On Tiktok and Instagram, Stories Circulate About The Harmful Effects of the Contraceptive Pill. For Example, It Could Cause Breast Cancer and a Decreased Libido. But how much of that is true?
“Some side effects that I read on social media can Indeed occur,” Says Ineke van der Vlugt, Program Manager for Contraception and Abortion at Expertise Center for Sexuality Rutgers. “The Chance of a Side Effect DEPENDS On The Person and The Type of Pill. Not Everyone Suffers From It Equally.”
Everyone Reacts Differently to Hormones, Van der Vlugt Says. Every Body Works Differently, which can mean that you suffer more from side effects than your sister or girlfriend. And a side effect notesn’t necessarily have to be harpul to your health.
If you use hormonal contraception, your body of needs to get used to it first. Some Women Still Suffer From It After Three Months. Suppose this is the case, then it is good to know that there are different types of contraceptive pills, Says van der Vlugt.
“Every Pill has a differentent composition and dosage of hormones,” she knows. For Example, there are Combination Pills with both Estrogen and progestogen. But you can also choose to take the so-called mini-pill. IT only contains progestogen.
Talk to Your Doctor If You Have Prolonged Side Effects
It is not that you get extra of these hormones when you take the pill. Your own Hormone Production is inhibited, so that your hormone level remains constant, without peaks and valleys.
Depding on how sensitive you are to it, you may (temporarily) suffer from it. If you Notice That You Continue To Suffer From Side Effects For A Longer Period of Time, Van Der Vlugt Recommends Talking to Your Doctor About It And Looking At A Pill With A Different Composition.
Not Much is Yet Known About the Psychological Effects of the Pill. Most studies on this are of low quality or show no direct relationship relationship between the pill and, for example, depression. The Dutch College of General Practitioners also says that there is no evidence for this.
Your Body May Need To Get Used To The Hormones In The Pill
However, there is research that shows that adolescents who suffer from hormonal fluctuations due to, for example, puberty, may suffer (even) more from gloomy feelings by Taking the pill. The Doctor must be alert to this, van der Vlugt Believe.
The Claim That The Pill is not good for your libido seems to be partially correct. If your body needs to get used to the hormones in the pill, you may temporarily have less desire for sex. These hormones Ensure That Less Testosterone is produced. And Testosterone is needed to feel sexual stimuli.
Rutgers Explains that it Depends on how much testosterone some Produces Whether you Notice Anything from It. “For less than 1 percent of women, less desire for sex is a side effect of the pill, ring or patch,” Says the Expertise Center.
What about the stories That Taking the Contraceptive Pill Can Lead to Breast Cancer? There is no “irrefutable evidence” for this, rutgers says. However, there are also studies that show that as a current user of the combination pill you do indeed have a slightly increased risk. But that chance also Disappears Five years after stopping, these studies show.
Taking the Pill also HAS Advantages
Also, the claim that the pill would make you infertile is incorrect, Says van der Vlugt. “Your fertility cannot be affected by hormones.” Furthermore, it can be read online that the pill would weight gain. That is Possible, but in most cases it is temporary.
The Hormone Estrogen Could Cause You To Have More Appetite Temporarily or That You Retain More Fluid. But that will pass again. There is no evidence that the pill leads to permanent weight gain.
Van der Vlugt also Wants to Emphasize The Benefits of the Contraceptive Pill. “Such as the Possibility to Continue Taking the Pill, So That You Can Skip Your Period, For Example, Duration A Vacation Or Exams. And The Pill Can Help Against Skin Probles or Reduce Menstrual Pain.”
Accordance to the expert, we should not forget that the pill is still the most used contraceptive. Many Women Take the Pill Daily and Are Satisfied With It. “I think it is good that women are more of their bodies and are critical of hormones, but then sure you are well informed. Not every method is Suitable for Every Woman.”