Contraception Side Effects

Contraception refers to the artificial means of preventing an unplanned pregnancy. There are a wide variety of contraceptive devices available in the market – birth control pills, diaphragms for women, intrauterine devices, vaginal gels and foams that kill sperms, and condoms. There are some people who prefer to practice natural birth-control means such as the calendar method, which involves abstaining from sexual intercourse during the time of the menstrual cycle when the woman is most fertile, and the withdrawal method, in which the penis is withdrawn from the vagina before ejaculation. Contraceptive devices like condoms have the additional benefit of protecting the user from sexually transmitted diseases. When a couple does not want to have any more children, they can go in for surgical methods like vasectomy or tubal ligation. While mechanical devices, natural methods and surgical procedures of contraception do not produce any side effects, birth control pills contain hormones that may produce side effects like nausea, skin problems, weakening of bones, weight gain, mood swings and depression in some women. This happens because the hormones present in these pills interfere with the normal cycle of hormonal changes in the woman’s body. Most birth control pills come either in packs of 21 or 28 pills. You should begin consuming the pills either from the day you get your period or five days from the day your period starts. It is also recommended that you consume the pill when you are having your breakfast or evening tea.

Side Effects of Contraceptives

Emergency contraceptive pills, popularly also known as morning-after pills, also cause side effects pain in the breasts, dizziness, lightheadedness, bloating and stomach upsets, nausea, headache and vaginal bleeding. In a few cases, there may be a sudden rise in blood pressure, pain in the chest and the abdomen, cramps or numbness in leg muscles, and difficulty in breathing after the consumption of such pills. In such cases, you should immediately consult a doctor. It is to be remembered, however, that the side effects may vary from person to person. In several cases, the side effects appear for a few months after you first begin consuming the pills but gradually disappear as your body gets accustomed to the dose of hormones. Moreover, nowadays sophisticated contraceptive pills are available that hardly produce any side effects. Besides, there are certain myths about the side effects of the use of contraceptive pills: they do not cause infertility, irregular menses or early menopause.