before choosing any one of these.
Oral contraceptives or what we know them as birth control pills have been in the US market for 56 years now. In the past 40 years or so the hormones like estrogen and progestin have changed in types in the pills. Birth control pills come in more than 30 different combinations in the US. The dosage should be taken by the prescription of doctors. These can have side effects too.
Headaches are known to be the most common side effects of birth control pills. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology records the 10% of women who use birth pills suffer from a migraine or headaches, especially in the first month. High- dosage of these pills is directly proportional to a spiking headache.
Decreased sexual desire has been seen in women using oral contraceptives as an oral method. It is not THAT common but it has the chances of affecting a woman's sex drive. Lee Sharma, a gynecologist from Auburn, AL said that she had only a few patients facing this. She said, "About 1 in 100 will report it."
The woman can feel queasy as a result of the intake of birth control pills. This happens because of the high dose of estrogen which can cause irritation in the stomach. It is a common side effect in the initial days of taking the pills- it can last as long as 3 months, in some cases more.
Women using oral pills can experience an increased discharge of vaginal liquid. It might seem desirable during sexual activity but a constant discharge of the same can be irritable. It is not usually harmful but if the smell or the color is out of ordinary it can be a sign of infection and medical help should be sought.
Women who use oral contraceptives as a method of birth control often notice breast tenderness and/or enlargement. If breast lumps are noticed along with continuous pains, a medical examination should be sort immediately. Supportive bras can keep the enlarged breasts in check.
Regular use of birth control can make the woman miss her periods or make her have irregular periods says the American Family Physician. It is majorly caused by the hormonal imbalance in the body. In case you miss your birth pills make sure to take a pregnancy test if you miss your periods.
Some side effects caused by the oral contraceptives can last for over a year. Bowel water retention and bloating a couple of examples of gastrointestinal tract disorders that women might experience when they start the birth pill regimen.
Melasma is a type of skin discoloration. A regular regimen of oral pills can also cause melasma. Women who use birth control pills have been noticed to have brown spots on their skin, especially the face. Acne and pimples can also appear on the face because of the same.
Women are prone to mood swings while PMSing but when a woman is on birth control pills the chances of constant mood swings increase a lot. The woman can also suffer from depression. The emotions become highly dependent on the stress and pressure the woman is going through.
Weight gain is the most visible side effect of birth control pills on women. The hormones in the pills tend to increase the fluid retention around the woman's hips and breasts thus making her look heavier.
Some women can have blood clots (venous thrombosis). Women who smoke and are above the age of 35, women with high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity are at a higher risk for the same.
It is still controversial; the relation between breast cancer and use of birth pills but the study conducted in 1996 by Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer showed that women who had been consuming birth pills in 1-4 years had higher risks of acquiring breast cancer. The risks are small but still existent.
The relation between oral contraceptive pills and cervical cancer is also controversial. There are studies going on which has tried to understand the impact of birth control pills on cervical cancer- the impact is small and till now have been found related to risky sexual behaviors. To be on a safe side, women should get an annual Pap test done.
Birth control pills do not ensure safety against any kinds of STDs. So both the men and women should get tested regularly for the same in case they are using oral contraceptives as a method of birth control.
Also known a postcoital contraception is a method of birth control in the form of a pill that women take in case of unprotected sex, or if a condom breaks. This is not a regular birth control method and used in case of emergencies only. It only prevents pregnancy and not end one. They delay ovulation.
Emergency pills should not be used on a regular basis as they can have adverse effects on the body. Most common of them are abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue, irregular menstruation cycle, and headache. These pills have stronger hormones than the birth control pills that are used on daily basis hence their regular use is not recommended.
Etonogestrel is the contraceptive implant approved by the FDA. It is put in the upper arm of the woman from where it keeps releasing small doses of progestin. It remains highly effective for 3 years. Commonly seen side effects- weight gain, mood changes, headaches, acne, irregular growth of facial hair.
Implants are not suitable for women with the history of smoking, ectopic pregnancy, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, depression, severe acne- because the hormonal changes can be harmful.
Even this method does not protect against the STDs.
The vaginal ring also known as the NuvaRing is a very recent method of birth control. The ring steadily releases a combination of the hormones estrogen and progesterone which are directly absorbed by the walls of the vagina. They are similar in effectiveness to the birth control pills with fewer side effects.
If the ring is taken out of the body spontaneously and is out for over three hours, some other birth control method should be resorted to till the beginning of the next period cycle. The ring can only be bought by prescription and this does not prevent STDs.
DMPA (depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate) hormone can be injected into a woman's body quarterly; it ceases ovulation. Doctors can administer the hormone the medication of which activates within 24 hours and can last for at least 3 months. It stops the ovaries from releasing eggs.
DMPA does not have adverse side effects like that of estrogen but women can experience a cease in their menstruation altogether in the first year. DMPA lasts in the body for a long time so the women who have been using this method of birth control will find a great deal of delay in returning to normal fertility. There are chances of weight gain, menstrual irregularities, and depression. This does not give protection against STDs.
IUD or the intrauterine device, a T- shaped small device made of plastic, is inserted in the uterus to avoid pregnancy. A string is attached at its terminal which ensures placement and can be used for removal. This process should only be done by a medical professional, doing it oneself ascertains the chances of hurting internal organs.
IUD has proven to be among the best methods of birth control. The side effects are minimal but IUDs can puncture the walls of the uterus on insertion. Bleeding can happen for a long period of time and cramps and backache are the most common side effects of the first few hours. If the woman is not in a monogamous relationship the chances of pelvic inflammatory disease and STDs are high.
Not only do the IUDs do not protect against STDs, it actually increases the chances of contracting it. During the first four months of IUD installation, the chances of getting STDs is the highest. It is a recommended birth control method for people in monogamous relationships.
Condoms are used in the barrier method for birth control and are the 3rd most commonly used way of avoiding pregnancy according to The Mayo Clinic. Condoms are usually made of latex, polyurethane or lambskin. Some have a coating of spermicidal gel which is supposed to destroy any sperm present.
Condoms are effective in controlling STDs and are easily available in the market. But there are chances of things going wrong with this method of birth control. Condoms are prone to breaking, tearing or slipping off while in use. Sometimes couples are not even aware of the breakage of the condoms.
The most common complaint that couples usually make is that condoms interfere with sexual activity. For both men and women, there is a decrease in sensitivity during intercourse. The time taken to put the condom on can also interrupt the foreplay.
A female condom is like a pouch made of polyurethane or latex which fits inside the vagina; it basically works in the same way as a male condom but its effectiveness is 79%. That means 21 out of 100 women can get pregnant if they use female condoms.
Tubal ligation is female sterilization and should be given a lot of thought as it is a permanent contraceptive. Only women who are sure they do not want children at all or are unable to carry a child should consider going for this method. It has a 99% success rate.
For this method, the woman would need to have a surgery. There are no side effects as such, just that it is an expensive method and can cost from $1000-$2500. The only problem is that it does not protect against Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
The hormone patch is like a band-aid worn on the skin. It has hormones similar to those of birth control pills but the absorption rate is 60% higher than birth control pills, hence some women prefer it over birth control pills. One patch can work for at least a week.
This method does not protect against STDs. The woman should make sure to not smoke while the patch is on. Problems like nausea, headaches, increase in appetite and irregular bleeding are usually faced. It also has a higher risk of blood clots.
It is a nonhormonal method of birth control. The diaphragm is made of silicone and is a soft latex-free dome. It is inserted into the vagina and forms a barrier between the incoming sperm and cervix. It is recommended to use it always with spermicidal cream or gel.
The diaphragm should only be fitted by a medical professional. Its cons are that it does not protect against STDs and cannot be taken out at least 6 hours after intercourse. It can cause allergies, urinary tract infections and can be messy.
Some people resort to natural birth control methods- these are not foolproof but can prove effective. One of these is the withdrawal method where the man takes his penis out of the vagina before ejaculation. Since the sperm does not enter the vagina the fertilization is prevented. For countries which can't afford costlier birth control method, this is highly resorted to.
The effectiveness of the method solely depends on the man's ability to withdraw in time- but the chances of failure are still as high as 19%. This is a really risky method and can lead to unwanted pregnancy, neither does it ensure protection against STDs.