BENEFITS OF CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS BEYOND CONTRACEPTION
Contraceptive pills is one of the most common birth control methods utilised by the public for family planning as it is easily available. Did you know that besides family planning, oral contraceptive pills offer a variety of advantages? According to Johnson (2020)2, 14% of pill users take it for other purposes such as reducing menstrual cramps. Are you interested to learn more about the other benefits offered by birth control methods? Scroll down to clarify your doubts to take control of your own sexual health!
1. Regulates Menstrual Cycle 1,2,3,4
Birth control pills can manage the hormonal changes that occur during menstruation. This is because they contain oestrogen and progestin which are similar to the hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone that your ovaries make. They are released at a similar pace and prevent ovulation from occurring . Therefore, periods can be less intense and occur at more predictable timing.
2. Reduce period pain and cramps 1,2,3,4
Painful menstrual cramps and heavy menstrual bleeding are other problems that combined oral contraceptives can solve. To comprehend how it works, you must first comprehend what prostaglandins are. Strong contractions might be uncomfortable, but they are necessary for your reproductive health. Prostaglandins also constrict blood vessels, resulting in a lack of oxygen in the tissues and, as a result, pain. Both of these processes are addressed by combined oral contraceptives. They relieve pain by lowering the quantity of prostaglandins produced in the uterus, weakening uterine contractions. Therefore, your uterus does not experience the painful contractions that induce cramps during ovulation when you do not ovulate. According to Healthline, this is why 31% of women take birth control pills to cite menstrual pain instead of taking it for pregnancy prevention.
3. Relieve Symptoms Of PMS 1,2,3,4,7,8
Some women develop premenstrual syndrome (PMS) as a result of hormonal fluctuations that occur soon before their monthly menstruation. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMSD) is a more severe form of PMS that affects some women . Some examples of PMS or PMDD symptoms are mood swings, weight gain, breast soreness and bloating which occurs due to the fluctuation of oestrogen and progesterone. Both PMS and PMDD can be treated with oral contraceptive pills which relieve painful menstruation and other menstruation-related issues by constant release of oestrogen and progesterone, allowing you to carry out everyday tasks with greater physical and emotional stability.
4. Reduce the risk of certain cancers 3,4,7
Hormonal birth control methods such as oral contraceptive pills can help to reduce the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer by up to 50%. The longer you take it, the lower your chances of developing this type of cancer become. The effects of the tablet can persist up to 20 years after you stop using it. Growing data suggests that taking the tablet reduces your risk of acquiring colorectal cancer (cells in the intestines grow uncontrollably, affecting an individual’s quality of life).
5. Clear Up Your Skin and Prevent Hair Growth 1,2,3,4,7
Some women may suffer from acne and unwanted hair growth especially going through puberty due to hormonal fluctuations. By lowering the levels of male hormones such as testosterone produced by your ovaries, birth control tablets can help to improve inflammatory acne whereby bacteria infect the blocked pore and non-inflammatory acne such as blackhead and hair growth in the midline of your body. The pills decrease the production of sebum which may cause blocked pores and acne to form. The areas most commonly affected by unwanted hair growth are above your lips, under your chin, between your breasts, between your belly button and public bone or down your inner thighs. By taking oral contraceptive pills, the acne may take several months while the unwanted hair may take around 6 months to observe the reduction in unwanted hair growth.
6. Prevent Ovarian Cysts 1,2,3,4,7
Ovarian cysts are tiny, fluid-filled sacs that develop in your ovaries during the ovulatory cycle. They're not hazardous, although they can be uncomfortable. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) causes a large number of tiny cysts in the ovaries in women. Hormonal birth control can reduce cyst formation by preventing ovulation. They may also prevent cysts from developing again.
7. Aids in Managing Endometriosis 1,2,3,4,7
Endometriosis is a painful disorder that occurs when the endometrium, the tissue that lines your uterus, develops outside of your uterus. Regardless of where it is, this tissue bleeds throughout your period. Pain and inflammation occur when tissue bleeds in places where blood cannot easily exit your body. Hormonal birth control aids you by allowing you to skip periods. Endometriosis cannot be treated with birth control tablets or IUDs but it can help you control your pain by stopping your period. Drugs that are only given for a few months due to poor tolerability, severe metabolic side effects, or excessive cost do not help women with symptomatic endometriosis much.
8. Reduce Menstrual Migraines1
The hormonal changes that occur during menstruation may also produce migraine in some people. Migraines occur due to the dip in oestrogen and progesterone before the beginning of your period. Therefore, utilising hormonal birth control methods such as combined oral contraceptives can reduce migraine occurrence.
9. Reduce Risk Of Anemia1,2,4
During their menses, some women endure heavy menstrual bleeding. This can put you at risk for anaemia. Anaemia occurs when the body's red blood cells are insufficient to transport oxygen throughout the body, resulting in weakness and exhaustion. By taking oral contraceptive pills, it can aid in the prevention of period-related anaemia by reducing menorrhagia from occurring.
The combined oral contraceptive pill (OCP) is claimed to have a variety of benefits, inducing a regular shedding of a thinner endometrium and inhibiting ovulation thus having the effect of treating menorrhagia and providing contraception. Despite all the benefits offered by contraception methods, it may come with some side effects such as increasing your risk of blood clot which causes high blood pressure. Therefore, it is always best to consult your doctor or pharmacist on the intake of contraceptive pills even through our accessible pharmacist’s consultation on the DOC2US platform. Your doctor can help you to weigh the benefits and risks of each method to determine what will work best for you.
Now we have reached the end of the article. Hopefully, this article gives you more insight and knowledge on the correct information about oral contraceptive pills. Do you still have any questions regarding OCPs? Consult our online pharmacists for free HERE! You can also get a FREE OXWHITE premium cloth mask and FREE OCPs DELIVERY!
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REFERENCES
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https://www.healthline.com/health/birth-control-benefits#the-downside
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https://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/other-benefits-birth-control
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https://www.healthline.com/health/birth-control-pills#how-they-work
