I'm 22, and considering taking the birth control pill, for contraceptive reasons. I'm also hoping it'll help me with my period pains as they are quite painful each month. My period is regular, but the cramps are terrible, and most painkillers I've used stop working after a while, so I always have to be searching for something new. I've never had sex before, and I want to take all necessary precautions against pregnancy with my boyfriend (who's really understanding).
However, I was talking with my mum about the pill - she used it for a while years ago - admittedly she doesn't know that I want it for something more than period pains. She warned me that my paternal grandmother (I never met her, she died before I was born) had had to have a breast removed due to cancer, and that certain BC pills can increase risk of breast cancer, as well as other health problems. My mom's good friend also has thrombosis now, which she isn't sure is a result of the pill.
That honestly worries me. Are there a lot of long term risks of taking the pill? Plus I always hear things about young girls dying and being rushed to hospital with life-threatening conditions because of the pill - is this common or just hyped up to scare people away from it?
I guess my question really is - "Is the pill safe to use?"