Oral contraceptives are now considered one of the most effective ways to prevent pregnancy - at least of those that are easily reversible (unlike, for example, tubal ligation). What are the advantages and disadvantages of oral contraceptives?

When properly applied they perfect efficiency reaches 99-100%, but on average it is 91% (in most cases fail oral contraceptives because of their misuse).

The advantages of oral contraceptives

In oral contraceptives, there are other advantages:

• They weaken the symptoms of menorrhagia (disorder in which there are extremely heavy menstrual bleeding) and, thus, reduce the risk of developing anemia;
• Reduce pain during menstruation;
• Make less severe symptoms of premenstrual syndrome;
• Improves skin condition in people who are prone to acne;
• Relieves the symptoms of endometriosis (a condition in which endometrial tissue grow into the surrounding areas, causing pain and irregular bleeding);
• Reduces the risk of ovarian cysts;
• Oral contraceptives containing estrogen, prevent the decrease in bone density;
• With prolonged use (for 3 years or more) decreases the likelihood of ovarian cancer and uterine cancer.

Disadvantages of oral contraceptives

Common side effects. Many women in the first two or three months after you start taking oral contraceptives appear certain side effects. Typically, over time they become less pronounced or even completely disappear. Women who take contraceptive progestin combination and may experience different side effects, but in both cases, the most common are:

• Nausea and vomiting (in many cases this side effect persists, if you take the tablets with food or at bedtime);
• Headaches (if the patient has a history of migraines after starting oral contraceptives, it can get worse);
• Nausea and dizziness;
• Breast tenderness;
• Breast augmentation;
• Intermenstrual bleeding;
• The increase in weight.

Acceptance of new oral contraceptives with a low dose of hormones significantly reduces the risk of side effects, including weight gain.

Other side effects. In some cases, oral contraceptives cause severe pain in the abdomen and chest, not typical for the patient's headaches, vision problems, severe pain in the legs Pain in the legs - to warn easier than cure   and / or swelling in the legs. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

The risks associated with taking oral contraceptives. Acceptance of these drugs may increase the risk of developing or worsening of some serious diseases. The risk depends in part on the history of women, so transferred before disease and surgery is necessary before the use of oral contraceptives to discuss with your doctor. Risk factors include age over 35, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol Cholesterin , Diabetes, and migraines.

Under certain circumstances, the effects of oral contraceptives may be:

• Problems with the heart and blood circulation. Estrogen increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and blood clots in some women. The risk is particularly high in smoking patients, and those in whose history has a heart or vascular disease. Patients with metabolic disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome Polycystic ovary syndrome: a consultation with gynecologist Also increased the likelihood of developing heart complications as a result of oral contraceptives containing estrogen. Women who suffer from migraines may increase the risk of stroke, and it can be recommended intake progestin contraceptives instead combined.
• Venous thromboembolism. The use of combined oral contraceptives increases the risk of venous thromboembolism - a condition in which the veins in the form of blood clots. In some cases this can lead to a pulmonary embolism. It should be noted that when receiving combined oral contraceptives risk of clot formation is significantly lower than when using contraceptive patches, and vaginal rings, which body is subjected to impact significantly higher doses of estrogen. Smoking women suffering from obesity and those who are risk factors for development of cardiovascular disease, instead of pills containing estrogen, progestin-only pill is better to use, IUDs or barrier contraception.
• Diabetes. Women who have been diagnosed with diabetes taking oral contraceptives is not recommended, especially if they smoke or they have kidney disease or heart disease. The use of these contraceptives can lead to worsening of the condition of patients with diabetes.
• Cancer. Several studies have shown that there is a link between long-term use of oral contraceptives and an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. Women who take oral contraceptives for 10 years or more, significantly increased the likelihood of infection with human papilloma virus - the virus associated with cervical cancer. Among subjects who took the pill for five years or less, a significant increase in risk was observed.
• Scientific evidence as to whether the increased use of oral contraceptives the risk of developing breast cancer are quite contradictory. Recent studies have shown that women who use oral contraceptives, the likelihood of breast cancer increased slightly, but the risk is reduced to the average level, when the patient stops taking the pills.
• Liver problems. In rare cases, the use of oral contraceptives can lead to swelling of the liver, the formation of stones, and jaundice. Women, whose history has liver disease, such as hepatitis, it is not recommended to use such means of contraception.

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