The primary role of birth control pills, also known as contraceptives, is to prevent unwanted pregnancies. And they are one of the most effective methods of contraception. However, other than preventing unwanted pregnancies, birth control pills have numerous other health benefits. These include:
1. Regulating the menstrual cycle
This is one of the main benefits of hormonal birth control techniques. They help to balance the fluctuations in hormones throughout the menstrual cycle. By doing so, they regulate the menstrual cycle and provide other benefits like preventing heavy periods.
2. Reducing period cramps
2 out of 3 women complain of having menstrual cramps during, before, and after their periods. Studies have shown that birth control pills help to eliminate the pains. Hormonal birth control pills work in such a way that they prevent ovulation. By doing so, the uterus does not go through contractions during ovulation, which results in painful cramps. They also help to reduce painful periods. For this reason, more than 30% of women take birth control pills to prevent painful cramps and not primarily as a form of contraception.
3. Easing off PMS symptoms
Some prevalent PMS symptoms that women experience include mood swings, a mix of emotions, and a wide range of physical symptoms. Most of these symptoms arise as a result of fluctuations in hormones during the cycle. As mentioned earlier, a contraceptive pill can help to regulate hormonal balance during the whole menstrual cycle. By doing so, the PMS symptoms are diminished.
Some prevalent PMS symptoms that women experience include mood swings, a mix of emotions, and a wide range of physical symptoms. Most of these symptoms arise as a result of fluctuations in hormones during the cycle. As mentioned earlier, a contraceptive pill can help to regulate hormonal balance during the whole menstrual cycle. By doing so, the PMS symptoms are diminished.
4. Reducing the chance of ovarian cysts and uterine cancer
Hormonal contraceptive pills are significantly beneficial to women’s health, with studies showing that women who take birth control pills are 50% less likely to suffer from illnesses like endometrial and ovarian cancer. Studies also show that the pills’ preventive impacts can last for up to 10 years after taking the last contraceptive pill.
Hormonal contraceptives also help to reduce the likelihood of ovarian cysts. While these cysts are not as dangerous as cancer, they can be extremely painful. By preventing the occurrence of ovulation, contraceptives help to avoid the small sacs filled with fluids (ovarian cysts) from forming. For women who already have the condition, the pills help keep them from growing back after bursting.
5. Reducing the risk of anemia
A significant number of women suffer from extremely heavy bleeding when getting their periods. Losing so much blood for three to five days every month can increase the risk of anemia. Anemia is a condition that occurs in people who lack adequate red blood cells in their blood. Their blood does not transport enough oxygen to the cells around them, therefore, causing symptoms like fatigue. Taking hormonal birth control pills helps to prevent constant heavy bleeding hence reducing the risk of anemia.
6. Helps in clearing up acne
One of the leading causes of acne is hormonal imbalance and fluctuations, so acne occurs mostly in adolescents. Contraceptives help to reduce the hormonal change hence clearing up and reducing the formation of acne. Most birth control pills also contain estrogen and progesterone elements, which are useful in the fight against acne.
7. Managing endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition that occurs when the uterus tissue lining grows outside of the uterus. Regardless of the location of the tissue lining, it will still bleed every month. However, when the tissue is not inside the uterus, it hard for the blood to be eliminated from the body, resulting in a lot of pain and inflammation. Both hormonal and non-hormonal pills help in managing the condition by allowing you to skip some periods.
Conclusion
Most of the health benefits of contraceptives stem from using the hormonal kind of birth control pill. Non-hormonal birth control methods like IUDs are useful for pregnancy prevention, but they cannot provide the added health benefits described above.
