like how many years or months can i use birth control pills that can cause side effect.

Hi again Licia,

Please keep us posted on what you decide. Your story will inspire others as well.

Good luck,
Missie

Hi Licia,
Thank you for your reply. I stopped taking birth control for that exact same reason about 10 years ago. I also HAD irregular periods and was not certain about the side effects of the Pill. I can, however, say that I do have a regular period at age 34 and chose NOT to continue with birth control for my own personal reasons. I did not like taking a Pill everyday that controlled my periods and I am happy to report that it straightened itself out.

Knowing the precautions as mentioned above, you can make your own informed decision based on your own situation. I hope my experience will help you also.

Keep us posted on your decision.

Missie

Hi Licia,

I'm not sure what you meant by your question. Do you want to know how long can you take birth control pills?

You can take birth control pills as long as you need birth control or until you reach menopause, as long as you're generally healthy and don't smoke. This applies to all types of birth control pills, including combination birth control pills and progestin-only birth control pills.

Birth control pills aren't recommended for certain women, however, including smokers age 35 or older and women who have certain medical conditions, such as blood-clotting disorders or uncontrolled high blood pressure. Some types of birth control pills aren't recommended for women who are breast-feeding.

Years ago it was thought that prolonged use of birth control pills would interfere with a woman's subsequent ability to conceive, but this has been shown to be false. Pregnancy is possible as soon as you ovulate, which may happen promptly after stopping birth control pills — especially if you had regular menstrual cycles before taking birth control pills.

Some research suggests that prolonged use of birth control pills increases the risk of certain types of cancer, such as cervical cancer and liver cancer. However, use of birth control pills also decreases the risk of other types of cancer, such as ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. The effect of birth control pills on breast cancer risk isn't clear. Some research indicates that birth control pills slightly increase the risk of breast cancer — but that 10 or more years after stopping the pill, a woman's breast cancer risk returns to the same level as if she had never taken birth control pills. Other studies don't support a link between birth control pills and breast cancer.

Taking an occasional break from birth control pills offers no benefits and may increase the risk of an unwanted pregnancy. If you're concerned about long-term use of birth control pills, discuss the risks and benefits with your health care provider. He or she can help you weigh the pros and cons of other types of contraception as well.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/birth-control-pills/AN01765

Let me know if that answered your question,

Rosa