Myths and truths about contraindications for taking birth control pills. Can I drink them with varicose veins, breastfeeding, diabetes or smoking?
Birth control pills or COCs (combined oral contraceptives) are incredibly convenient ways to prevent pregnancy. They work for a strictly defined period of time. For full contraception, one tablet a day is enough. And with regular use, the likelihood of getting pregnant almost zero. However, these tablets, like all other drugs, have their own contraindications for use. Moreover, some of them are quite unexpected, and not every doctor would guess to ask about this when prescribing COCs. Who should not take hormonal contraceptives, the endocrinologist told on her Telegram channel Anna Shvedova.
Hormonal contraceptives in the form of pills were invented nearly a hundred years ago. However, there are still many myths and prejudices around this method of contraception. The main one - that you can get better from pills - was debunked in the last century. Modern COCs can cause a temporary weight gain of 1.5-2 kg at the beginning of use, and then the body mass index returns to normal, or even the weight decreases.
Also, the myth that hormones intensively grow hair on the body did not stand up to criticism. Here everything is exactly the opposite: the latest generation COCs have anti-androgenic effects. This means, in some cases, they can even reduce the intensity of hair growth in a woman.
Hormonal contraceptives need to be prescribed by your doctor / istockphoto.com
All other myths are mainly associated with prohibitions on the use of contraceptive pills. Many of them are taken from rumors and speculation, and have no medical justification. So, according to Anna Shvedova, they are not a contraindication to the use of COCs (under the supervision of a doctor):
- phlebeurysm
- age less than 18 and more than 40 years
- diabetes mellitus (controlled and without complications)
- HIV infection
- situation if the woman has not yet given birth
In all of the above cases, a woman can take hormonal contraceptives in the form of pills for a long time and safely. However, it is very important that they are prescribed by the doctor, and not by advertising on the Internet or a "knowledgeable" girlfriend. Because there are still contraindications to the use of COCs. And it is far from always possible to directly associate them with this method of contraception.
It is better to study contraindications to reception before buying pills / istockphoto.com
Of the obvious bans on taking hormonal oral contraceptives:
- breastfeeding during the first six months of a child's life. At this time, it is better to use a condom for contraception, and after 6 months you can consult a doctor for the appointment of suitable pills.
- if the baby is bottle-fed, COCs should not be taken for the first 3 weeks after delivery. After that, the hormonal background already returns to a relative norm and the pills are permissible (again, only as prescribed by the doctor)
- any upcoming operation, after which bed rest is shown. You can take pills two to three weeks after surgery, provided that the woman is already on her feet.
Non-obvious reasons, which the doctor will not always ask you about, but which are a direct and strict contraindication to taking COCs:
- migraines with aura in women of any age
- migraines without aura in women over 35
- problems with blood pressure, which are manifested by a frequent increase in blood pressure above 140/90
- smoking (pill smokers are contraindicated at any age, but especially if a woman is over 35 years old)
- cholelithiasis (prescribing pills is possible, but very undesirable)
- taking anticonvulsants
- cancer or precancerous condition of the breast
- chronic or severe liver disease (active hepatitis, cirrhosis)
- diabetes mellitus with more than 20 years of experience or its vascular complications
- heart attack or stroke
- deep vein thrombosis of the legs, and associated pulmonary embolism (even if it happened in the deep past
You will also be interested in reading:
What are the positive aspects of the consumption of hormonal contraception: TOP-4 pluses
TOP 5 myths about hormonal contraceptives
