There is no doubt that birth control pills prevent pregnancy when used as directed. The question is, do the side effects and risks outweigh the benefits? For me, the answer to this question is no. I am not alone in this answer. Many women cannot tolerate the birth control pill or have been taken off due to adverse effects. Not long ago, I decided to give the pill another try because I wanted to prevent pregnancy while evening out my moods. The result was the opposite of my desired effect, and I became more irritable and had more mood swings, rather than less. I will highlight the risks and dangers of taking birth control pills and address the one birth control pill I believe to be the most detrimental.
Side Effects
Side effects of the birth control pills include nausea, headache, weight gain, irregular bleeding, breast tenderness and mood changes. Literature states that the side effects caused by birth control pills often subside. The key word here is often, meaning they do not always go away. Although it is noted as uncommon, birth control pills may contribute to blood clots, increased blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. Birth control pills are not a heart healthy medication to be putting into your body. Women over 35 and those who smoke increase their chances of getting heart related side effects when taking the pill.
Yaz
Yaz is the birth control pill that I consider to be the most dangerous. I was told by one woman that Yaz helped her mood tremendously, yet she had to be taken off due to gallbladder disease, which resulted in having her gallbladder removed. In addition to all of the regular side effects that birth control pills can cause, Yaz has several additional dangers, listed as rare side effects. These rare side effects include brain hemorrhaging, disease of the gallbladder, liver cancer and high amounts of potassium in the blood. High amounts of potassium in the blood can be life threatening as it can cause an abnormal heartbeat. The condition of high potassium blood levels is known as hyperkalemia.
Each woman has to decide if taking birth control pills is right for her, while deciding if the benefits outweigh the risks. Since I cannot tolerate the birth control pill, nor do the benefits outweigh the side effects or risks, my husband and I use the rhythm method in combination with other other drug-free methods.
Sources:
Personal Experience
Medicine Net
WebMD
BAMI.us