Girls - Birth Control Pills (Advice Please)?!
Question: I've heard so many positive and negative things about birth control pills that I don't know what to believe anymore. Some positive things were that they clear up acne and regulate your period. Negative things included a higher risk of cervical cancer, hormonal inbalance and weight gain. I can't even ask my doctor because my family would frown upon me (for religious reasons). I really don't want any of those bad things to happen obviously. But then I think if those things were true, why are so many people on the pill if it really is a health threat? I want to get it soon but I really don't want to endanger myself and (not to sound egotistical) I don't want to gain any weight. My boyfriend and I have discussed it and there are clinics where we can go when I'm ready to get them. I really want to be safe when the time is right and I'd also like the regulate my period. What is your knowledge about the pill? How do you know which brand is right for you? Thanks!
Answers: I've heard so many positive and negative things about birth control pills that I don't know what to believe anymore. Some positive things were that they clear up acne and regulate your period. Negative things included a higher risk of cervical cancer, hormonal inbalance and weight gain. I can't even ask my doctor because my family would frown upon me (for religious reasons). I really don't want any of those bad things to happen obviously. But then I think if those things were true, why are so many people on the pill if it really is a health threat? I want to get it soon but I really don't want to endanger myself and (not to sound egotistical) I don't want to gain any weight. My boyfriend and I have discussed it and there are clinics where we can go when I'm ready to get them. I really want to be safe when the time is right and I'd also like the regulate my period. What is your knowledge about the pill? How do you know which brand is right for you? Thanks!
There are not any conclusive studies about whether the pill increases your risk of cervical cancer, hormonal imbalance, or weight gain. Some women do gain weight when they start the pill, but many women also start the pill in their early twenties, when their metabolism slows some. Many of these women would have gained weight even if they did not start the pill. The pill does decrease the risk of endometial and ovarian cancers. The low dose pills have the same effects as the older higher pills, without as many of the risks. The main risk associated with birth control pills that contain estrogen is an increased risk of blood clots and raised blood pressure. There are some pills that do not include estrogen and are just as effective as birth control, but they do not regulate your period. Women are able to conceive immediately after stopping the pill in most cases, and within six months in nearly all cases. There are many different brands. When you go to the clinic, they will ask you a lot of questions and then the doctor usually choses a pill for you. Most women have to try about three different pills before finding one that agrees with their body. You will be told to try the pill for three months and come back. If that pill works for you, they will give you the rest of your supply. If it doesn't then you will get another three month supply of a different pill. Some of the side effects that usually end in the first three months are nausea, breast tenderness, and breakthrough bleeding. If the pill is right for you, by the end of the trial period, you won't be experincing any side effects. I would reccommend going on and starting the pill, because it takes at least one week to be effective, and you usually have to wait until your next period to start a pack. This way you should have shorter, lighter periods and be prepared just in case you need the pill sooner than later.
Birth control pills gave me have mini strokes. I know this because we took a MRI to confirm this. People take them cause they don't believe it can happen to them and most of the time they don't know it is the pill that is making them have certain problems. I was having TIAs for several months before I went to the doctor. He said women have several tia before they actually have a stroke. There is more then one way for preventing becoming pregnant. I take it that you and your family don't have the same religious beliefs?
I took ortho-tri-cyclene. I really liked it, it didn't make me gain weight and it did clear up my acne. I had no problems on it at all! Talk to a doc at any of those clinics, they will be able to help you decide what's best for you.
Well, you definately want to talk to a dr first, and explain to them the concerns that you have. There are so many effective birth control methods out there, a pill might no be right for what you are thinking, but there are shots, and IUDS and sooo many other options. I am personally on the pill, and have not gained any weight, have no acne, and my periods are fairly regular. I used to be on the depo shot, but that leads to osteopenia fter long term use, so I discontinued. But just do your research. It is better to protect yourdelf than not oo, so just keep it to yourself if you feel your parents will not be happy. Good Luck
the doctor chose the brand of pill for me and i had no side affects at all. but after 6 years of use i fell pregnant without missing a single pill so they are not 100% effective against pregnancy
Seriously...if this guy is right for you he'll wait till your married to have sex...i DON'T care what you think of that! waiting till your married helps! DON'T take the pill just b/c you want to stop from becaoming pregnant...thats STUPID!
First of all, posting a question here will give you even more opinions on the topic, so the best way to deal with confusion is to actually talk to your doctor (or to give the pill a try).
I'm using birth control pills third year now and would recommend them. I've been using four brands so far, have never gained weight nor had any other side effects, apart from regulated period, and usually after half a year the pill hormones in the pill start affecting my mood. Actually, if anything unpleasant happens to you because of the pill you can just start taking some other brand and this usually helps. And I cannot recommend any brand because every organism reacts differently to hormones.
Besides, it is a good thing to have a 2-3 month break every year, this way the balance of hormones in your body should stay right.
But the most important thing is to talk to your doctor :)
personally i started taking birth control because my periods were abnormally heavy and the cramps were unbearable (nothing helped). taking birth control has helped with these problems. the only bad thing that has happened to me is that ive had to change my pill b/c it was making me nauseous b/c there was too much estrogen.