Estrogen and Progestin in Birth Control Pills

There are no age restrictions for birth control; once a girl begins her menstrual cycle she is then eligible to use contraceptives. Consequently, such long term use increases the risk of one or more of the various side effects caused by birth control to occur. Side effects range from minor to severe symptoms. Minor symptoms include nausea, vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, weight gain, etcetera and severe symptoms include the possibility of developing liver tumors, liver cancer, and breast cancer, partial or complete loss of vision, coughing up blood, crushing chest pain and etcetera. For those who smoke cigarettes, they have a greater chance of developing the more severe side effects, specifically blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks. As reported by The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, “some studies show that women who take oral contraceptives that contain drosperinone (Beyaz, Gianvi, Loryna, Ocella, Safyral, Syeda, Yasmin, Yaz, and Zarah) may be more likely to develop deep vein thrombosis (a serious or life-threatening condition in which blood clots that form in the veins, usually in the legs and may move through the body to the lungs) than women who take oral contraceptives that do not contain drosperinone” (Estrogen and Progestin 1). Not all birth control contains drosperinone but most, if not all contraceptives contain estrogen and progestin. These hormones are produced by the female body, but when placed together they impede the ovulating process which ultimately prevents pregnancy. Although pregnancy prevention is birth control’s central purpose, it is not taken for that reason alone.

An ample amount of women uses birth control for noncontraceptive purposes. Rachel K. Jones, author of Beyond Birth...

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...e body that birth control causes. There are several pregnancy prevention alternatives such as; the male and female condom, vaginal spermicides, cervical caps, Lea’s shield, etcetera. Each of these alternatives is non-hormonal. Non hormonal contraceptives put a barrier between the egg and sperm to prevent pregnancy. When used properly these alternatives can be equally or more effective as the birth control pill and without all the side effects. Whether one decides to do hormonal contraception or non-hormonal contraception, always consult with a professional to pick what is best for the circumstance.

Works Cited

"Estrogen and Progestin (Oral Contraceptives): MedlinePlus Drug Information." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 July 2012. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. .