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Four Great Side Benefits of Taking an Oral Contraceptive

Oral contraceptives are a great invention. Woman that do want to have intercourse but not have the consequences of getting pregnant have a choice since oral contraceptives are around. Of course, there are other contraceptive methods that are a lot older than the oral one, but it is an added safety factor to use more than one contraceptive method. Besides the obvious factor of pregnancy prevention, there are also other side benefits when taking an oral contraceptive.

One great side benefit of taking oral contraceptives is its effects on PMS and premenstrual related symptoms. Hormones in the contraceptives actually change the hormone levels in a woman’s body. These hormo9nes have effects on many premenstrual symptoms, such as headaches, belly aches, cramps and more. The positive side effect of these oral contraceptives is so great that in some cases gynecologists actually recommend to start young girls on the pill long before they ever get sexually active. At the start of their menstrual periods, some young girls experience excessive cramps, headaches and other pains that go along with the start of their period. One way to help these young girls is to start them on contraceptives.

Another great side benefit of contraceptives is their effect on acne. Oral contraceptives reduce the amount of androgens found in the female body. Androgen is strongly connected to the formation of acne and its reduction will improve acne of several months of taking oral contraceptives. Several studies have found improvement of acne in young women after about 6 months of usage. As a matter of fact, after those studies related to acne and contraceptives were released to the US market, the sales of several of the contraceptive products tripled and some manufacturers actually requested from the FDA that their product should be allowed to be sold as an acne treatment. The FDA admitted several contraceptives as an acne treatment.

Some of the oral contraceptives are used as a treatment for benign breast cysts. Benign breast cysts are cysts and knots in the female breast that are not cancerous. The usage of oral contraceptives reduces the appearance and also helps treating these as well as other cysts.

Often times there are woman that have a very irregular cycle or a very heavy bleeding during these cycles. Oral contraceptives can be used as a treatment for these irregular cycles. Oral contraceptives help regulate the menstrual cycles and are a great relief for women with abnormal bleeding during their period.

Did you also know that oral contraceptives help in prevention of ovarian and endometrial cancer? Studies have shown that women taking oral contraceptives are 50 percent less likely to get these cancers versus women that are not taking oral contraceptives. But on the other hand, there is a slight risk related to oral contraceptives and breast cancer. Some studies show that prolonged usage of oral contraceptives, more than five years, can lead to a higher risk for breast cancer.

All of these great side effects of the oral contraceptive can be used to a woman’s advantage and many more are being studied or have already been released. For some women, for example, it is a great benefit that some of the newer drugs on the market will eliminate the monthly bleeding and therefore reduce the amount of sanitary pads or tampons needed—not to mention all the mess that sometimes goes along with the bleeding.

Whether you want to start taking the pill for any of the above benefits or for pregnancy prevention, you need to see your gynecologist or physician first. All oral contraceptives are only available by prescription and a physician needs to advice you on which one will work best for you.