SIDE-EFFECTS OF CONTRACEPTIVE PILL “THE PILL”
The pill’s safe use depends on the careful screening of potential users to exclude “high-risk’ women, and direct them to more suitable forms of contraception. Also, over the years developments have made the pill safer, in particular, recognition of the relationships between age, smoking and high-dose oestrogens.
The actual incidence of serious side-effects of the pill is very small. These can be divided into groups: common and pleasant, less common and a nuisance, very rare and nasty, very rare and potentially disastrous.
Common and pleasant—A welcome side-effect of the pill is lighter and less painful periods. They are also generally on time, every twenty-eight days. It is possible to manipulate the cycle to prevent your period falling on a particular day, or to miss the occasional period all together.
There is scientific evidence that the pill may have other benefits. There is a decrease in the incidence of benign (non-cancerous) breast lumps. (The relationship between the pill and breast cancer is still being debated. Studies showing contradictory results have been released). The pill is actually associated with a significantly decreased incidence of some other cancers, in particular cancer of the ovary and cancer of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus).
The pill can be used to treat some types of hormone disorders, like a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome. It can be helpful, in combination with other medication, in the treatment of excess body hair, and acne.
The pill is sometimes used in women who have prolonged times without periods. This is because these women would otherwise be lacking oestrogen, which is needed to maintain healthy, strong bones. Osreoporosis is more common when there have been prolonged times of oestrogen deficiency, for whatever reason.
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