7 pill benefits you should know

Learn about the benefits of the pill, which can help treat various health problems, as well as prevent an unwanted pregnancy.

You pill benefits can be bigger than you think. More than preventing an unwanted pregnancy, they can improve a woman’s health and well-being.

Oral contraceptives are nothing more than a combined version of the hormones progesterone and estrogen. Therefore, the pill can help treat a variety of hormone-related medical issues, as well as having effects that can be beneficial for many women.

7 benefits of the pill

The numbers are not deceiving: about 3 in 4 women report symptoms such as irritability, impatience and extreme sensitivity in the days leading up to the menstrual period. An even more surprising number of 8% have these symptoms in an even more pronounced form, known as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.

One of the benefits of the pill is precisely to avoid the changes in hormones that cause these symptoms. Incidentally, in the most serious cases, it is even advised that the woman not take breaks in taking the pill, for a greater sense of emotional and physical well-being.

Many factors can trigger migraines and severe headaches and one of these factors may be hormonal fluctuations. In these cases, the pains happen because of the decrease of estrogen in the body. Taking the pill will help with hormonal control and help to avoid migraines. Another very common option is the use of estrogen patches.

Severe cramping could signify a medical condition known as dysmenorrhea. Even the mildest occur when the uterus produces prostaglandin to release the egg. This chemical process triggers muscle contractions and one of the main benefits of the pill, in this case, is to prevent the ovulation process and, consequently, the release of the egg. Thus, the chemical process is avoided and so are the pains.

Contraceptives are not formulated to treat acne or pimples, but one of the benefits of the pill is, in fact, that it lowers the level of male hormones in the woman’s body, which ends up avoiding a series of skin problems.

But be careful: before running to the pharmacy and buying a pill, check with your doctor what the conditions are and what is the best combination for your body. It takes a period of adjustment and a few weeks for the pill to start working.

When the body does not produce enough progesterone, it is normal for a woman to go for long periods without menstruating. Birth control pills help the uterus get into a rhythm.

Although the flow is more intense at the beginning, as the months go by, the hormonal combination ends up regulating the cycle. And this is another one of the benefits of the pill: after the first few months, it ends up considerably reducing the menstrual flow.

Endometriosis is a disease that must be treated seriously and with great care. Its symptoms can negatively impact a woman’s physical and emotional well-being.

For those who have milder symptoms of the disease, one of the benefits of the pill is that the hormones affect the outer tissue of the uterus in the same way that they affect the inner tissue and this can help to control the uncontrolled growth of the endometrial tissue and also decrease the pains.

Unfortunately, there is still no cure for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, but it is possible to treat its symptoms, such as the absence of menstrual periods, acne and excess hair. The hormones present in the pills help balance the body and prevent some symptoms related to excess “male” hormones.

Risks and adverse reactions

Most women have no problems when they take the pill and the best option is always to consult a specialist to decide together what might be best for your health and well-being.

However, some adverse reactions can happen, including some studies that link some pills with a higher risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer. We have listed some of the most reported reactions in the first months:

• irregular period;
• fluid retention;
• mood and weight changes;
• presence of blood clots during menstruation.