Why You Shouldn’t Pop Birth Control Pills Without Checking With Your Doctor First

January 26, 2015

Birth control pills are of two different types—progestin-only pills and combination pills.

A progestin-only pill does not contain estrogen. Instead, as the name suggests, it contains only progestin. It is mostly used by women who are nursing their babies, are at risk of blood clots or have certain health or medical conditions that require them to stay away from estrogen.

A combination pill contains both estrogen and progestin hormones and is the most common type of birth control pill. In addition to preventing pregnancy, it can also help in easing your periods by making them less painful and more regular, lower your acne breakouts, lower your risk of ovarian or uterine cancer, and prevent certain pelvic inflammatory diseases.

Before you start taking a pill, however, it is important to check with your doctor. This will help eliminate any health risks that you may have. In certain cases, taking an oral contraceptive pill while you are suffering from a health condition or are on certain medications can have serious side effects. In severe cases, these may also lead to heart attacks, strokes or deep vein thrombosis.

There are various factors that affect how your body will react to an oral contraceptive pill. Some of these factors are:

Your cholesterol levels (your doctor will check for hypercholesterolemia)
Diabetes (your doctor will check whether you have or are at risk of developing diabetes)
Your blood pressure
Your weight
Smoking
Your doctor will check if you have a family history of thrombosis. Your doctor may also check for other family health history records
Your doctor will check if you have varicose veins and may prescribe a different dosage
Taking the pill may cause clotting or deep vein thrombosis
People suffering from Hughes’ syndrome will be asked to stay off the pill
Those suffering from migraine may experience increased intensity and increased chances of a stoke on taking the pill
Age also plays a crucial role

It may look like any other pill, but the oral contraceptive pill can have severe side effects unless taken under proper medical guidance. Make sure you speak to your doctor about it and discuss any health issues you may be having.