What are the hazards of taking contraceptive pills for a long time? What foods can women eat for contraception

Many women use birth control pills as their contraceptive method, with short birth control pills being a common one. Short acting contraceptives are made from artificially synthesized estrogen and pregnancy hormone, and for some women, the levels of both may be inappropriate, leading to adverse reactions. At this point, women taking medication should pay attention and take necessary measures to avoid any harm to their bodies caused by medication. What are the hazards of taking birth control pills? What foods are beneficial for contraception?

What are the hazards of taking contraceptive pills for a long time?

1. Vaginal bleeding

Many women may experience continuous bleeding or breakthrough bleeding during medication use. This is related to missed or delayed use of contraceptives, or insufficient effectiveness of contraceptives. If vaginal bleeding occurs in the first half of the menstrual cycle, it often indicates that the dosage of estrogen is too low; If it occurs in the second half, it indicates that the dose of progesterone is insufficient to maintain the endometrium.

2. Pregnancy like reaction

Pregnancy like reactions are common, accounting for approximately 50% of the medication population. The symptoms are mostly severe, then mild, and gradually disappear, which may be related to the gradual adaptation of the body. Manifestations include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, and other early pregnancy reactions. It often occurs in the first to second weeks of medication. This reaction is related to the stimulation of the gastric mucosa by estrogen in contraceptive pills.

3. Oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea

Many female friends take contraceptive pills to reduce their menstrual flow. What is amenorrhea? The original contraceptive pill can cause incomplete development of the endometrium and insufficient secretion of glands, so the endometrium cannot grow normally and becomes thinner, resulting in a decrease in menstrual flow. Some women do not experience retreating bleeding or amenorrhea after discontinuing the contraceptive pill due to its excessive inhibitory effect.

4. Weight gain

Some women gain weight due to fear of medication, so they do not want to take birth control pills. Indeed, some components in birth control pills can cause weight gain: androgens can cause overeating and acne, especially in the first three months of taking oral contraceptives. Elevated estrogen levels can cause water and sodium retention, and pregnancy hormones that increase weight in the second half of the menstrual cycle can promote anabolism and weight gain. It is worth mentioning that the incidence of weight gain is only about 15%.

5. Facial pigmentation

Some women who take medication for a long time may develop butterfly spots on their cheeks, similar to those seen during pregnancy, which is caused by estrogen causing pigmentation. People who already have pigmentation during pregnancy are prone to developing it after using contraceptive pills, and it is related to sunlight exposure.