Women’s sexual health - Medications and Supplements

We’ve all heard about this little pill that can save us a lot of worries. Most of us have one or more friends who are into it. We’ve heard so much about it over the media and oft we are likened to a ping-pong ball -- tossed over repeatedly to opposing sides of pros and cons. But what’s the real score, really?

For the past years, the popularity and usage of the Birth Control Pill as a contraceptive has escalated way beyond the other contraceptives. Other than the fact that it is convenient, it has been marketed well with all the improvements it underwent. Here, we’ll give you the updates and status on how the pill is doing and just how much we should welcome it into our lives.

Is it safe?

The good thing about the pill is that it was always ready to evolve into something better. Today’s pills are much more improved than what it was with lower doses of hormones. Such improvement paved way to lessening the reputed risk of side effects. However, for the record, there are two sides about the pill that you should consider well before making a decision. There are both benefits and risks that are relative to where your priorities lie.

The benefits of the pill include a generally improved menstrual cycle with a more establish pattern of lighter periods, as well as lesser menstrual cramps. The pill has also been studied to lower the risk for ovarian and endometrial cancer as well as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

On the other side of the pill, there are also serious side effects to note. There is the increased chance of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, and blood clots for some women. Other side effects would include nausea, headaches, weight gain, irregular bleeding, sore breasts and depression. However, on the bright side, many of these side effects will eventually disappear after allowing the body adopt to the pill for several months.

Because of the serious side effects, there are some cases when the pill is not permitted to a certain individual. Example of these are women over the age 35 who smoke or have a history of blood clots, breast or endometrial cancer. These symptoms put the individual more at risk from the dangerous side effects of the pill. It is therefore of prime importance that you talk with your doctor or nurse about the pill as its effects on the body is always a case-to-case basis.

Safe from what?

A myth has been perpetuated about the pill, that it can also protect you from infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). This is not true, for the only birth control method that can help you to be safe from HIV and other STDs is the male latex condom. Condoms are therefore a must if you are not sure how clean your partner is. However, if you’re allergic to latex, you can still purchase condoms that are made of polyurethane. A lot of people are hesitant to use this barrier because it reputedly makes sex a lot less fun. Save for today’s condoms can actually aid sex as some are lubricated to make intercourse more pleasurable while there are some that are non-lubricated which you can use for oral sex. So don’t forget those little pieces of rubber for among the other birth control methods including the pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), Depo-Provera, or tubal ligation, only the condom can protect you from HIV and other STDs.

How often?

Back to the pill, taking it will save you from a lot of trouble, but not taking it religiously also amounts to not taking it at all. There is a serious risk of pregnancy if you don’t follow your doctor’s prescription of the pill, or when you don’t strictly follow the instructions. A large number of women become pregnant even while taking the pill because they make the most common mistake of not following the schedule. Most women are late in starting their next series of pills. Taking the pill regularly is one instance in your life where you can’t afford to be late. Always follow your physician's guidelines, and you can also seek for his help immediately when you miss taking a pill. But there’s a leeway to this when you miss taking any of the last 7 pills in the 28-day pill package. This is the only instance when missing pills will not put you at the risk of pregnancy.