Contraceptive Pills
Source: WebMD
The downside of oral contraceptive pill
17 NOV 2019
PIA
One cannot deny the 99.7% effectiveness rate of birth control pill. Hence, it is why this contraceptive method is the most reliable and well-sought way to avoid unplanned pregnancies among women. Although this contraceptive method is generally very effective, but according to the latest statistics showed by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), 6-12 pregnancies per 100 women in a year still occur even if the consumers are on birth control pills. This is because in some situations, most likely the consumers might have consumed the pills inaccurately, e.g.; accidentally skip one or more pills when the actual intake should be daily.
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Like all medications, birth control pill also has its own downside. These include:
No protection against STIs.
Birth control pill has NO CONTROL in protecting against Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI). This in other words, this means that couples have to opt for condoms along with the pill for better securement against STDs. Abstinence from any sexual engagement is also one of the methods that prevents high risks of STDs. Common STIs are like HIV, Herpes and Human Papillomavirus(HPV). Women, specifically are at risk to suffer severe symptoms from STIs.
Online website Cancer.org has stated that, STIs in women especially if due to HPV infection are easily prone to cervical and anal cancer. Not only that, women can easily transmit STIs to her baby before or during birth. According to the National Institutes of Health, If a mother is diagnosed with an STD/STI, the chances for the fetus or newborn to become infected are at risk. For example, chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes and cytomegalovirus can be easily passed from mother to infant during delivery. Hence, to reduce the chance of the STDs/STIs from spreading to the infant during delivery, the health provider might recommend a caesarean delivery.
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A few STDs/STIs, including syphilis, CMV, HIV can also infect a fetus during the pregnancy itself.
SPOTTING
Spotting is a type of bleeding that happens outside your menstrual period. The normal period cycle for women ranges around 3-7 days. If there is still blood discharge after 7 days, it is a sign of spotting. Hormonal contraception is also a common cause for spotting.
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Spotting is especially common upon using hormonal birth control in the first few months of consuming it as it may take time for the pills to adjust to the new hormonal levels.
NAUSEA
Research indicates that two hormones such as estrogen and progesterone found in birth control pills are the reason as to why a person often experience nauseous when consuming birth control pills. According to medical news today.com, Estrogen for example, the higher the dose of estrogen in the pill, the likeliness of a person to experience nausea is high although the hormone estrogen helps to control menstruation.
What are the alternative suggestions or solutions to this issue?
STDs are preventable if couples that are sexually active can take precautions beforehand. According to NICE, the programme director of Centre for Guidelines at NICE, Christine Carson said that condoms can protect against many sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. Hence, the local authorities and other commissioners should work together to increase condom availability and this could significantly reduce the rates of STIs.