Advantages and Disadvantages of Birth Control Pills.
Over one hundred million women within the United States use oral contraceptives, also known as birth control pills, to prevent unwanted pregnancies. The birth control pill prevents pregnancy by suppressing ovulation through the combined actions of the hormones estrogen and progestin. A woman takes a pill daily for twenty-one days, and then has a seven-day break from the hormones before a new package is started. The oral contraceptives are one of the most effective prescription drug used to prevent pregnancy and are over ninety-nine percent effective when used properly. The contraceptives come in the form of a pill no larger than you average Aspirin or Tylenol pill. There are many advantages and disadvantages to using the oral contraceptives. Most health care practitioners agree that for a healthy, non-smoking woman, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
The most common advantage of using the birth control pill is that it prevents most pregnancies from occurring. There are also many other advantages to using the pill. The pill can be used for several years and can help give the woman relief from menstrual cramping. A woman who uses the pill has a lower risk of ovarian and uterine cancer. The woman has more regular periods and the period is often lighter and shorter. While using the pill the woman can decrease her chances of developing ovarian cysts and decreases the risk of iron deficiency anemia. Another advantage of the oral contraceptive is the protection against benign cystic breast disease. The usage of oral contraceptives can be discontinued at any time if desired. After a woman has stopped the usage of an oral contraceptive she can become pregnant within two months of the discontinuation of the pill. .
There are also disadvantages to using the oral contraceptive. A woman can develop blood clots. Women who smoke while using the oral contraceptive increase their chances of having a heart attack or stroke.