New News about Oral Contraceptives: Health Benefits
Oral contraceptives ([OCs], "the pill") are tablets containing specific amounts of artificial
estrogen and progesterone (progestin), 2 female hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle.
Original preparations of "the pill," first introduced 40 years ago, contained high doses of
estrogen andprogestin. While effective at preventing pregnancy, these early OCs often caused
annoying side effects, including breast swelling and tenderness, upset stomach,
and weight gain. Today, low-dose versions of "the pill" (such as Alesse,® Loestrin 1/20,®
Mircette®) are just as effective as early OCs, but have a low occurrence rate of
annoying side effects.
Benefits of OCs
OCs are used for reasons in addition to contraception. The new low-dose pills offer many
other health benefits, including:
- Better regulated periods, with lighter flow and less cramping.
- Clearer complexion. Most women find that their acne (also called "zits" or "breaking out") improves when they take "the pill". The overall hormonal effect of "the pill" helps prevent acne from forming. (For more information on OCs and acne, visit www.teenhealthtalk.com).
- Little or no weight gain. Your body weight depends more on the balance between the number of calories you eat and burn up than on the hormones contained in low-dose OCs.
- Maintenance of bone mass, for protection against osteoporosis (very important as you get older).
- Possible reduction in risk for ovarian cysts and ectopic ("tubal") pregnancy.
How OCs Work
When you take "the pill," the:
- Estrogen and progestin stop the ovary from releasing an egg.
- Progestin thickens the cervical mucous so that sperm cannot pass through the cervix.
- The progestin also prevents the lining of the uterus from becoming thick, so an egg is less likely to become implanted.
Pregnancy Protection
You can become pregnant even before your first menstrual cycle (for most girls, this
occurs between 11 and 14 years old.) So, if you choose to become sexually active,
to avoid getting pregnant, contraception is really important beginning with the first
time you have intercourse.
If you want to avoid getting pregnant, OCs are one of the most effective contraceptive
choices (more so than a condom, diaphragm, or spermicide). In fact, when taken as
directed, "the pill" is 99% effective.
Keep in mind that OCs do not protect you against acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or other sexually transmitted diseases
such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. So, if you are sexually active, your partner
should always use a condom (this is known as "safe sex.")
Low-Dose OCs: Brand Name vs Generic
If you've been in a grocery store recently, you've seen that most brand-name products
are sitting on the shelf next to a "generic" ("no-frills" or store brand), lower-cost
version of the product. The same is true at the drug store. In fact, all 50 of the United
States either permit or require the pharmacist to substitute a generic for a brand-name
drug when possible.
You might be wondering
- What's the difference between brand-name and generic OCs?
- Do generic and brand-name OCs work the same way?
The answers are not as simple as you might think. To get approval from the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA), all generic drugs must contain the same active ingredients
as the brand-name versions, and they must be absorbed by your body to the same extent.
A difference is that generic drugs often have different 'inert' ingredients (additives
like color, flavor, binders, etc) than their brand-name cousins, which may alter
effectiveness.
Is "The Pill" Right for You?
This is an important decision that you should make with your health care
practitioner. Even if you are not sexually active, you may want the benefit
of more regular, predictable periods, lighter menstrual flow, or a clearer
complexion.
You should not take "the pill" if:
- You might be or definitely are pregnant
- You have current or past history of liver tumor.
- You have unexplained vaginal bleeding (taking an OC could mask a more serious underlying disease).
- You have had a history of heart attack or stroke
- You have had chest pain (angina pectoris)
- You have had blood clots in the legs, lungs, or eyes
- You have had blood clots in the deep veins of your legs
- You have known or suspected breast cancer or cancer of the lining of the uterus, cervix or vagina
- Yellowing of the whites of the eyes or of the skin during pregnancy or previous use of the pill
- You think you will have trouble remembering to take "the pill" every day; preferably, at the same time.
Women who use the pill should not smoke because smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from OC use.
It can take up to 3 months for your body to adjust to OCs. During this time, you may
see some spotting or bleeding. It's a good idea to keep some sanitary protection with
you, "just in case." If the bleeding doesn't stop after a few days, talk with your doctor.
If you are sexually active, you should use another method of contraception (remember,
condoms can help prevent transmission of sexual diseases) for the first month while
your body is adjusting to "the pill." If you miss a dose, you should follow the
instructions that come with every package of pills.
Certain medications-antibiotics (tetracycline, penicillins), barbiturates, and some
epilepsy drugs- may make "the pill" less effective, so you will need to use another
method of contraception. If you have diabetes, your doctor should monitor your glucose levels.
Always talk with your health care practitioner about any serious personal or family
illnesses before considering an OC. A family history of breast or uterine cancer,
for example, may factor into the decision of whether "the pill" is right for you.
For More Information
For more information about the new low-dose OCs and the health benefits that
they offer, consult the following sources:
Healthology
Web site: www.healthology.com
National Women's Health Resource Center, Inc.
Web site: www.healthywoman.org
National Women's Health Information Center
Web site: www.4woman.gov
JAMA Women's Health Contraception Information Center
Web site:
www.ama-assn.org/special/contra/support/resource/resource.htm
Or, you can e-mail questions to the Aware Foundation at info@awarefoundation.org.