Whether you’re 25 or 55, the chances are you’ve tried at least one type of birth control. Some women will try several different contraceptives before finally finding the right one for them. This is often due to the fact that the possible side effects vary so much from one type to another. Understanding which side effects are most common for which birth control method is key to making the best choice for you and your body.
Below is a list of the 5 most common side effects of birth control, and which type of birth control is most likely to cause them. However, remember that this list isn’t exhaustive. If you’re curious about trying birth control for the first time, plenty of online research at home and a detailed conversation with your doctor or medical professional is vital.
1. Weight Gain
There is a very common misconception that birth control pills in particular are guaranteed to cause significant weight gain. The truth is this; there isn’t enough scientific evidence to conclusively back that up. However, some women have been found to experience weight gain on birth control and over the course of its use.
Some studies have shown certain birth control pills to cause water and fluid retention. However, this only occurs in the first few weeks after a patient has started taking the medication. When this does happen, in the majority of cases the body will reverse this effect after a month or two.
2. Mood Swings
The menstrual cycle can reek absolute havoc on our hormones and riding that emotional rollercoaster every single month can be exhausting for some women. For this reason, they turn to birth control for help.
However, many hormonal contraceptives can make your mood swings worse – this is because your body is trying to adjust to the new hormone levels which are being caused by your hormonal birth control. Given a month or two, you should notice a significant improvement in your moods throughout your cycle. It is possible that these mood swings can persist, in which case seeking medical advice and perhaps changing your contraception method may be appropriate.
3. Breast Tenderness
Breast tenderness and sensitivity is another common side effect of hormonal birth control medications. This happens for the same reason as you typically experience breast tenderness and even pain during pregnancy.
This side effect appears to be more common in premenopausal women. The pill, a vaginal ring, a contraceptive patch all contain synthetic hormones. These hormones mess with the natural balance of our bodies in order to prevent pregnancy. Yes, this can lead to tender breasts in some women but this usually only lasts for a couple of weeks.
4. Light Bleeding
Many forms of birth control can cause light bleeding between periods. This is also known as breakthrough bleeding, or spotting. Spotting can be a symptom of some very serious medical conditions, such as cervical cancer, so it tends to cause panic. However, in the case of birth control it is just another perfectly normal and typically temporary side effect.
However, if you’re losing more blood than you think you should be or than is implied in the term “light bleeding”, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Your doctor won’t mind putting your mind at ease and your worries to rest.
5. Headaches
Unfortunately, the effect of birth control on headaches is very unclear. For some women, contraceptive medications seem to help their headaches significantly. On the other hand, there are women who say that they never experienced hormonal headaches until they started taking birth control.
Furthermore, the effect seems to be equally unpredictable no matter which form of hormonal contraception you use. Of course, condoms, diaphragms and other methods which have no impact on hormones will not cause headaches. But all others can, depending on the woman in questions body.
Scientific discoveries have led to more contraceptive medications than ever before. Patients are overwhelmed with the range of options and it can be difficult to make a decisive choice. Whether you’re opting for a contraceptive injection such as the depo provera, or simply opting for the old fashioned progestin only pill, side effects are to be expected.
Thankfully, our bodies are highly effective at adjusting to the complex changes these medications bring about. More often than not side effects will disappear quickly with no need to interfere. However, if you’re using a new form of birth control and your side effects have lasted for longer than 3 months, it may be time to make an appointment with your family doctor to discuss your options. Unfortunately, the symptoms of birth control are not going to go away anytime soon, but birth control side effects are likely to grow less severe over time.