Is there really a long-term effect of KB pills? & bull; hello healthy

Although the birth control pill is chosen by many women to prevent pregnancy, this contraceptive has a risk of side effects. The side effect of using birth control pills that is of great concern is the long-term use of birth control pills. What are the long-term effects of taking birth control pills that women should pay attention to?

Long-term effects of birth control pills

Since birth control pills are hormonal contraceptives taken orally, you will certainly experience changes in hormone levels in your body. This is what makes many people feel the side effects of using birth control pills both in the short and long term, although that does not mean that it will be experienced by everyone.

Generally, short-term side effects don't last long and go away on their own, once the body starts to adapt. Some of the short-term side effects that arise include nausea after taking birth control pills, bleeding that occurs outside the time of menstruation, headaches, breast tenderness, acne, mood swings, and weight gain after taking birth control pills.

Meanwhile, there are several conditions that are thought to be long-term side effects of using birth control pills. Anything? Check out the explanation below.

1. Decreased sexual desire

In 2006, a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine concluded that one of the long-term side effects of taking birth control pills can be a decrease in women's sexual arousal.

In particular, the study found a decrease in sexual desire and arousal and reduced vaginal lubrication in 124 women taking long-term birth control pills.

These women also reported a decreased sense of satisfaction during sex, and intercourse became more painful because birth control pills can be a cause of vaginal dryness.

2. Thyroid problems

One of the long-term effects of taking birth control pills is a thyroid problem. Thyroid dysfunction can be caused by high levels of estrogen in the body as a long-term effect of taking birth control pills. High levels of estrogen cause the liver to overproduce globulin.

Globulin works to bind to the thyroid hormone in the blood so that it cannot enter the cells. This decreases the amount of thyroid hormone in the body. In fact, the thyroid is needed to carry out the body's metabolic functions and burn fat and sugar. Symptoms of thyroid problems include a lack of energy and fatigue.

3. Risk of cancer

Although the use of birth control pills is said to reduce the risk of endometrial, ovarian, and colorectal cancer, there is an increased risk of cancer as a long-term effect of birth control pills, especially for breast cancer and cervical cancer.

This happens because the synthetic hormones found in birth control pills, namely progestins and estrogens, have the potential to stimulate the growth of cancer cells in the body.

Women who are 45 and over have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, if they take long-term birth control pills. It is known that some types of cancer, namely breast cancer, are caused by the buildup of the hormone estrogen.

So when you take birth control pills with synthetic (artificial) estrogen content for a long time, the higher the risk of developing breast cancer. However, this cancer risk can disappear after you stop taking birth control pills for about 10 years.

4. Blood clots

Another long-term risk you may experience from taking birth control pills is blood clots. This is thought to occur because oral contraceptives containing these two reproductive hormones can increase the risk of blood clots in people who use them.

The problem is, blood clots can increase the risk of various serious diseases such as strokes and heart attacks. If you have a habit of smoking while taking birth control pills, the higher the chance that you will experience blood clots as a long-term side effect of their use.

5. Migraine

In fact, it would be more correct to say if migraine sufferers should avoid taking birth control pills, it will aggravate the migraine condition itself as a long-term side effect of its use. The reason is, the combination of migraine and birth control pills is not the right combination.

Even so, not everyone who suffers from migraines will experience an increase in the pain they experience after taking birth control pills. Plus, if your migraine is related to your menstrual period, taking birth control pills is actually thought to reduce the pain you experience.

6. Nutritional deficiencies

Did you know that one of the long-term side effects you may experience is nutritional deficiencies? Yes, it is suspected that when you take birth control pills, the levels and intake of vitamin C, and several types of B vitamins, such as B12, B6, folate, and several types of minerals such as magnesium, selenium, and zinc will decrease.

If the levels of these vitamins and minerals decrease in your body, you will be susceptible to mood swings. This means that you may experience drastic mood swings in a short time. Not only that, you can also experience extreme fatigue, headaches, and various other health conditions.

If you still want to use this contraceptive pill, you may have to start paying attention to how to overcome this nutritional deficiency by eating foods rich in vitamins and minerals. This must be done to support the use of birth control pills and your own health.

7. Inflammation of the body

One other long-term side effect of taking birth control pills that you may also experience is inflammation. Meanwhile, inflammation in the body can affect your health condition, and if it persists, you may experience other health problems, including some types of cancer or arthritis.

To fix this, you can use turmeric tea and get enough sleep can help reduce inflammation. You can also consult your doctor to find out how to avoid inflammation or inflammation while you are still using birth control pills to prevent pregnancy.

Do the long-term effects of birth control pills make it difficult to get pregnant?

To date, there is no evidence that long-term use of birth control pills can cause problems with fertility or make it difficult to get pregnant. However, some women experience the side effects of minor disruptions to their menstrual cycles after stopping using birth control pills.

However, it is usually caused by another problem (which is not really known for sure) that is completely unrelated to the pill. For example, being underweight or under severe stress.

In fact, using birth control pills can prevent you from diseases such as ovarian cancer and uterine cancer, which can lead to infertility. Researchers have shown that long-term use of the pill can improve symptoms of endometriosis. Ofendometriosis is a condition that can cause abnormal bleeding during menstruation and lead to infertility.

Birth control pills have also been shown to reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy, which is a condition when a fertilized egg attaches outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. Unfortunately, this ectopic pregnancy does not lead to a successful birth.

Some doctors recommend that you try to get pregnant as soon as you stop using birth control pills. However, it's a good idea to wait until you get your first period (usually 4-6 weeks after stopping the pill). The reason is, with this you will find out whether you are ovulating.

If you haven't had your period after two months of stopping the pill, contact your doctor for other possible problems you need to know more about. However, if you get pregnant right away after you stop using hormonal contraceptives, you don't need to worry. Remember to always discuss this with your doctor before stopping using hormonal contraceptives.

How can you avoid the long-term effects of birth control pills?

You can take birth control pills as long as you need contraception or until you reach menopause. With a note, your condition is generally healthy without any medical conditions.

This applies to the use of combination birth control pills or birth control pills with estrogen or progestin hormones alone. It's a good idea to schedule regular follow-up with your doctor to monitor how your body responds to long-term use of birth control pills.

Birth control pills are not recommended for certain women. For example, if you are a smoker or if you are over 35 years of age.

You are also not recommended to use birth control pills, especially long-term, if you have certain medical conditions to avoid side effects. For example, medical conditions such as blood clotting disorders or having uncontrolled high blood pressure.

We recommend that you consult a doctor to avoid the effects of birth control pills, both short and long term. You can get information about the right contraceptive for your condition.