The Dangers of Certain Forms of Birth Control

The Dangers of Certain Forms of Birth Control : With the changing economic and social times, more women are choosing to remain pregnancy free until they are fully ready to bring another life into the world. While this is an important decision to make, it is vital to consider exactly what you are putting into your body and the possible effects that the various birth control methods may have. According to research done by an Urban institute study, 31% of women are not aware of the side effects of birth control methods they utilize.

1. The pill

This is the most common form of birth control. It is a pill containing the hormones progestin and estrogen, or progestin only. These pills work by suppressing ovulation and making the cervical mucus thicker; thus making it harder for the sperm to fertilize the egg. Most people use this method but what they do not know is that many women have stopped using the birth control pill because of its negative health effects which include: an increased chance of blood clots, dizziness, changes in cycle and even potentially a heart attack.

2. Diaphragm

A diaphragm, also known as a cervical cap, is a dome shaped piece of silicone that is inserted into the vagina to cover the cervix. This would block the sperm from being able to enter uterus. This method is best used together with a spermicide to kill off the sperm as it nears the cervix. The negative effects after use are reported as irritation, vaginal discharge, and a chance of having an abnormal pap test result.

3. Intrauterine devices (IUDs)

This is a T-shaped device placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy by either releasing copper (a spermicide) or progestin. Both of those chemicals make it much harder for the sperm to fertilize the egg. While it may be one of the most recommended methods, IUDs such as Mirena have been linked to causing intracranial hypertension which can cause brain damage. The effects were so bad that many women who were afflicted came forward to file lawsuits against Mirena, and to urge the FDA to take the drug off of the market. Other more common side effects of an IUD are nausea, breast tenderness, weight fluctuations and localized pain. Some women even complained of their wombs being punctured by a detached IUD.

4. Progestin injections

These are hormones injected directly into the buttocks or arm of the woman every 3 months to prevent ovulation from taking place. Since it prevents the ovulation, most people experience irregular cycles. Potential side effects are that the user will experience spotting between periods, sore breasts, weight gain, and an increase in headaches.

5. Skin patch

This is a patch that is worm on the skin of the upper body, lower abdomen or butt except on the week when periods are expected to occur. It releases estrogen and progestin through the skin that prevents ovulation. Most women who have tried this method have reported experiencing spotting in between periods, nausea and other changes in their cycle.

6. Vaginal ring

Women use this by placing a ring that releases progestin and estrogen inside the vagina. It is worn for 3 weeks and then removed in the 4th week during periods. This method is promoted as being 99% effective. Some common side effects include irritation, vaginal discharge and even swelling around and inside vagina.

There are numerous options a woman can use when picking a birth control option. With a large variety of products, if one method is not working, there are always other options. A woman should always make sure she consults a doctor before settling for a birth control method in order for her to know: the side effects, interactions with current medication, effectiveness, and any other important details about that form of contraception.

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