Birth Control Pills: All You Need to Know

What is the Birth Control Pill?

Birth control pill is the name given to drugs that prevent pregnancy and are used by women to support family planning. Birth control pills can consist of progesterone and estrogen, or they can consist of progesterone alone. Birth control pills are used to prevent pregnancy, but they can also be used to treat conditions such as high or low hormone levels.

What Does the Birth Control Pill Do?

Birth control pills, also known as female birth pills, prevent unwanted pregnancies in families who do not plan to have children. It prevents sudden pregnancy for women who do not feel ready to become mothers due to sociocultural factors, financial reasons or psychological reasons. At the same time, individuals who use birth control pills and are aware that pregnancy will not occur can have a more comfortable sexual life without the risk of pregnancy.

Dysmenorrhea, or painful menstrual periods, is a disorder that affects the lives of many women. Complaints of menstrual pain and severe pain may also decrease in women who use birth control pills regularly under the supervision of a doctor. The risk of ectopic pregnancy is minimized in individuals protected by birth control pills. In this way, the health and hormonal balance of the expectant mothers are preserved. In some women, intense and severe bleeding may occur during the menstrual period, or normal bleeding may spread over many days. In this case, many diseases, especially anemia, may occur. Using birth control pills can prevent both conditions. Thus, women can have a healthy menstrual period with an average number of days and normal bleeding. Among the benefits of birth control pills, there are also effects such as regulating the treatment of functional ovarian cysts. Birth control pills can prevent hormone irregularities and help ovarian cysts shrink or disappear completely. During the premenstrual syndrome (PMS) period, many women experience problems such as severe pain, weakness, fatigue, emotional tension and sensitivity. Women who use birth control pills may also experience a decrease in these complaints.

There are studies showing that birth control pills reduce the risk of uterine cancer. At the same time, the female birth control pill does not cause infertility, commonly known as infertility. On the contrary, after stopping the use of birth control pills, the hormone level returns to normal and individuals can have children whenever they want.

How to use the birth control pill?

In addition to having a high protection rate, the birth control pill is also advantageous because it does not disrupt the body cycle. When birth control pills are used correctly and regularly, unwanted pregnancies can be prevented and many complaints related to the ovaries can be prevented. Birth control pills consist of 21 tablets or combined ones consist of 28 tablets. The person must use the pills consisting of twenty-one tablets regularly, without a break, for 21 days. After 21 days, that is, three weeks, use is stopped and the person’s menstrual bleeding occurs. On average, the use of birth control pills is stopped for four to seven days. The gynecologist decides the duration of not using the pill according to the patient’s complaints or wishes. Then, birth control pill use is continued. Birth control pill benefits are maximized as long as monthly cycles are completed regularly. In addition to the convenience of using the birth control pill without pain or discomfort, the basic rule is that it should be used under the supervision of a doctor for healthy results. The use of birth control pills consisting of twenty-eight tablets covers the entire monthly cycle. Those using birth control pills should ask their doctor which birth pill they are using and make sure for how long they will use it.

What are the Side Effects of Birth Control Pills?

Many women can use birth control pills to prevent pregnancy or ovarian-related disorders. However, due to the lack of high awareness in society about the effects of birth control pills, there are many curious points about side effects. Birth control pill side effects can be listed as follows:

• Birth control pills may cause complaints such as sudden bleeding or spotting, breast tenderness and nausea in some people. However, with continuous and regular use, these discomforts tend to decrease or disappear over time.
• Birth control pills may increase risks such as cerebral palsy, blood clot formation in the body, especially in the legs, heart attack, stroke or liver diseases, especially in smokers.
• It may increase the amount and severity of pain in people with migraine with aura.
• It may increase the risk of clot formation in individuals who remain immobile after any illness or operation.
• A decrease in sexual desire may occur in individuals using birth control pills.
• Periodic weight gain may occur in individuals using birth control pills.
• Although not in every woman, breakthrough bleeding may occur between menstrual periods.
• Changes in mood may be observed from time to time. The harms of birth control pills can generally be listed as follows. If you also suffer from these complaints and these side effects do not decrease over time, you can contact a gynecologist and ask him to change your medication.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Birth Control Pill

Some of the frequently asked questions about birth control pills are as follows:

• When to Start Birth Control Pills?

It is very important to start taking birth control pills under the supervision of a doctor and at the right time in order to increase its protection and not to disrupt the general balance of the body. Those who use birth control pills should start using the pill within the first 5 days of their menstrual cycle, regardless of whether the pill is 21 days old or 28 days old. Thus, the ideal cycle of the ovaries can continue in a routine order without being interrupted.

• When Does the Birth Control Pill Start to Protect?

In addition to the protection rate of the birth control pill, the duration of its effect and when its protection begins are among the points of interest. The protective effect of the birth control pill begins from the first day of use. However, regular use is essential for best protection. It is very important to take the pill every day and at the same time of day. At the end of one month, the birth control effect of the pill will be close to 100 percent. However, during the first month of starting the birth control pill, it is recommended to get support from other protection methods such as condoms.

• How Effective Are Birth Control Pills?

The birth control pill is one of the most preferred birth control methods because it can be used without any external intervention to the body and does not cause any effects such as pain or suffering. The protection rate of birth control pills is approximately 99% when used fully and correctly. However, factors such as forgetting to use the pill from time to time and using it in cycles exceeding 24 hours on consecutive days can reduce the protection rate to 90%. Birth pills, which are an effective birth control method, should be used under the supervision of a gynecologist. Birth control pills, which can be used not only to prevent pregnancy but also to prevent many hormonal disorders, should be used regularly and in the correct dose. Before starting the birth control pill, you should share all your current and past illnesses, allergies and intolerances with your doctor; You should provide information about other medications you use.

Do not forget to make an appointment with a gynecologist to start treatment of your hormonal diseases and to prevent pregnancy.