Alternative Uses for Birth Control Pills
Studies are constantly conducted to determine the benefits and drawbacks of contraceptive pills, and each usually yields a different outcome. What everyone can agree on, though, is that birth control pills can be used for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with pregnancy prevention.
Doctors prescribe birth control pills for conditions from acne to endometriosis, and the following list does not include all of its alternative uses:
• Alleviation of menstrual cramps
• Reduction of amount and duration of menstrual bleeding
• Regulation of periods
• Clearing up some types of acne
• Lowering the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers
• Treatment of endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome
Although the contraceptive pill can be used for a myriad of health benefits, there are important drawbacks to note. Birth control pills are not effective in preventing STDs, they have certain unpleasant side effects, they are not 100 percent guaranteed to work and some research has shown a slightly increased risk of breast cancer among pill users.
In other words, the contraceptive pill is not a miracle drug. Consider it a versatile way to take control of several hormone-related issues that most women deal with, whether the condition is mild or severe. And keep in mind that different brands can have different types of hormone combinations, so make sure the pill you’re choosing is right what you want to treat.
Contraceptives aren’t always just about preventing pregnancy; women across all age groups are now using contraceptive pills to control more than birth — they are taking control of their hormones to improve their lives.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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That is very interesting that birth control helps prevent certain forms of cancer, I would think that they would advertise this fact more often, especially with the enhanced media focus on HPV and cervical cancer.
March 28, 2009 - 2:55pmThis Comment
My understanding is that the correlation between birth control pills and the reduced risk of certain female cancers is the fact that birth control pills prevent ovulation. (Is that correct, Lauren?)
March 28, 2009 - 10:35pmThat's definitely a great point. There are very strict federal guidelines on advertising, especially when it pertains to medicine. Taking birth control to prevent cancer would likely not be advised by anyone, and when it comes to cervical cancer about 70 percent of cases are caused by HPV, so the pill is not highly relevant for preventing it. And though studies have shown a direct correlation between contraceptive pills and decreased risks for certain cancers, there is a positive correlation between them and developing other forms of cancer (breast cancer, most commonly).
I personally use contraceptive pills for acne and polycystic ovary syndrome, and appreciate all the added benefits! It's a multi-faceted approach to reproductive health, but it's not right for everyone. And no pill is 100 percent effective against preventing pregnancy, which means that advertising its effectiveness in preventing certain cancers would not be true to everyone as some women would inevitably develop certain cancers (like endometrial and ovarian) while still on the pill/after using it.
March 30, 2009 - 1:30pmI also just want to add that the birth control pill Yaz has made perimenopause a walk in the park for me. I don't know what I'd do without it!
March 28, 2009 - 10:36pmI think it is important to point out that the birth control pill manipulates your hormonal profile so that the body thinks that it is pregnant. Imagine being pregnant for 15 years! It does this so effectively that not only do your hormones get controlled but things like your zinc/copper ratios get reversed because the body thinks it is pregnant. Zinc is critical for your immune system, fertility and a whole range of functions. Therefore you should always look at taking a liquid zinc supplement if you do take the pill and after (liquid because it is bio available and I also found out because there is a simple test where if you can’t taste pure liquid zinc it means you are deficient so easy to know when you need to keep taking it). Another thing to be aware of if you take the pill for hormone imbalances which can result in PMS, acne and many other conditions is that the pill doesn’t fix the hormone imbalance but rather manipulates and controls hormone levels to stop symptoms. The big misnomer is that we think that the pill is "fixing" hormone imbalance when in fact it is often just masking what is going on. That is why when you go off the pill often not only have your symptoms not gone but they have got worse. Also after having progesterone supplemented for so long often the body’s production of progesterone has slowed or shut down resulting in amenorrhea. I could go on about how the pill affected my mood and many other things I experienced but fortunately my naturopathic doctor put me on an all natural solution called Femmenessence which actually corrects the hormone imbalance and brings the body back into harmony as well as liquid zinc and an alkaline diet. Not only is my cycle now completely regular but no side effects!
March 29, 2009 - 12:20pmI am not sure where this information came from, and I think it definitely provides some interesting things to think about and discuss with your doctor when considering taking a contraceptive pill. However, in all the research that I did, not a single national source mentioned any of these things.
Your imbalance may have been caused by something else, and perhaps your naturopathic doctor is using less reputable sources. However, some of the side effects that you mentioned are incorrect according to every source on the subject and I would like to clarify.
First, PMS is not caused by the pill. It can be treated by the pill, but in reality only about 10 percent of women actually suffer from clinical PMS.
Second, birth control pills do not "mask" symptoms caused by a hormone imbalance. Conditions like polycystic ovary syndroms, which is directly caused by a hormone imbalance, is treated with contraceptive pills because they control the hormone levels and make them consistent. You are correct that they may cause an "imbalance," though not in the traditional sense. The hormones that your body naturally produces (whether in balance or not) will adjust depending on the type of pill you take.
Third, birth control pills do not cause the body to think it is pregnant. Different pills function differently, but they mostly work in two ways: either by reducing the lining of the uterus that builds up each month so that an egg would likely not implant; or by stopping ovulation all together.
I would caution anyone about taking a new supplement before talking with your doctor. Some supplements taken in combination with the pill can impact its effectiveness.
As for acne, only some is hormone related, so it is possible that some cause it to get worse. However, there are pills designed exactly for hormone-related acne (and I know because that is why I am on the pill! My dermatologist prescribed it for me).
The most important thing to note here is that each woman responds different to contraceptive pills, injections, patches and even the NuvaRing. Luckily, the variety of hormone combinations provides many options. If one pill isn't working for you, try another!
Also, side effects from contraceptives are smallest with the pill than with the injection or patch, which are known to cause more severe issues because the hormone levels are not controlled the same way as with pills.
Here are some of the sources that I used so that you can read more:
The Center for Young Women's Health/Children's Hospital Boston
National Institutes of Health
National Women's Health Resource Center
Click and learn! Education is the best way to successfully manage your health and make the right decisions for yourself.
March 30, 2009 - 1:20pmI need an alternative to Yaz. I've been on it for 3 weeks and I've experienced hair thinning, constant diarrhea and vomiting. I don't have acne, PMDD, or any hormonal issues so I don't understand why a doctor would prescibe this if I'm just looking for a birth control method only.
April 11, 2009 - 10:19amHi Anon
Yaz is meant primarily as a birth control pill with the 'pleasant' side effect of clearing up skin, helping against PMDD and other positive effects.
Birth control is sometimes a trial and error process. Some women do wonderfully on one kind of Pill, and others have very unpleasant side effects, like you are experiencing.
Contact your doctor and tell her that Yaz is not for you, and try another brand. Just remember to use a back up method of birth control until you find the right Pill for you.
Good luck to you and please keep us updated!
April 11, 2009 - 11:04amHi Lauren and all forum readers:
I have suffered greatly with my period every single month (mostly vomitting and cramps) since age 14. I'll be 33 yrs old in a couple of months. I am less than 110 lbs (which is hereditary), have little to no appetite (mostly all of my life), not consistant in taking vitamin supplements (most are too strong for me), and I really want to feel and look like a healthy woman. I basically have the body of a lanky 15 yr old. My period comes regular every month and I do not experience heavy bleeding. So I've never had irregular cycles. I am not sexually active and I do not have any kids. I've tried medication that cancer patients use after chemo to reduce nausea symptoms and it works great at the onset of my period. That's a good feeling since I've been vomitting every month for the past 19 years. But when my period stops, I get terrible headaches and sometimes become nauseous. By the way, that medication (Divon-British product) was not prescribed by a doctor. I got it from my cousin who suffered terribly with her period as well. Her dad had cancer and that was prescribed for him. I know- that's a stupid thing for me to do. But I've tried so many different things (prescribed pain killers-by doctors, natural vitamins (such as nettle, rosemary) and even meditation and self-hypnosis).
Okay, now to the point - Would you recommend an oral contraceptive for someone like me? And which kind of pill do you think would work best for me? I know I'll have to visit an obgyn, but I'd just like to hear some suggestions from women who have used birth control pills. I do not visit an obgyn or any general practioner on a regular basis. Overall, I am healthy with no signs of terminal sickness or disease. Also, this month was the last time I've decided to take the medication suited for recovering cancer patients. It could do more damage than good for me in the long run. I would appreciate your suggestions.
April 18, 2009 - 12:39amHi JB, I might recommend the vaginal ring to you as a new form of birth control to try. I also suffer from nausea and all the unpleasant things (I'm about 100 pounds, so low weight also!) and I've tried probably 5 or 6 different types of birth control (patch and various pills) and have settled on a generic form of Yaz for a variety of reasons. However, I have a friend who has tried the NuvaRing and she is very happy with it. But I'm not a doctor and I'm not a birth control expert, just a content user!
My advice to you may be to watch what you eat before and after you take an oral contraceptive, especially if you have an irritable stomach. Avoid citrus and acidic foods that can cause increased side effects. If you plan on having children in the future, perhaps something like an IUD.
The great benefit of birth control is that for women whose hormones are naturally "out of whack," it can regulate that. In addition to seeing your OB/GYN, I think you may benefit from seeing a hormone specialist to see if perhaps there is something he/she may be able to help you with without turning to contraceptives.
Good luck!!!
April 29, 2009 - 12:30pm