Birth Control
Healthy Living

Birth Control Risks

Why am I talking about birth control pills? Last year I had massive pulmonary embolisms in my lungs. At first I thought this was caused by my knee injury but that is what escalated it. Side effects from birth contolBesides being overweight and high blood pressure, I was fairly healthy until this happened. When I was taken to the hospital, via ambulance, I thought okay this is stupid, I can drive myself. Well come to find out, after a few tests, that I had blood clots is both of my lungs and that something other than the injury caused it. They told me my birth control pills were to blame. What?? Most people don’t realize the longer you take birth control pills the more likely you are to have side effects. Other than the year we were trying to conceive, and during pregnancy, that was the only time I was off of them.  I am all for birth control pills but I wanted to make sure you knew all the risks, I mean who reads those fine print papers that come with the pack anyway? Yeah you can guess I didn’t.

I understand how important birth contol is. Some aren’t ready for kids, I wasn’t until I was 32. Just make sure you aware of all your options. Here are some side effects.

Birth control with estrogen have the most number of side effects.  Here are some:

  • Breast tenderness
  • headaches
  • mood changes
  • nausea
  • weight gain.

People that have had the following should avoid estrogen based birth control altogether:

  • History of blood clots
  • Lung or heart disease
  • Breast or uterus cancer

Now where above does it say blood clots. It says history but like me I never had them before. I did some research online and I found that birth control could cause the following:

  • Blood clots
  • diabetes
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cervical Cancer
  • Liver tumors

Now maybe those were in that fine print paper that I didn’t ready but, maybe it was just my doctor but when I asked to first be put on birth control all I had done was an exam, handed a script, and was on my marry way. They didn’t take the time to sit down and explain all this to me. Mind you I think I was 18 or 19 when I first went on them and what teen at that age is going to read all the warnings. I really think it should be the doctors job to inform these kids of these risks. Again, maybe it was just my doctor. There are birth control options out there that are safer than ones with estrogen.

Now because I have a history of blood clots, I can no longer be on the pill, nor can I take any pill with estrogen. Which means, when menopause comes I will be toughing it out without hormone pills. If I take hormone pills it could kill me.  While the blood clot formation maybe a rare side effect, don’t ever assume it  won’t happen to you. Weather you are on the pill or you have a child that is on the pill, do research and become aware.

Don’t wait for something to happen like I did and hear from the doctor “most don’t leave the hospital in your condition”

Karla Urwitz
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