A contraceptive side effect is an undesirable, negative consequence of using medications aimed at preventing pregnancy. It is regarded by doctors as an inadequate response of the body to one or more substances contained in tablets, implants, patches, intrauterine devices.
Barrier contraception is not considered in this regard, since there are very few adverse reactions and all of them are predominantly local.
The most common adverse reactions when taking birth control pills
With correctly prescribed contraceptives, doctors prevent unwanted pregnancy and restore a woman’s regular menstrual cycle. However, each drug annotation indicates the most likely adverse reactions:
- Decreased libido, slight or progressive. Sometimes in the first months of taking contraceptive symptoms no symptoms arise; they can appear gradually after normalization of altered hormonal levels.
- Mood swings. The woman becomes irritable, tearful, apathy appears, giving way to mental activity. Sometimes she suffers from insomnia or, conversely, excessive sleepiness.
- Headache. Due to changes in the functioning of the endocrine glands, the activity of the brain and its blood supply change. Against this background, mild headaches are possible. If the patient has a history of migraines or idiopathic severe pain, hormones may aggravate them.
- Vaginal bleeding. Slight brown discharge in the first three months after taking contraceptives is considered normal. If the appearance of a small amount of blood on your underwear is not accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen and other unpleasant symptoms, there is no need to panic. If bleeding occurs, you should immediately seek emergency medical help.
- The appearance of blood clots. Due to an increase in the volume of estrogen produced, the composition of the blood changes. If the patient does not have chronic blood pathologies that can cause thrombosis, there will be no problems - even if a clot forms in the vessel, the body will dissolve it on its own.
- Skin problems, local or general. IUDs, implants, and patches can cause vaginal itching. At the site where patches and implants are installed, there may be redness of the skin, slight swelling, and the appearance of blisters. Oral contraceptives can either reduce the amount of acne on your face or increase it.
- Hair loss, deterioration of nails. Typically, the doctor in this case diagnoses diffuse but minor hair loss. Women notice a large number of hairs on their comb, in the bathroom after washing their hair.
- Nausea. Estrogen, especially when taking oral contraceptives, enters the gastrointestinal tract, irritating the stomach, so in the first months the girl feels painful sensations in the epigastric region. Sometimes accompanied by vomiting and stomach pain.
Breast engorgement is another minor sign of so-called addiction to contraceptives. A woman also faces other negative consequences of taking contraceptives: pigmentation, swelling on the face, excess weight (+5 kg and above), bloating, flatulence or constipation.
If these side effects do not go away within 3 months or become pronounced, you should consult a gynecologist. If measures are not taken to eliminate negative signs, serious complications are possible: thromboembolism, pulmonary artery thrombosis, and in some situations even strokes and myocardial infarction are possible.
How do contraceptives affect breast size?
Contraceptives contain the hormones estrogen and progesterone or their analogues. Estrogen and progesterone prevent the production of other hormones and thereby inhibit or suppress the process of egg maturation. Birth control pills contain one or both of these hormones. They prevent sperm from fertilizing the egg.
Estrogens, which make up birth control pills, are responsible for breast growth during puberty. The size and roundness of the shapes depends on them. Therefore, in order for the mammary glands to grow, normal hormonal levels are necessary. Some women need to reduce the amount of this hormone, while others need to increase it. This is the only way to achieve normal breast growth.
When taking oral contraceptives, a woman experiences the same symptoms as during pregnancy:
- The mammary glands swell and increase in size.
- The breasts become more sensitive.
This effect persists as long as the woman takes the pills.
Diagnosis before selecting contraceptives
The patient’s complaints about changes in health status become indications for a full diagnosis. In addition to general laboratory tests, the gynecologist prescribes a study on blood biochemistry and hormonal composition of the blood, determination of hemostasis (blood formation), and also proceeds to instrumental diagnostics:
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
- Colposcopy;
- Survey mammography.
It is important for the doctor to differentiate the pathology from other diseases. Typically described adverse reactions are signs of inflammatory processes, benign and malignant neoplasms of the genitourinary system, diseases of the blood, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, and brain. Other highly specialized specialists are involved in the work of the gynecologist.
All about side effects
To reduce the risk of side effects, it is important to prepare in advance. Talk to your obstetrician, endocrinologist, and breast specialist. All tests for hormones and allergens should be done on an empty stomach.
Preparations containing female sex hormones are not toxic, but have certain side effects. These reactions are often not a result of the dose of the drug, but rather the frequency of its use.
When using medicinal products, it should be remembered that the substances taken affect the natural production of hormones. This reduces the amount of natural hormones. This phenomenon is fraught with the fact that over time the body may “forget” about the function of self-producing hormones.
Common side effects of taking hormones:
- CNS disorders.
- Depression.
- Anxiety disorders.
- Mood swings.
- Depression and apathy.
- Regular headaches.
- Weight fluctuations.
- Back and bone pain.
- Feeling of heaviness.
- Flatulence.
- Sleep disorders (insomnia, chronic drowsiness, narcolepsy, disturbance of the rhythm of night and day).
- Decreased libido in a partner.
- From the immune system.
- Diarrhea.
- Rubbing in the upper abdomen.
- Blood pressure disorders.
- Dyspnea.
- Dry ears and eyes.
- Allergies.
- Urinary tract infection.
Treatment for side effects
If the main reason for the change in the patient’s condition lies only in taking contraceptives, the doctor takes a wait-and-see approach, for example, changes the dosage of the drug, waits another month or two, and evaluates the result. In this case, auxiliary medications help reduce unpleasant symptoms:
- Sedatives;
- Antipruritic;
- Mild laxatives;
- Painkillers and others.
If the adverse reactions are severe, the gynecologist discontinues the drug and replaces it with another. Sometimes complete withdrawal of hormonal drugs is required. Sometimes the intervention of phlebologists, cardiologists, and other specialists is required.
How to take it correctly?
In order for contraceptives to work as intended, you must adhere to certain rules of administration:
- The drug will begin to act instantly if you start using it on the first day of menstruation.
- If your periods are not regular, then you should start taking the pills on the first day of your cycle.
- Women who have had an abortion must take contraceptives on the day of the procedure.
- You need to take the medicine every day, preferably at the same time.
Women who are interested in what contraceptives make breasts grow should understand that this method of breast enlargement is not one hundred percent and not safe. Such drugs should be used only for the purposes for which they were created and only under the supervision of a specialist. Using contraceptives on your own for secondary purposes can greatly harm your health. Therefore, it is better to think twice before trying to enlarge your breasts this way.
How high is the risk of breast cancer when using the pill?
Due to the complex etiology of breast cancer, birth control pills are not a direct risk factor for the development of breast cancer, but increase the likelihood of its occurrence in women with a genetic load. Hormonal contraception is a trigger that turns the normal cell cycle into the process of carcinogenesis or cancer.
Research has shown that using contraception for more than eight years can affect the eventual development of breast cancer. The study shows that among women under 35 years of age who used this form of pregnancy prevention, 3 out of 1,000 respondents were diagnosed with breast cancer. For comparison, a similar diagnosis is given to only 2 patients out of 1000 women who have never used this form of contraception.
Does hormonal contraception cause breast cancer?
Breast cancer is still the most common malignant disease among women. The incidence rate in the general population is about 20%. The etiology of the process remains unknown, although modern theories suggest the combination of several factors that the correct cell cycle redirects into the process of carcinogenesis, that is, cancer.
Breast cancer
Relatively important factors in the development of breast cancer are the time of natural physiological activity of the body's hormonal balance and the time when a woman is under the influence of exogenous hormones, that is, those coming from the outside. We are talking about hormonal contraception used as a form of pregnancy prevention.
The answer to the question of whether birth control pills cause breast cancer is unclear. The topic of the influence of permanent hormonal contraception on the condition of the mammary gland has been discussed for many years and continues to be one of the main areas of research work in the world's leading gynecological centers.
For many years, attempts have been made to reach a consensus regarding the importance of long-term use of birth control pills and, therefore, the effect of hormonally active substances on the development of breast cancer. Ultimately, it was concluded that hormonal contraception does in fact make a difference in the context of breast cancer. But it is important to consider the type of contraceptives used and the timing of their use.
In addition to hormonal activity, birth control pills affect the cell cycle - they facilitate their division, which plays an important role in the development of the disease, if it has already occurred. This means that hormonal contraception is not a pathogen that causes genetic mutations and therefore causes disease. This is a factor that can stimulate the process of already present cellular pathology.
There are conflicting opinions about one-part progesterone-only pills (mini-pills). However, it has already been proven that this type of hormonal contraception slightly increases the risk of developing breast cancer.
Single-component contraceptive pills
Contraception for women with breast cancer
To improve the effects of breast cancer treatment and increase its effectiveness, you should not use hormonal contraception, which is based on estrogen.
It is recommended to use natural and mechanical methods. Of course, it is allowed to insert an intrauterine device without the possibility of releasing hormones.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
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Abortion and contraception clinic in St. Petersburg - department of the medical gynecological association "Diana"
Make an appointment, tests or ultrasound via the contact form or by calling +8 (812) 62-962-77. We work seven days a week from 09:00 to 21:00.
We are located in the Krasnogvardeisky district, next to the Novocherkasskaya, Ploshchad Alexander Nevsky and Ladozhskaya metro stations.
The cost of a medical abortion in our clinic is 3,300 rubles. The price includes all pills, an examination by a gynecologist and an ultrasound to determine the timing of pregnancy.
