Birth control pills are one of the most common types of contraception for women. This form of oral contraception uses hormones to prevent pregnancy and is 99 percent effective when taken exactly as prescribed. Like other forms of birth control, birth control pills have their pros and cons. Here’s your guide to everything you need to know about birth control pills:
What Are Birth Control Pills?
Birth control pills, often referred to simply as “the pill,” are a type of contraception that is taken by mouth. If you take them as prescribed, they are 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. These pills utilize hormones to stop or reduce ovulation, prevent conception, and change the uterus so it can’t support a pregnancy. In order for birth control pills to work effectively, you need to take the pill at the right time every day, exactly as instructed.
Types of Birth Control Pills
There are two types of birth control pills: combination pill and progestin-only pill. The combination pill contains the hormones estrogen and progestin, and it is the most common type of birth control pill. As the name suggests, the progestin-only pill, also known as the minipill, only contains progestin. The latter is often recommended for women who are breastfeeding or have a history of blood clots, stroke, or other reasons to not take estrogen. Birth control pills can come in different dosing packets, including 21-day, 28-day, 91-day, and 365-day, and each has its own unique set of instructions to follow.
How Does the Pill Work?
To become pregnant, an egg must be released from your ovary in a process called ovulation and then become fertilized by sperm. The fertilized egg then attaches to the inside of the uterus where it develops into a baby. Your body’s hormones control ovulation and prepare the body to accept a fertilized egg. Hormonal contraceptives like birth control pills contain small amounts of hormones to inhibit your body’s natural hormones. This will stop or reduce ovulation, thicken cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering the uterus, and thin the lining of the uterus so a fertilized egg can’t attach.
Benefits of Birth Control Pills
Many women choose birth control pills as their preferred method of contraception because they are convenient–all you have to do is take a pill each day. It’s also very effective, preventing pregnancy 99 percent of the time when taken correctly. The pill doesn’t interrupt the spontaneity of sex because you don’t need to find birth control before you can get started. If you decide you want to get pregnant, you can stop taking the pill and get pregnant soon after. Many women who decide to try for a baby get pregnant within a year of ending birth control pills, which is the same timeline for women who have not been on the pill. Other benefits include regulating the menstrual cycle, lightening periods to prevent anemia, reducing symptoms of PMS and PMDD, treating PCOS, and lowering the risk of uterine, ovarian, and colon cancers.
Side Effects and Risks of Taking the Pill
Like most medications, there are certain side effects and risks that are possible when taking birth control pills. Side effects are most likely to occur when you first start taking the pill and typically improve after a few months. Potential side effects may include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Moodiness or irritability
- Spotting between periods
- Breast swelling or tenderness
Birth control pills are generally considered safe for most women and are the most commonly prescribed form of contraception. However, there are some possible risks associated with this type of birth control. A small percentage of women who take the combination pill are at an increased risk of developing complications such as high blood pressure, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, heart attack, and stroke. Your healthcare provider can help you determine your level of risk to decide if birth control pills are right for you.
Birth Control Pills and Nutrient Depletion
Birth control pills may deplete levels of certain nutrients in the body. Oral contraceptives are associated with lower levels of B vitamins, specifically B6, B12, and folate, as well as vitamins C and E and the minerals zinc, magnesium, and selenium. If you take birth control pills, you may need to take supplements or modify your diet to make sure you’re getting enough of these nutrients. If these nutrient deficiencies are not addressed, they can disrupt hormonal function and cause other imbalances and problems in the body.
Gut Health and Hormonal Birth Control
There is a strong link between hormone health and gut health, and birth control that affects your hormones can also affect your gut. These hormonal contraceptives can lead to decreased microbial diversity, yeast overgrowth, leaky gut, and altered gut motility. This can lead to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), causing unpleasant symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, gas, distension, constipation, and diarrhea. If left unaddressed, SIBO may cause more serious, long-term consequences such as malabsorption of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, vitamin deficiencies, and malnutrition.
Because birth control pills can disrupt the good bacteria in your gut, you may benefit from taking probiotics and steps to improve gut health, such as eating fiber and prebiotics, drinking water, exercising, getting enough sleep, and managing stress. It’s also important to note that you need to have regular bowel movement while taking birth control pills. This will help reduce the effects of the hormones on your gut and prevent your large intestine from reabsorbing excess hormones as they exit the body.
Medications to Avoid When Taking Birth Control Pills
Certain medications and supplements can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. Always check with your doctor and pharmacist before starting new medications or supplements to make sure there are no interactions or diminishing effects. Some medications that can make the pill less effective include antiseizure medications, antibiotics, herbal supplements like St. John’s wort, and drugs used to treat HIV.
Do you have any questions about taking birth control pills, alternative methods, combatting nutrient depletion, or medication interactions? We’re here to answer your questions and provide recommendations so you can make the best choices for your health. Reach out to us at Apothecary & Co. today to speak to a member of our expert pharmacy team.
