What are the side effects of taking birth control pills?

Generally, common contraceptive pills include compound norethisterone tablets, compound medroxyprogesterone tablets, and levonorgestrel ethinylestradiol tablets. Possible side effects of taking contraceptive pills may include nausea, withdrawal bleeding, weight gain, pigmentation, and an increased risk of thrombosis. If discomfort occurs, timely medical consultation is recommended. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Nausea

The hormonal components in contraceptive pills, such as estrogen, can irritate the gastrointestinal tract, affecting normal intestinal motility and digestive function, causing stomach discomfort and inducing nausea. This irritation is usually more pronounced at the beginning of medication use, but symptoms may gradually diminish as the body adapts to the medication.

2. Withdrawal Bleeding

Hormones in contraceptive pills affect the growth and shedding of the endometrium. When stopping contraceptive pills or experiencing hormonal level changes, the endometrium loses hormonal support and partially sheds, resulting in vaginal bleeding. This bleeding generally occurs about a week after stopping the medication, with a blood volume usually less than menstrual flow, and the color may be light red or brown.

3. Weight Gain

Hormones in contraceptive pills may affect metabolic processes in the body, leading to water and sodium retention and changes in appetite. Estrogen may cause water and sodium retention, increasing fluid in the body's tissue spaces. At the same time, hormonal changes may also affect appetite-regulating centers, increasing appetite, thereby causing weight gain.

4. Pigmentation

Hormones in contraceptive pills can affect the body's endocrine balance, stimulating melanocytes to secrete melanin, leading to skin pigmentation. Particularly, estrogen may increase tyrosinase activity in the skin, promoting melanin synthesis.

5. Increased Risk of Thrombosis

Hormones in contraceptive pills can affect the blood coagulation system, increasing certain coagulation factors in the blood while decreasing anticoagulant factors, leading to a hypercoagulable state. This hypercoagulable state increases the risk of thrombosis, especially for women with high-risk factors such as family history of thrombotic disease, obesity, or smoking.

Before using contraceptive pills, it is recommended to consult a doctor to understand your health status and risks, and make decisions according to medical advice. At the same time, contraceptive pills are not routine contraceptive methods, as they have many side effects and a certain failure rate. Therefore, frequent use should be avoided as much as possible.