Learn what doctors have to say about the safety of skipping your monthly menstruation. These hormones work to prevent pregnancy in three different ways.
First, they work to prevent your ovaries from ovulating , or releasing an egg each month. They also thicken the cervical mucus , which makes it harder for sperm to reach an egg if one is released.
The hormones can thin the uterine lining , too. Birth control pills are over 99 percent effective when used correctly. This means taking the pill at the same time every day. With typical use, the failure rate is about 7 percent. Several different types of birth control pills are available. Some are similar to the pill packs that were first made available in They included 21 days of pills with active hormones and seven placebo or inactive pills. When you take an inactive pill, it allows for bleeding that mimics normal menstruation.
There are also packs that allow for 24 days of active pills and a shorter menstrual-like bleeding period. They can either reduce the number of periods you have or eliminate your period entirely.
In general, women today experience many more menstrual cycles over their lifetime compared to women of previous generations, says Bustillo. There are a few reasons for that, including the following:. According to Lisa Dabney, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , the monthly period that traditional birth control pills allow for may have had more to do with marketing than anything. You may want to consider a birth control option that allows you to shorten or eliminate your monthly period if you have any of the following:.
There are a lot of potential positives for skipping your period, but there are also some downsides. According to Bustillo, regular ovulation and menstruation could increase your risk for diseases such as endometriosis and ovarian cancer.
Breakthrough bleeding can randomly occur. However, it generally only happens within the first few months of starting a no-period birth control regimen. If this does happen, make sure you do the following:. You should talk to your doctor or pharmacist so they can show you which pills are active and which are the placebo pills. Dabney recommends that you allow this to happen once every three to four months. Dabney says some birth control pills have a higher risk of abnormal bleeding than others.
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Top of the page. Topic Overview It is not unusual for women who are taking hormone pills for birth control to have very light periods or no bleeding at all. Credits Current as of: February 11, Top of the page Next Section: Credits. Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention. Stop taking this medication and seek medical attention immediately if any of the following side effects occur:.
Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication. Before you begin taking a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health.
These factors may affect how you should take this medication. Blood clots: This medication may increase the chance of developing blood clots. If you have a history of developing blood clots or of blood clotting problems, you should not take this medication.
If you experience symptoms of a blood clot such as sharp pain and swelling in the calf or upper leg, sudden shortness of breath, crushing chest pain, blurred vision, or difficulty speaking, get immediate medical attention. If you are immobilized e. Blood pressure: If you have high blood pressure, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
You may need to visit your doctor more frequently to have your blood pressure checked while using this medication. Occasionally, high blood pressure may develop with the use of hormonal contraceptives. This may require stopping this medication. Breast cancer: Increasing age and a strong family history of breast cancer are the most significant risk factors in developing breast cancer.
Other risk factors include obesity, not having children, and a late age at the first full-term pregnancy. The identified groups of women that may be at increased risk of developing breast cancer before menopause are long-term users of birth control pills more than 8 years and those who start taking it at an early age. In a few women, the use of birth control pills may speed up the growth of an existing but undiagnosed breast cancer.
If you are taking birth control pills, you should learn breast self-examination. Notify your doctor any time you detect a lump. A yearly clinical breast examination is also recommended because, if a breast cancer should develop, medications that contain estrogen may cause the cancer to grow more quickly.
Cigarette smoking and heart disease: Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious heart disease and death. Birth control pills increase this risk, especially with increasing age. Research data support an upper age limit of 35 years for birth control pill use by women who smoke.
All women are urged not to smoke while taking this medication. Other women who are at high risk for heart disease include those with diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, or a family history of these conditions.
It is unclear whether taking birth control pills increases this risk. For low-risk, non-smoking women of any age, the benefits of using low-dose birth control pills outweigh the possible risks of heart disease. Consequently, birth control pills may be used by these women up to the age of menopause. Depression: Hormones, such as estrogen, have been known to cause changes in mood and symptoms of depression. If you have depression or a history of depression, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
If you experience symptoms of depression such as poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, or notice them in a family member who is taking this medication contact your doctor as soon as possible. Diabetes: Current low-dose birth control pills do not have a large effect on blood glucose control. If you have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes, discuss with your doctor whether any special monitoring is needed.
Eye disorders: Women who are taking birth control pills may experience fluid buildup in the cornea of the eye that may cause visual disturbances and changes in tolerance to rigid i. Soft contact lenses usually do not cause disturbances. If visual changes or alterations in tolerance to contact lenses occur, you may need to stop wearing them. Fibroids: This medication may worsen fibroids, causing sudden enlargement, pain, or tenderness. If you notice these effects, contact your doctor.
Gall bladder disease: This medication can cause gall bladder disease to become worse. If you have gall bladder disease, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Inflammation of the pancreas: A small number of women who take levonorgestrel - ethinyl estradiol experience an increase in triglycerides in the blood. When triglyceride a type of fat levels are allowed to be high for a long period of time, inflammation of the pancreas pancreatitis may develop.
Pancreatitis can quickly become serious and life-threatening. If you develop signs of pancreatitis e. Liver problems: This medication may reduce liver function and can cause liver problems.
If you have active liver disease, decreasing liver function, or liver tumours, you should not take this medication.
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