Is Long Term Birth Control A Good Option For You?
Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
13 February, 2025
Birth control pills have been around for over 70 years now, though other contraceptive methods were routinely used by women before that. Unplanned pregnancies have always been dicey to deal with and methods to allow sexual freedom, while also allowing women to choose when they want to become pregnant have long been sought, even with the advent of the pill. One such readily available option is the birth control pill. They are said to be super effective (up to 99%) in preventing pregnancies from happening, unless someone forgets to take them, in which case they could become pregnant if they have unprotected sex. These pills are basically synthetic forms of the hormones that are already produced in the body- oestrogen and progesterone. They work in 3 ways- they either stop ovulation, cause cervical mucus to thicken (so that the mucus plug can serve as a physical barrier to the sperm) or don’t allow the uterine lining to thicken and facilitate the attachment of a fertilised egg.
Long-Term Effects Of Birth Control Pills On Women’s Health-
Recent research has shown that birth control pills are not the safest option in the long term as they can have multiple adverse effects systemically. One of the most important points of concern is that it can cause chronic inflammation – which can cause a variety of disorders like heart disease, few cancers, mood disorders and autoimmune issues, among others. Findings have shown that women produce more cortisol and their bodies are not able to return to normal even when the stressful event has passed, if they are on contraceptives. This response is pretty different from women who don’t take the pill. Women are at a much lower risk in general with respect to dealing with conditions like Pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancies, certain cancers etc. But, some side effects related to clot formation and circulatory disorders may be higher than usual, especially if the woman smokes too.
How Birth Control Impacts Women’s Hormonal Health-
Multiple studies have said that there may be no relationship between the synthetic versions of the steroid hormones taken and the ones that are already produced in the body.Others say that there is some difference, but there are no specifics about them either. One of the most common side effects include breakthrough bleeding- where they may notice spotting even when they are on the pill. It normally goes away with regular use as the body gets used to the hormones, but if it persists and the bleeding is pretty heavy for 3 days, or lighter than heavy for 5 days- then you need to get immediate medical assistance.
Birth Control And Its Effects On Mental Health-
Continuous use of birth control pills also influences the mood in general. With stress being managed in a different way than usual, even after cortisol levels go down, the pill can also cause severe headaches and nausea in the beginning. Most women have dealt with greater moodiness, irritability or depression while being on the pill. Symptoms can significantly worsen if the individual was already clinically depressed. Hormonal changes can also cause brain fog in some women as nutritional deficiencies become more pronounced with regular usage. The absorptive capacity of the gut gets altered and levels of some vitamins and minerals like B2, B6, B9, B12, C, E, Zinc, selenium and magnesium especially get lower with continuous usage.
Connection Between Birth Control And Weight Changes-
While this aspect is still being studied, the findings are pretty contradictory- some say that weight gain may be present if someone is on the pill for many years, while others say there is no such possibility.
