Are Birth Control Pills Safe to Use Long-Term?

Birth control pills are among the most popular forms of female birth control available today. These tiny pills are a big part of many women's daily routines worldwide. They provide a simple yet effective way to control the menstrual cycle and prevent unwanted pregnancy. This feat of modern medicine can also be used to reduce the symptoms of certain conditions such as endometriosis, by putting the body on a strict dosage of hormones. Because of these clear positive benefits, many women are being prescribed birth control at a young age. This presents a concern for the generation of women who will consistently use birth control pills for the majority of their young adult lives. Are there any long-term side effects of birth control pills? 


In a popular news article, “Does Birth Control Have Long-Term Side Effects?”, author Angelica Bottaro lays out the negatives and positives of taking birth control pills (Bottaro, 2023). The first nuance addressed by Bottaro is the different kinds of birth control pills. The two pills mentioned, combination oral contraceptives and the progestin-only pill, have their own unique risk factors. This is important to consider when evaluating the safety of birth control pills. The first negative factor associated with birth control pills addressed by Bottaro is a heightened risk of developing blood clots. This risk cannot be ignored, as serious blood clots “can be life-threatening if they travel through the bloodstream and into the brain, lungs, and heart” (Bottaro, 2023). The next negative effect is a slightly heightened risk of stroke or heart attack. This factor seems to be linked to the dosage of estrogen in the pills, and its severity depends on which pill is being used. Next, Bottaro points out some concerning new studies that link birth control pills to breast cancer risk. These studies are not definitive yet, and “newer studies suggest the link between hormonal contraceptive use and breast cancer may actually depend on the tumor subtype” (Bottaro, 2023). Despite this increased breast cancer risk, Bottaro balances this with the fact that the use of oral contraceptives may reduce your risk of ovarian or uterine cancer. There may be as high as a “50% reduction of ovarian cancer risk with oral contraceptives” (Bottaro, 2023).  Bottaro also mentions the positive benefits birth control can have on symptoms of endometriosis and PCOS, and provide overall improved sexual function for those affected by these ailments. Bottaro also assures that long-term birth control pill usage has not been linked to infertility. 


Overall, the use of birth control pills is a choice that needs to be made individually, after considering all the risks and benefits. This article provided some of the important facts to be aware of, but each patient’s risks will depend on their medical history and general health. While there are some serious risks to consider, this article dispelled any worries about long-term birth control use and infertility. It is important that the new generation of young women are educated about these risks, and know the facts about which contraceptive method is best for them. Articles like this serve to foster education and empower women to make informed decisions about their health. 


Posted by Anya Quaglietta (2)

Bottaro, A. (2023, June 28). What are the effects of long-term birth control? Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/long-term-birth-control-methods-and-effects-5207499 

Comments

  1. Donna RossOctober 4, 2023 at 5:16 PM

    Hi Anya! This has been a question at the top of my head ever since I started taking birth control many years ago. The fact that something so normalized and regular is linked to giving women a higher risk of developing blood clots, a higher risk of stroke or heart attack, and an increased risk of breast cancer is actually crazy. I feel like with the advanced medicine and technology we possess nowadays, we should be able to create a birth control that is safer than this. I also know the birth control options for men consist of condoms or vasectomies, but I wonder if there is anything being worked on that maybe is similar to "the pill" that women take.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousOctober 5, 2023 at 7:39 AM

    Hi Donna! I really appreciate your feedback. It is definitely shocking that such a common medication has such extreme risks. I feel that women’s health is a topic that is often neglected and that may be part of the reason why a safer contraceptive pill hasn’t been developed. Hopefully there will be new innovations in the future! Your ideas for a male version of “the pill” are really interesting. Maybe one day we will see that happen! Thanks.

    -Anya Quaglietta

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousOctober 5, 2023 at 8:36 AM

    Hi Anya!
    I found your blog post on the safety of birth control pills to be both informative and balanced. I really like how you acknowledge the clear positive benefits of birth control pills, such as controlling the menstrual cycle and preventing unwanted pregnancy, but also highlight the potential risks associated with long-term use. The discussion on the different types of birth control pills and their unique risk factors was helpful in understanding the nuances of this topic. The mention of the heightened risk of blood clots and stroke or heart attack, depending on the dosage of estrogen in the pills, was particularly concerning and interesting. I am wondering how the benefits outweigh the risks for women diagnosed with PCOS and taking birth control pills. Women with PCOS are more likely to develop conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems and problems with blood vessels, and endometrial cancer. I found it interesting that newer studies are still exploring the link between birth control pills and breast cancer risk, and that the use of oral contraceptives may actually reduce the risk of ovarian or uterine cancer. I was also wondering how certain birth control pills can pose a greater risk than others.
    -Carla Botros

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousOctober 5, 2023 at 10:24 AM

    Hi Anya! I appreciate you outlining both the negative and positive effects of taking birth control. Sometimes it feels like these kinds of women's health issues are swept under the rug and we are forced to settle for something that isn't up to par because it is what is available, so it was nice to see some positives. I wonder if some of these effects also translate to the Nexplanon or the shot taken every 3 months. I'm also curious, it kind of ties into what Donna had commented about male birth control, if some of the negative effects stem from the fact most medications have been developed using male biology in mind and if because we are still learning about women's hormones and how medications interact in a female body, we cannot make a more ideal birth control.
    Alexis Carson

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousOctober 5, 2023 at 2:55 PM

      Hi Alexis! I am glad you found this topic interesting. I appreciated your feedback on including the positives and negatives of the birth control pill. It is a balancing act to consider all the effects and then make the right decision for yourself. I do not know much about the birth control shot, but I would like to do more research on that in the future. I also really liked your point about modern medicine being based off of male biology. This really gave me a new perspective on the topic. Thanks!

      -Anya Quaglietta

      Delete
  5. AnonymousOctober 5, 2023 at 11:03 AM

    Hi Anya! I'm so glad you chose this topic for your post this week. This is a topic that is rarely talked about but is so prevalent in many of our lives. I have been on birth control for many years and I can confirm there has to be more education and awareness being spread about the negative side effects and long term health risks it has. And I also second Donna's idea of male contraceptives/ new birth control forms, it goes both ways :)
    - Chloe Springer

    ReplyDelete
  6. Madeline GouldOctober 5, 2023 at 11:10 AM

    Hi! This is very informative and interesting. Birth control is something that many people I know use, and it's important to know the potential factors that come with it. Many people just know the basics, so even if the risks are just slight, it is still important to know what the possible effects could be. I also found it interesting that for some people it could provide negative effects, yet people suffering from endometriosis or PCOS can be benefitted from birth control. Also how you mentioned in the beginning how there are multiple kinds of birth control is also something I have thought about, like is one better than the rest in terms of not providing harmful potential side effects?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousOctober 5, 2023 at 3:00 PM

      Hi Madeline! The effects of birth control pills are definitely not emphasized enough, even to those who use them. It is shocking how little some people know about what they are taking every day! Education is the key to empowering women to be in control of their health. This article did not go in-depth into the specific effects of each type of birth control, but I believe that different hormone levels have different risk levels. I would like to do further research on that! Thanks for your feedback.

      -Anya Quaglietta

      Delete
  7. Haley SampsonOctober 9, 2023 at 7:08 PM

    Anya, I think this post definitely brought light to this topic and to those who are not well educated about women's healths concepts such as birth control! I think it is super important as women to understand the risks and rewards of taking these contraceptives and pumping these hormones through our bodies from very young ages. I am definitely skeptical of the long term effects of birth control, but I do know that it is life-changing/saving for some people who suffer from PCOS and endometriosis, as both of those conditions can cause major dysregulation of menstrual cycles, pain, and other alarming effects to the body. I think it is super important for more people to learn about this!

    ReplyDelete

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