Side Effects

Most women (about 80%) experience no side effects while taking BCPs.

The rest experience generally minor side-effects during the first month of BCPs. These side-effects might include breast tenderness, nausea, spotting or headaches, and generally disappear after the first month. If they persist, changing to a different pill, from a different manufacturer, with different hormonal content, will usually eliminate the problem.

Occasionally, several pills will need to be tried before the best (least side effect for that individual person) is found. Very rarely, no satisfactory BCP can be found and those women will need to make a judgment whether they would rather continue the BCPs (with the side effect but with the BCP benefits) or to use an alternative method of contraception.

Frequently, the reason for the side effect is because of the particular pill not being strong enough (progestin) to consistently suppress ovarian function. Among these women, they not only have all of their normal ovarian estrogen, but the additional pill estrogen, leading to bloating, nausea, breast tenderness, heavier periods and mood changes. Changing her prescription to a more potent, longer-acting progestin, such as levonorgestrel, will generally lead to effective ovarian suppression, and elimination of the excess estrogen side effects.

Specific Side Effects:

• Breast Tenderness
• Nausea
• Weight Gain
• Headaches
• Mood Changes or Depression
• Vaginal Dryness
• Decreased Libido (Diminished Sex-Drive)
• Painful Menstrual Cramps
• No Period
• Very Light Periods
• Spotting
• Period at the Wrong Time