The international campaign against unwanted pregnancy has caught on with a lot of women, who have learned that safe s*x is the way to go. 

Birth control pills are known to be one of the most reliable ways to do that, however, they may have some unwanted side effects.

These pills include progestin, sometimes together with estrogen. These pills are synthetic versions of naturally occurring hormones that help regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle and the levels which promote fertility. 

As good as preventing unwanted pregnancies may be, these pills can have side effects that women should know about before taking them.

Here’s a list of possible side effects:

1.) Headaches, dizziness, breast tenderness – this is because of the unnatural dosage of hormones one introduces to the body. Usually occurs for first timers only.

2.) Mood changes – smaller cortical thickness measurements in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex and the posterior cingulate cortex. These areas of the brain are linked with reward response and evaluating incoming stimuli.

3.) Vaginal discharge – an increase or decrease in vaginal lubrication, an alteration in the nature of the discharge, and other changes which can affect intercourse.

4.) Visual changes with contact lenses – Hormonal changes caused by birth control pills can lead to fluid retention which, in turn, can cause the corneas to swell or change shape. When this swelling occurs, contact lenses may no longer fit comfortably.

5.) Increased/decreased libido – depends on the person.

It is important to choose the right oral contraceptive, and this can be done by consulting a physician about the many types available in the market.

Share This Post