With the festive spirit upon us, men and women everywhere might be more willing to loosen up and hook up with people they might not consider any other time of the year. While this could mean a lot of fun and living in the moment, precautions against unexpected January surprises such as pregnancy need to be taken.
If you are contemplating the birth control pill, here are some things you may need to know about it first.
What’s in the pill and how does it work?
The pill contains a combination of synthetic versions of the female hormones progestogen and oestrogen. These hormones stop your body from releasing luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH, which are important for preparing your body for pregnancy. Progestogen also works by thickening the mucus that surrounds a released egg so that sperm cells have a difficult time penetrating the egg. For some women, progestogen will stop their bodies from releasing any egg at all.
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Weight gain
This really depends on the type of prescription you get. The combination of progestogen and oestrogen can cause your body to retain water and fluids a bit more than usual. Therefore, the possible weight that you gain while on the pill is usually water weight and should subside a few weeks after you start taking it. Some dosages of progestogen can also increase appetite.
Low sex drive
Some of the hormones that the birth control pill suppresses include testosterone, which helps with the pleasure you feel during intercourse. However, other side effects such as weight gain can also affect your sex drive.
Spotting
You may experience spotting at random times while on the pill. This is normal and is usually a result of the thinning of the uterus wall. Taking the pill at the same time every day can help reduce this. This side effect can also mean lighter periods. However, side effects will differ according to the type of pill and dosage that you are taking.
Mood swings
Due to the fact that birth control pills use synthetic hormones to control and manipulate a hormone-driven bodily function, your mood can also be affected from time to time. Mood swings occur as your body tries to adjust to the new changes introduced by the pill. This should go away after about a few months of taking the pill.
PRECAUTIONS
Keep in mind that birth control only decreases the chances of getting pregnant (they do not prevent sexually transmitted diseases). The pills are known to be 99% effective, meaning that 1 in 100 women could possibly fall pregnant while using them. Be sure to follow the instructions on the leaflet inside the box, and don’t go on the pill if you’re not likely to remember taking it on a regular basis as even missing one pill can lead to unexpected pregnancy.
Source: www.doctoroz.com
