WOMEN’S BODIES: SIDE-EFFECTS OF ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE PILL
The term ‘side-effect’ means an expected effect that has nothing to do with the purpose for which the drug is used. All drugs can have side-effects.
Women react differently to ovarian hormones. For example, some women experience premenstrual symptoms in response to natural hormones and others don’t. Many women feel no different while taking the synthetic hormones in the Pill; others notice some side-effects. It’s just about impossible to predict how the Pill’s hormones will affect a particular woman.
Some possible side-effects of the Pill are considered beneficial.
• Periods are shorter and lighter.
• Periods are regular. On the Pill you will know almost to the hour when to expect bleeding.
• The Pill stops or greatly reduces period pain.
• Many women who suffer from premenstrual symptoms find that these are reduced or disappear when taking oral contraceptives.
• The Pill helps prevent pelvic inflammatory disease (PID – infection of the fallopian tubes that could result in reduced fertility).
• The Pill reduces the risk of ectopic pregnancy, which is a potentially life-threatening condition.
• The likelihood of non-malignant (noncancerous) breast lumps is reduced among women taking the Pill.
• Ovarian cysts are less likely to develop.
• The Pill reduces the risk of cancer of the ovary and cancer of the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer) by 50 per cent, a protection that lasts 10-15 years after stopping oral contraceptives. • The Pill usually improves acne, though normally it takes a couple of months to see the full benefit. Some women notice that acne is aggravated. Changing to a different type of Pill, particularly one of the newer ones may help. Some side-effects of the Pill may be annoying but are not health risks.
Bleeding or spotting between periods This is more likely when the Pill is first started. It should stop within two to three months. If not, see your doctor. It may mean that the dose is not right for you. If spotting starts after you’ve been taking the Pill for a while, consult your doctor. It may mean that something has made the Pill less effective.
Pigment marks on the face and neck A few women who are taking the Pill develop brown blotches (called chloasma) if the forehead, cheeks, upper lip or neck are exposed to the sun. This also happens to some women during pregnancy. It can be prevented by using high-protection sunscreen. (Whether or not we take OCs, we should all use sunscreen on exposed skin to protect against skin damage from the strong sunlight in Australia.)
An increase in premenstrual symptoms Some women develop or notice a worsening of premenstrual symptoms on the Pill. This seems to be more common on biphasic or triphasic Pills.
The serious side-effects of the Pill, fortunately rare, may be any of the following.
Aggravation of some types of migraine If you have had such migraine in the past, your doctor will usually recommend other contraception. If you develop migraine after starting oral contraceptives, see your doctor without delay.
Thrombosis and embolism (formation and lodging of blood clots) This was a small risk with higher-dose Pills. Today’s Pill can change the levels of various substances in the blood that influence blood clotting, but these changes are within normal limits and will do no harm. In women who are heavy smokers, oral contraceptives have been associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Note Smoking is much more harmful to health than taking the Pill. Though the risk of heart attack and stroke is negligible in young healthy women, all women who take the Pill are advised against smoking.
High blood pressure A few women will develop abnormally raised blood pressure while on oral contraceptives. Your doctor will check your blood pressure before you start and each time you need a new prescription.
Stop the Pill and see your doctor immediately if any of these symptoms occur:
1 sudden severe headache
2 sudden onset of blurring or other disturbances of vision
3 sudden stabbing pain in the chest, or unusual pain or swelling in the leg
4 jaundice (yellow staining of the skin and eyes).
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