Here is the good news!
There seems to be no additional risks associated with using the pill to suppress the seven-day break (beyond the health risks already linked to hormonal pills or devices). Nearly 100 percent of female OB/GYNs in a national survey by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) said menstrual suppression was safe for their patients. In fact, it may even be beneficial for reducing the chances of premenstrual mood swings and weight gain.
That being said, it’s still important to mention that there have been no long-term studies examining the safety of continually skipping the period. Sometimes, medical repercussions take a longer time and/or need a larger population sample size to emerge. However, the current consensus is that no blood is built up inside your body when you are on the pill. Thus, bleeding when on the pill serves no purpose other than mimicking the natural cycle and making you comfortable with the pill.
Benefits may include the following
- Taking hormonal contraception for period suppression continuously may relieve pelvic pain, headaches, breast tenderness and bloating that may occur with menstruation.
- Research shows that patients with endometriosis may use continuous hormonal birth control or a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (IUD) to relieve severe menstrual cramps and pelvic pain.
- Fewer periods may also benefit women who are negatively affected by monthly blood loss, such as those with anemia or bleeding disorders.
Risks may include the following
- The risks of suppressing the period appear to be the same risks and side effects that come with using any type of hormonal birth control.
- The main side effect of having long, bleeding-free stretches is an increase in unpredictable breakthrough bleeding (unpredictable mid-cycle bleeding). The good news is that the frequency of breakthrough bleeding may decrease over time.
- Beyond that, there’s the issue of birth control failure. With typical use, hormonal birth control pills prevent 91 percent of pregnancies per year. However, if a woman suppresses menstruation, it’s more difficult to know if her birth control failed and they’re pregnant.
- Long-term contraceptives are recommended only if the doctor prescribed them. However, many long-term birth control methods contain hormones. This can cause problems depending on a woman’s medical history, age and overall health. Doctors may advise some women to avoid using certain types of birth control. If a birth control pill causes side effects, a woman can discuss this with her doctor and change pills until she finds one that works for her.
A lot of doctors (wrongly) believed previously that skipping the break would make it less effective. Skipping the break is associated with breakthrough bleeding, fear and anxiety regarding missing a pregnancy. Theoretically, it is also associated with a higher risk of thromboembolism due to a higher amount of hormones. This may be the reason why many doctors continue to advise taking a break. If a woman chooses to stop taking hormonal birth control, her natural menstrual cycle and fertility will usually return to normal after one month, regardless of how long she skipped her period.
What does birth control do to a woman’s body?
Not all women will experience side effects. Some side effects will go away within several months as the body adapts to certain methods. No birth control method is perfect, and every procedure or method is associated with side effects. Below are a few short- and long-term effects of birth control on the body.
Short-term side effects
- Unusual bleeding between periods, or spotting
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Breast tenderness
- Weight gain
- Mood swings
Long-term side effects
- Heavy or painful periods
- Endometriosis, a painful disorder in which abnormal tissue grows outside the uterus
- Blood pressure fluctuation
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss or weight gain due to hormonal changes
What is the best form of birth control?
What’s “best” among birth control methods differs from woman to woman. What's right for a woman may not be right for every woman. And a person’s needs may also change over time.
- The only 100 percent certain way to avoid pregnancy is abstinence, which is impossible to follow long-term. Abstinence is avoiding penetrative sex or any sexual activities where sperm can get on the vulva or into the vagina.
- Using condoms with an additional type of birth control is considered the most effective way to avoid pregnancy and this also guarantees extra protection. No birth control method is perfect. So using condoms with another type of birth control (such as the implant, intrauterine device (IUD) or a pill) gives backup protection in case either method fails. And condoms seriously lower the chances of getting all kinds of sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia and herpes.
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Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) and the Depo-Provera shot are two hormonal methods of birth control. Both methods work by changing the hormone levels in your body, which prevents pregnancy, or conception. Differences between "the pill" and "the shot." Birth control pills are available as combination pills, which contain the hormones estrogen and progestin, or mini-pills that only contain progestin. In comparison to the Depo-Provera injection, which prevents pregnancy for three consecutive months. Both methods of birth control are very effective in preventing pregnancy. Both the combination pill (if you take them as directed) and shot are up to 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. While the mini-pill is only about 95% effective in preventing pregnancy. Both methods cause weight gain, and have other similar side effects like breast pain, soreness or tenderness, headaches, and mood changes. They may lead to decreased interest in sex in some women. There are differences between the other side effects of these methods (depending upon the method) that include breakthrough bleeding or spotting, acne, depression, fatigue, and weakness. Both oral contraceptives and the Depo-Provera shot have health risks associated with them, such as, heart attack, stroke, blood clots, and cervical cancer. Birth control pills appear to increase the risk of cervical cancer. Talk with your OB/GYN or other doctor or health care professional about which birth control method is right for you.
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DVT and Birth Control Pills (Oral Contraceptives)
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that has traveled deep into the veins of the arm, pelvis, or lower extremities. Oral contraceptives or birth control pills can slightly increase a woman's risk for developing blood clots, including DVT. DVT symptoms and signs in the leg include leg or calf pain, redness, swelling, warmth, or leg cramps, and skin discoloration. If a blood clot in the leg is not treated, it can travel to the lungs, which can cause a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung) or post-thrombotic syndrome, both of which can be fatal if not treated immediately. Increased risk factors for DVT and birth control pills include over 40 years of age, family history, smoking, and obesity. Other medical problems that increase the risks of blood clots, for example, lung or heart disease, or inflammatory bowel disease or IBD (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). Other options for preventing pregnancy include IUDs, birth control shots, condoms, diaphragms, and progestin-only oral contraceptives.
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Which Birth Control Has Least Side Effects?
No form of birth control is free of side effects, but there are some that have the least noticeable ones.
Why Is Birth Control So Bad for You?
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