Let's Talk About: Birth Control Side Effects
This week we’re going to discuss some of the nastier side effects of birth control, and what to do if you experience them.
I had intended to write about sexual assault of men this week, but for a variety of reasons, that article is not ready. Mostly because finding reliable data is much more difficult than I had anticipated. Something that I will go into in greater detail when I publish that article.
Back in February I wrote an overview of Birth Control options. A little bit about what each one is and some of the benefits and drawbacks. Birth control saves lives. It can treat a variety of conditions and prevent pregnancy, ensuring that people are ready to care for their children before having them. No form of birth control is 100% effective, however most failings are due to human error rather than the medication or device used.
One of the major downsides to birth control is that most forms have some form of side effect which can range from annoying to devastating to deadly. This is why you should absolutely always talk about your birth control options with your doctor.
The most popular form of birthcontrol remains hormonal birth control. The pill remains the most popular, with a large number of different variations on the market that have single hormone, combination hormones, and different levels. In addition to the daily birth control pill there’s the birth control ring brand name Nuva Ring, the Depo Provera shot, and the Implanon birth control implant. The pill has to be taken daily, at the same time, every day. For some people the routine of taking their pill at the same time every day is comforting. Gives them a sense of control over their reproductive health. For other people it’s a struggle so they favor the less daily birth control methods.
Side effects for hormonal birth control are fairly consistent across the board. Remember, every person’s body is different, and every form of birth control and formulation of birth control pill is different, so two people may have radically different reactions to the same medication. Hormonal birth control works by tricking the body into either not ovulating or by creating an environment in which it is next to impossible for the sperm to find the egg or where a fertilized egg can not implant or some combination of the above.
Common side effects include: Changes in sex drive (usually reduction), nausea, lighter periods (yay), weight gain, sore breasts, less acne (yay), headaches, and spotting between periods. Less common but more severe side effects are: changes in mood such as worsening anxiety and depression, higher risk for blood clots, higher blood pressure. People who have clotting disorders should not take hormonal birth control! These side effects are why people who are taking birth control should be under the care of a medical professional.
Most side effects should clear up within a few months of switching to a new form of birth control, or starting it for the first time. There’s often an adjustment period. However, if the symptoms are a problem or interfering with your ability to live your life always talk to your doctor about it! It’s also worth noting that higher dose birth control options, higher dose pills or the depo provera shot are falling out of favor, due to their intense side effects. Many people are opting for longer release lower dose methods such as the Nuva ring or the implanon. What’s cool about those options is that you don’t have to think about it every day.
IUDs (IntraUterine Devices) are gaining in popularity, especially internationally. There are two main varieties, hormonal and copper. The hormonal IUDs last 3-5 years and the copper IUD can last up to 10! They’re convenient because they just need inserted once and then you’re good to go. With all IUDs there’s a risk of perforation, which is the IUD piercing the wall of the uterus. This almost always happens during insertion and is very rare. Expulsion is more common, though still rare. It usually happens during the first few months, and it’s not damaging, although after an IUD has been expelled it is, obviously, not an effective birth control method. Check the strings once a month, if you can’t feel them, be sure to check with your doctor. Sometimes it can be because of expulsion, sometimes it can just be because the strings have shifted.
Of course, like everything else, there are side effects. The hormonal IUDs (mirena is the most popular) can have any of the same side effects as other hormonal birth control, but instead of just making your period lighter, they can actually make your period go away all together. There is some connection between Mirena use and benign ovarian cysts. For most people these go away on their own with no trouble, but if you have trouble with them it’s worth bringing up to your doctor.
Copper IUDs can be a really good alternative for people who want long term reversible birth control but can’t tolerate hormones. The copper IUD does not have the same side effects as hormonal birth control, because it doesn’t have hormones. It works very differently. Copper is poisonous to sperm, and it causes the uterus to produce a fluid that kills the sperm. It also creates a thicker cervical mucus so that the sperm can’t even enter the uterus. So it shuts the door, and if they sneak in, it kills them. Unfortunately, it can cause heavier periods and worse cramping. For most people this goes away in 3-6 months and they return to normal. But for others the side effects can be extreme, leading to anemia.
This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I recently had a really bad experience with the Paraguard IUD. And I’d like to share it with you. I don’t generally like to share my personal experiences on this blog but I’d like to today. A word of warning, this is only my experience and I am not a doctor.
Although I was ready to love it the way a number of women I know love theirs, unfortunately that was not to be the case. I had some cramping and spotting right after insertion. The insertion was uncomfortable, I’m not a fan of pelvic exams, and this was like a pelvic exam on steroids. However, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I had feared. I had some cramping for about two days, like bad period cramps. But taking it easy for a couple days was more than sufficient.
The first few periods with it were heavy, surprisingly so. To the point where I struggled just to keep up with the flow. I found myself bleeding through a super plus tampon in a matter of an hour or less. There was little I could do to manage it. And the cramps were devastating. Prior to the paraguard my period was an inconvenience. It was unpleasant and left me feeling run down for a few days, but that was about it. This was a whole thing. In between my periods I had bleeding, more than spotting but not as heavy as my periods had become. I was lucky if I had a week at a time without bleeding. It became so bad that I was woozy, and exhausted all the time. I had hot flashes, fainted a few times. After 8 months, the symptoms were getting worse. I finally went to my ObGyn and told them about my issues. They removed my paraguard, it was quick and easy and I barely felt it. I’m looking forward to recovering.
My reason for sharing this is that I want to drive home the point that your birth control should never negatively affect your life. Birth control can be an amazing tool for taking control of one’s fertility, it should never be a burden on your life. If you are having problems with it, or if you just feel like something is wrong, please talk with your doctor.
Until next week, stay safe. You are worth protecting.
-Erin
My overview on birth control:
For more information on birth control options: