Pace Paw Print

Media Credit: femcap.com Just some of the forms of birth control available to women.

Birth control was introduced in 1960 when it released onto the market. From the time of its arrival, many questions have been raised. How does it work? What are the side effects? And what effect does it have on the body for short-term or long-term use? Well for those who have not yet found the answers to these questions, here they come.

Oral contraceptives, or birth control, comes in many forms and works in two ways, both of which use hormones. One route is with the use of estrogen and progestin to stop the women's egg development; the other is with the use of only progestin to stop the ovary's monthly cycle and to thicken the cervical wall, blocking the transport of sperm. When used correctly, birth control has less than a one percent failure rate. In the first year of use, statistics show that only five in 1,000 women will become pregnant when using hormonal birth control.

There are forms of birth control that do not contain any hormones. The diaphragm, for example, is a female condom and inserted into the vagina before sex occurs. Other methods that don't contain hormones are the sponge, which blocks sperm from entering the uterus, and spermicide which has similar effects as the sponge.

Short term effects on the body caused by birth control usually occur within the first month and can continue for the entire use of the oral contraceptive. Depending on the birth control form you choose and presenting medical conditions, side effects will vary. Side effects vary from nausea and vomiting, irregular menstruation, breast tenderness, weight gain or loss, mood swings, acne, hair loss or hair growth, and more. Even though birth control can cause acne, some women use it to prevent acne.

Long term side effects tend to be more serious or life threatening and are rarer than short term effects. There is a link between breast cancer and prolonged use of contraceptives. It is still unclear, but it believed that increased estrogen (found in birth control) increases the risk of breast cancer. In addition, one may suffer from clots, vision impairments, heart attacks, and even strokes. Those with severe diabetes may realize that their diabetes is worsening. This is because birth control pills increases glucose levels while decreasing the body's insulin response. In addition the risk of gallbladder disease may increase. Estrogen causes bile (a fluid secreted by the liver) to become oversaturated with cholesterol which can lead to stones in the gallbladder. Researchers have also found that smokers, who use birth control pills, increase their risk of attaining these long term side effects.

One side effect that is a concern for women is how their fertility will be affected once they have discontinued the use of their contraceptive. Research has shown that there is no effect on fertility. On average, women return to fertility about one to two months after discontinuing their use of an oral contraceptive such as the pill. Long-term contraceptives, such as Depo-Vera, usually take longer: any time up to ten months to become fertile again.

Birth control can be used for more than preventing pregnancy. Some women take birth control in order to improve their menstrual cycle. Birth control helps prevent excessive bleeding, provides a regular cycle, and relieves pain and PMS symptoms. Also, birth control pills have been proven to prevent ovarian and uterine cancer. Further studies show that bone density can be improved. However, studies have not shown that birth control reduces the risk of bone fractures. Another benefit of hormonal birth control is protection from ovarian cysts. Chances of acquiring ovarian cysts are reduced to one fifth when hormones are used compared to when hormones are not used.

There are many other uses of birth control besides preventing pregnancy. However it does not protect women and men against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or HIV/AIDS. Women on birth control are more likely to contract a disease, infection, or HIV/AIDS because condoms are rarely used. There is no protection against STDs, STIs, and HIV/AIDS except condoms and still, condoms are not always 100 percent effective. It is important to get tested and have your partner tested if you choose to not use a condom. Birth control is prescribed based on a discussion with your gynecologist. Discussing different options with your health care provider is the best way to ensure that you are receiving the right birth control for your body. Remember, every form of birth control isn't meant to be used on every person. So get as many questions answered to make sure you understand how your body could be affected.

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