Could the contraceptive pill be dangerous?!
Question: Could the contraceptive pill be dangerous!?
It seems pretty unnatural to suppress ovulation by pumping yourself full of synthetic hormones!. Could it have any harmful side effects!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
The combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill is generally well tolerated and few women will experience side effects!.
Some of the side effects that have been reported while taking COC are listed below!.
* Breakthrough bleeding and spotting - particularly during the first three months of taking it!.
* Breast tenderness and breast enlargement!.
* Change in shape of the cornea (front covering of the eye) resulting in discomfort when wearing contact lenses!.
* Depression (low mood)!.
* Fluid retention!.
* Headache!.
* Migraine!.
* Nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting (being sick)!.
* Reduced libido (interest in sex)!.
* Rise in blood pressure!.
* Rise in blood sugar!.
* Stomach upset!.
* Temporary infertility after stopping the COC pill!.
* Vaginal thrush!.
* Weight gain!.
The combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill may interact with other medicines!. Some of the more commonly known interactions are described below!. However, this is not a complete list!. If you want to check that your medicines are safe to take with the COC pill, you can ask your GP, or pharmacist, or read the patient information leaflets that come with your medicines!.
The COC pill may interact with broad spectrum antibiotics!. These include the following:
* amoxicillin,
* ampicillin,
* azithromycin,
* cefadroxil,
* cefixime,
* cefradine,
* cefalexin,
* cefpodoxime,
* clarithromycin,
* co-amoxiclav,
* co-fluampicil,
* doxycycline,
* erythromycin,
* metronidazole,
* minocycline,
* oxytetracycline,
* tetracycline,
* and tinidazole!.
Broad spectrum antibiotics may reduce the effectiveness of the COC pill!.
If you are prescribed one of these antibiotics, use additional contraception, such as a condoms, while you are taking the antibiotic and for seven days after finishing the course!. If the seven days runs beyond the end of a pill pack, skip the pill free break, and start a new pack straight away!. In the case of the every day (ED) pill; if the seven days runs into the inactive pills, skip the inactive pills and start a new pack straight away!.
If you are prescribed a long course of one of these antibiotics, after you have taken it for three weeks, or more, you do not need to use additional contraception!. However, if you are then also prescribed a short course of a different antibiotic later, you will need to use additional contraception, as above!.
The COC pill may also interact with medicines that speed up how quickly the liver breaks down oestrogen and progestogen!. These include:
* aprepitant,
* bosentan,
* carbamazepine,
* griseofulvin,
* modafinil,
* nelfinavir,
* nevirapine,
* oxcarbazepine,
* phenytoin,
* phenobarbital,
* primidone,
* rifabutin,
* rifampicin,
* ritonavir,
* rufinamide,
* St John's Wort (Hypericum), and
* topiramate!.
As these medicines speed up the process of the liver breaking down the oestrogen and progestogen in the COC pill, they reduce the effectiveness of the COC pill!.
If you are prescribed a short course of one of these medicines, use additional contraception while you are taking the medicine, and for four weeks after you stop taking it!.
If you are prescribed a long course of one of the above medicines, remind your prescriber that you are taking a COC pill!. You will need to think about switching to another method of contraception while you are taking it, and for 4-8 weeks after you stop taking it!.
Talk to your GP, or prescriber, about other methods of contraception!. An alternative (except when taking rifampicin, or rifabutin) is to take two COC pills a day!. However, this is an unlicensed use of the COC pill and it should only be taken in this way on the advice of your GP!.
Lamotrigine
The combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill can speed up how quickly the liver breaks down lamotrigine!. This reduces the amount of lamotrigine in the blood, making it less effective at controlling fits!. Tell your GP if you decide to start (or stop) taking the COC pill because your dose of lamotrigine may need to be adjusted!.
Special considerations
Blood clots
The oestrogen in the combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill may cause your blood to clot more readily!. If a blood clot develops, it could cause a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (clot in your leg), pulmonary embolus (clot in the lung), or a stroke, or heart attack!.
However, the risk is very small - less than three out of 10,000 women taking the COC pill for a year will get a deep vein thrombosis!. However, before prescribing the COC pill, your GP will check whether you have any risk factors!.
The COC pill may be taken with caution if you have one risk factor, but should not be taken if you have two, or more, risk factors!. The risk factors include those described below!.
* Being over 35 years of age!.
* Smoking, or having stopped smoking in the last year!.
* Being very overweight - the COC pill may be taken with caution if your body mass index (BMI) is 35-40, but should not be taken if your BMI is over 40!.
* Migraine - you should not take the COC pill if you have severe migraine attacks (lasting over three days despite treatment) or you get regular migraine attacks, particularly if you get aura, or a warning sign before an attack, such as tingling in fingers, blurred vision, or feeling sick!.
* Having high blood pressure (hypertension)!.
* Having had a blood clot, or a stroke, in the past!.
* Having a close relative who has had a blood clot when they were under 45 years of age!.
* Immobile for a long time - for example, if you are in a wheelchair, or have had your leg in plaster!.
Breast cancer
Breast cancer has been found very slightly more often in women who take the COC pill than in women of the same age who do not!. For women 35 years of age, or younger, who are not on the COC pill, the risk of developing breast cancer is four women out of 2,000!. If the COC pill is taken, the risk increases to five women out of 2,000!. If the COC pill is stopped, the risk of breast cancer developing reduces so that 10 years after stopping, the risk is the same as if you had never taken the COC pill!.
Endometrial and ovarian cancer
The COC pill gives protection against developing cancers of the endometrium (lining of the womb) and the ovaries!.
Vomiting
If you vomit within two hours of taking a COC pill, it may not have been fully absorbed into your bloodstream!. Take another pill straight away and the next pill at your usual time!. You should still be protected from pregnancy!. However, if you continue to be you sick, you may not be protected from
pregnancy!.
Diarrhoea
Very severe diarrhoea (6-8 watery stools in 24 hours) may reduce the effectiveness of the COC pill!. Keep taking the pill as normal, but treat each day that you have very severe diarrhoea as if you had forgotten to take a pill!. See 'missed doses and extra doses', or speak to your GP, or family planning nurse!. Alternatively, call NHS Direct on 0845 4647!.
Surgery
Due to the risk of developing blood clots, you should stop taking the COC pill at least four weeks before a major operation, such as a joint replacement, or hysterectomy, or any surgery to your legs, such as treatment for varicose veins!. You should not start taking the COC pill again until at least two weeks after you are completely mobile!. There is no need to stop taking the COC pill before minor surgery, such as tooth extraction, or surgery involving a short duration of anaesthetic!.
Travel
There is an increased risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (a clot in the leg) during travel, if you are taking the COC pill and you are immobile for long periods (particularly long haul flights that are over five hours)!. You can help to prevent a DVT by drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol, which can lead to dehydration, and performing simple leg exercises
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
The COC pill will not protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis!. You should consider using condoms as well taking the COC pill!.
Breast feeding
The COC pill may reduce your flow of milk!. It is recommended that you use a different method of contraception, such as the progestogen only pill, or condoms, for the first six months of breastfeeding!.
Pregnancy
The COC pill should not be taken during pregnancy!. If you think that you could be pregnant, stop taking the COC pill and speak to your doctorWww@Answer-Health@Com
Some of the side effects that have been reported while taking COC are listed below!.
* Breakthrough bleeding and spotting - particularly during the first three months of taking it!.
* Breast tenderness and breast enlargement!.
* Change in shape of the cornea (front covering of the eye) resulting in discomfort when wearing contact lenses!.
* Depression (low mood)!.
* Fluid retention!.
* Headache!.
* Migraine!.
* Nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting (being sick)!.
* Reduced libido (interest in sex)!.
* Rise in blood pressure!.
* Rise in blood sugar!.
* Stomach upset!.
* Temporary infertility after stopping the COC pill!.
* Vaginal thrush!.
* Weight gain!.
The combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill may interact with other medicines!. Some of the more commonly known interactions are described below!. However, this is not a complete list!. If you want to check that your medicines are safe to take with the COC pill, you can ask your GP, or pharmacist, or read the patient information leaflets that come with your medicines!.
The COC pill may interact with broad spectrum antibiotics!. These include the following:
* amoxicillin,
* ampicillin,
* azithromycin,
* cefadroxil,
* cefixime,
* cefradine,
* cefalexin,
* cefpodoxime,
* clarithromycin,
* co-amoxiclav,
* co-fluampicil,
* doxycycline,
* erythromycin,
* metronidazole,
* minocycline,
* oxytetracycline,
* tetracycline,
* and tinidazole!.
Broad spectrum antibiotics may reduce the effectiveness of the COC pill!.
If you are prescribed one of these antibiotics, use additional contraception, such as a condoms, while you are taking the antibiotic and for seven days after finishing the course!. If the seven days runs beyond the end of a pill pack, skip the pill free break, and start a new pack straight away!. In the case of the every day (ED) pill; if the seven days runs into the inactive pills, skip the inactive pills and start a new pack straight away!.
If you are prescribed a long course of one of these antibiotics, after you have taken it for three weeks, or more, you do not need to use additional contraception!. However, if you are then also prescribed a short course of a different antibiotic later, you will need to use additional contraception, as above!.
The COC pill may also interact with medicines that speed up how quickly the liver breaks down oestrogen and progestogen!. These include:
* aprepitant,
* bosentan,
* carbamazepine,
* griseofulvin,
* modafinil,
* nelfinavir,
* nevirapine,
* oxcarbazepine,
* phenytoin,
* phenobarbital,
* primidone,
* rifabutin,
* rifampicin,
* ritonavir,
* rufinamide,
* St John's Wort (Hypericum), and
* topiramate!.
As these medicines speed up the process of the liver breaking down the oestrogen and progestogen in the COC pill, they reduce the effectiveness of the COC pill!.
If you are prescribed a short course of one of these medicines, use additional contraception while you are taking the medicine, and for four weeks after you stop taking it!.
If you are prescribed a long course of one of the above medicines, remind your prescriber that you are taking a COC pill!. You will need to think about switching to another method of contraception while you are taking it, and for 4-8 weeks after you stop taking it!.
Talk to your GP, or prescriber, about other methods of contraception!. An alternative (except when taking rifampicin, or rifabutin) is to take two COC pills a day!. However, this is an unlicensed use of the COC pill and it should only be taken in this way on the advice of your GP!.
Lamotrigine
The combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill can speed up how quickly the liver breaks down lamotrigine!. This reduces the amount of lamotrigine in the blood, making it less effective at controlling fits!. Tell your GP if you decide to start (or stop) taking the COC pill because your dose of lamotrigine may need to be adjusted!.
Special considerations
Blood clots
The oestrogen in the combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill may cause your blood to clot more readily!. If a blood clot develops, it could cause a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (clot in your leg), pulmonary embolus (clot in the lung), or a stroke, or heart attack!.
However, the risk is very small - less than three out of 10,000 women taking the COC pill for a year will get a deep vein thrombosis!. However, before prescribing the COC pill, your GP will check whether you have any risk factors!.
The COC pill may be taken with caution if you have one risk factor, but should not be taken if you have two, or more, risk factors!. The risk factors include those described below!.
* Being over 35 years of age!.
* Smoking, or having stopped smoking in the last year!.
* Being very overweight - the COC pill may be taken with caution if your body mass index (BMI) is 35-40, but should not be taken if your BMI is over 40!.
* Migraine - you should not take the COC pill if you have severe migraine attacks (lasting over three days despite treatment) or you get regular migraine attacks, particularly if you get aura, or a warning sign before an attack, such as tingling in fingers, blurred vision, or feeling sick!.
* Having high blood pressure (hypertension)!.
* Having had a blood clot, or a stroke, in the past!.
* Having a close relative who has had a blood clot when they were under 45 years of age!.
* Immobile for a long time - for example, if you are in a wheelchair, or have had your leg in plaster!.
Breast cancer
Breast cancer has been found very slightly more often in women who take the COC pill than in women of the same age who do not!. For women 35 years of age, or younger, who are not on the COC pill, the risk of developing breast cancer is four women out of 2,000!. If the COC pill is taken, the risk increases to five women out of 2,000!. If the COC pill is stopped, the risk of breast cancer developing reduces so that 10 years after stopping, the risk is the same as if you had never taken the COC pill!.
Endometrial and ovarian cancer
The COC pill gives protection against developing cancers of the endometrium (lining of the womb) and the ovaries!.
Vomiting
If you vomit within two hours of taking a COC pill, it may not have been fully absorbed into your bloodstream!. Take another pill straight away and the next pill at your usual time!. You should still be protected from pregnancy!. However, if you continue to be you sick, you may not be protected from
pregnancy!.
Diarrhoea
Very severe diarrhoea (6-8 watery stools in 24 hours) may reduce the effectiveness of the COC pill!. Keep taking the pill as normal, but treat each day that you have very severe diarrhoea as if you had forgotten to take a pill!. See 'missed doses and extra doses', or speak to your GP, or family planning nurse!. Alternatively, call NHS Direct on 0845 4647!.
Surgery
Due to the risk of developing blood clots, you should stop taking the COC pill at least four weeks before a major operation, such as a joint replacement, or hysterectomy, or any surgery to your legs, such as treatment for varicose veins!. You should not start taking the COC pill again until at least two weeks after you are completely mobile!. There is no need to stop taking the COC pill before minor surgery, such as tooth extraction, or surgery involving a short duration of anaesthetic!.
Travel
There is an increased risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (a clot in the leg) during travel, if you are taking the COC pill and you are immobile for long periods (particularly long haul flights that are over five hours)!. You can help to prevent a DVT by drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol, which can lead to dehydration, and performing simple leg exercises
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
The COC pill will not protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis!. You should consider using condoms as well taking the COC pill!.
Breast feeding
The COC pill may reduce your flow of milk!. It is recommended that you use a different method of contraception, such as the progestogen only pill, or condoms, for the first six months of breastfeeding!.
Pregnancy
The COC pill should not be taken during pregnancy!. If you think that you could be pregnant, stop taking the COC pill and speak to your doctorWww@Answer-Health@Com
it's 2 harmful & even cause mal-sexual functionWww@Answer-Health@Com
Yes it could, but probably negligibleWww@Answer-Health@Com
can cause high blood pressure or even stroke especially in older womenWww@Answer-Health@Com
yes!.Www@Answer-Health@Com