Question: What are the Side Effects of The Pill?
Answer: While the majority of girls and women who use the birth control pill experience no side effects, some women experience side effects such as:
- bleeding between periods
- weight gain
- nausea
- breast tenderness
- headaches
- mood changes
- blood clots (usually occur only in women over 35 who smoke)
Most of these side effects improve after 3 months on the Pill, if they don't your health care provider may prescribe a different oral contraceptive which may work better for you with less side effects. Other side effects of the birth control pill that make most women happy are:
- lighter periods
- milder menstrual cramps
- improved acne
- protection against certains types of breast disease, ovarian cysts, anemia, and uterine cancer.More Women's Health Q&A
