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Signs You’re on the Wrong Birth Control Pill

The birth control pill is an imperfect—though still awesome—invention. Even though it's been one of the most popular birth control methods for decades, many women have a love-hate relationship with their pill. On top of the fact that the basic idea hasn't changed since it first became a contraceptive option in the 1960s (three weeks of daily pills followed by an unnecessary placebo week—really?), side effects of the birth control pill range from annoying to truly problematic. But not all versions of the pill affect women the same way. There are two main categories of birth control pills—combined hormonal pills, which contain doses of estrogen and progestin, and "mini pills," or progestin-only…

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Featured

 Birth control pills: What you should and shouldn’t worry about

Now that the pill is soon to be available over the counter in the U.S., experts weigh in on common questions and concerns about the medication.

 Why are women turning to TikTok for advice about the pill? Because doctors won’t listen to us

To counter social-media conspiracy theories, we need more honest information about contraception and its side-effects.

Articles of Interest

The Pill Makes Some Women Miserable. But Are They Really Quitting It en Masse?

The internet is awash with stories of women throwing out their oral contraception. New data suggests a different narrative.

Birth control increases stroke risk – here’s what women need to know

Share article Print article For millions of women, combined hormonal contraceptives are a part of their daily life – providing a convenient and effective option for preventing pregnancy and managing their menstrual cycle. But new findings are sounding the alarm on a serious, and often overlooked, risk: stroke. According to recent findings presented at the European Stroke Organisation Conference, combined oral hormonal contraceptives (which contains both oestrogen and progestogen) may significantly increase the chance of women experiencing a cryptogenic stroke. This is a sudden and serious type of stroke that occurs with no obvious cause. Surprisingly, in younger adults – particularly women – cryptogenic strokes make up approximately 40% of all strokes. This suggests there may be sex-specific factors which contribute to this risk – such as hormonal contraception use. These recently-presented findings lend themselves to this theory.

HealthTok is all over hormonal birth control’s side effects. What’s the science?

Recently, health influencers on Instagram and TikTok have been vocal about the side effects of hormonal birth control. Check out the most popular videos on the subject, and you'll hear horror stories about sex drive and skin texture, depression and weight fluctuation. But how common are those side effects… and could they happen to you?

I was quite happy on the pill – until the side-effects kicked in

I was first put on desogestrel, AKA the mini-pill, more than a decade ago, during my first long-term relationship. In the years since, I thought I had become a bit of an expert about it. I knew, for example, that it mostly stopped my periods, unless I forgot to take it a couple of times or didn’t take it at the same time every day. I knew it could be helpful for those suffering endometriosis and was suitable for people with high blood pressure. I knew that it came under lots of different brand names in lots of different packaging, and that for some reason the “name brands”, such as Cerazette, seemed to suit my body better than “generic” pills, even though doctors say they are no different.

On the Pill? Here's a New Possible Side Effect to Think About

If you're on the pill already, you know lots of the facts—when taken correctly, it's up to 99.9 percent effective in preventing pregnancy, for example. Also, depending on the pill you choose and your own personal reaction to it, you might have some side effects (if you're anything like me, that includes acne— because that's always fun!). But, according to a new study, there might be another side effect to taking the pill long-term.

Oral contraceptives: the risks and benefits of being on the pill

With regard to side effects, people may experience certain symptoms in the first months of use, which can vary depending on the oestrogens or progestogens being taken. Nausea, breast pain, hair growth, irregular bleeding, irritability, decreased libido, abdominal bloating and weight gain are common, but these effects may vary depending on the format being taken, and usually improve over time, or with a change in the dose or type of pill being taken. However, in some cases these side effects may mean that treatment has to be stopped.

Social media will tell you birth control causes mental health issues, weight gain and infertility – here are the facts

Many of the misconceptions around contraception have been sensationalised on social media. Contraception is rarely the primary cause of any issue. As with any medication, it may interact with conditions you already have, so it’s important to seek advice about contraception from your doctor or nurse – not TikTok.

The Dangers Every Woman Needs to Know About the Birth Control Pill

Here is an overview of the reported risks and side effects of birth control pills. Some physical and emotional changes take place that are permanent while you stay on the pill. Many of these changes occur as your body’s response to synthetic estrogen.

The pill’s effects on women can be devastating. We need better information, now

Making a Channel 4 documentary with Davina McCall helped me understand how we are gaslighted about hormonal contraception.

The Racist and Sexist History of Keeping Birth Control Side Effects Secret

Trust women to make good decisions when they have good information. But if women have been reporting depression as a side effect of hormonal birth control for 50 years, why are we only now getting solid data? “A big part of it is lack of interest in women’s health issues as a whole,” says Grigg-Spall, who adds that studying mood is complicated, “because obviously there are so many other factors.”

The Side Effects of the Pill

When the Pilll was introduced in 1960, it was simple to use and nearly 100% effective. To many women, it seemed like the perfect contraceptive. Early on, however, women taking the original 10-milligram high-dose pill suffered from a wide variety of side effects. Most complaints were mild, such as nausea, bloating, weight gain and depression. Many women willingly suffered these ailments in exchange for such highly effective birth control. What few realized was that the available formulation of the Pill also posed potentially life-threatening health hazards.

The Top 9 Myths About The Contraceptive Pill, Debunked

From suggestions of sudden weight gain to causing infertility, the contraceptive pill gets a bad rap – but these claims often lack scientific evidence.

Resources

8 Great and Not-So-Great Side Effects Of Birth Control Pills

You already know it’s one of the most popular and effective forms of contraception out there, but the Pill does so much more than just prevent unwanted pregnancy. It also comes with some noteworthy non-contraceptive benefits. In fact, 14 percent of users—1.5 million women—count on oral contraceptives exclusively to help them with issues that have zero to do with pregnancy prevention, according to a Guttmacher Institute study. Of course, the Pill is far from perfect. There are also downsides and some health risks that go along with it.