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Oral Contraceptives Health Article

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Post-Pregnancy Contraception: What Are a Woman's Options?

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Side effects

Serious side effects are rare in healthy females who do not smoke cigarettes. In women with certain health problems, however, oral contraceptives may cause problems such as liver cancer, noncancerous liver tumors, blood clots, or stroke. Healthcare professionals can help prospective users weigh the benefits of being protected against unwanted pregnancy against the risks of possible health problems.

The most common minor side effects are nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping or bloating, breast pain, tenderness or swelling, swollen ankles or feet, tiredness, and acne. These problems usually go away as the body adjusts to the drug and do not need medical attention unless they continue or they interfere with normal activities. Other side effects should be brought to the attention of the physician who prescribed the medicine. Teens and young women should check with the physician as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

menstrual changes, such as lighter periods or missed periods, longer periods, or bleeding or spotting between periods
headaches
vaginal infection, itching, or irritation
increased blood pressure

Women who have any of the following symptoms should get emergency help right away. These symptoms may be signs of blood clots:

sudden changes in vision, speech, breathing, or coordination
severe or sudden headache
coughing up blood
sudden, severe, or continuing pain in the abdomen or stomach
pain in the chest, groin, or leg (especially in the calf)
weakness, numbness, or pain in an arm or leg

The adverse effects of oral contraceptives can be impossible to predict. Other than avoiding smoking, there are no effective means of preventing side effects. All observed adverse effects should be reported to a physician promptly.

Oral contraceptives may continue to affect the menstrual cycle for some time after a young woman stops taking them. Women who miss periods for several months after stopping this medicine should check with their physicians. Other rare side effects may occur. Anyone who has unusual symptoms while taking oral contraceptives should get in touch with her physician.

Interactions

Oral contraceptives may interact with a number of other medicines. When interaction occurs, the effects of one or both of the drugs may change or the risk of side effects may be greater. Anyone who takes oral contraceptives should let the physician know all other medicines she is taking and should ask whether possible interactions can interfere with drug therapy.

These drugs may make oral contraceptives less effective in preventing pregnancy. Anyone who takes these drugs should use an additional birth control method for the entire cycle in which the medicine is used:

corticosteroids

barbiturates

carbamazepine (Tegretol)

phenytoin (Dilantin)

primidone (Mysoline)

ritonavir (Norvir)

In addition, taking the following medicines with oral contraceptives may increase the risk of side effects or interfere with the medicine's effects:

Theophylline: Effects of this medicine may increase, along with the chance of unwanted side effects.
Cyclosporine: Effects of this medicine may increase, along with the chance of unwanted side effects.
Troleandomycin (TAO): Chance of liver problems may increase. Effectiveness of oral contraceptive may also decrease, raising the risk of pregnancy.

The list above does not include every drug that may interact with oral contraceptives. Women should be sure to check with a physician or pharmacist before combining oral contraceptives with any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicine. As with any medication, the benefits and risks should be discussed with a physician.

KEY TERMS

Cyst—An abnormal sac or enclosed cavity in the body filled with liquid or partially solid material. Also refers to a protective, walled-off capsule in which an organism lies dormant.

Endometriosis—A condition in which the tissue that normally lines the uterus (endometrium) grows in other areas of the body, causing pain, irregular bleeding, and frequently, infertility.

Fallopian tubes—The pair of narrow tubes leading from a woman's ovaries to the uterus. After an egg is released from the ovary during ovulation, fertilization (the union of sperm and egg) normally occurs in the fallopian tubes.

Fetus—In humans, the developing organism from the end of the eighth week to the moment of birth. Until the end of the eighth week the developing organism is called an embryo.

Fibroid tumor—A non-cancerous tumor of connective tissue made of elongated, threadlike structures, or fibers, which usually grow slowly and are contained within an irregular shape. Fibroids are firm in consistency but may become painful if they start to break down or apply pressure to areas within the body. They frequently occur in the uterus and are generally left alone unless growing rapidly or causing other problems. Surgery is needed to remove fibroids.

Hormone—A chemical messenger secreted by a gland or organ and released into the bloodstream. It travels via the bloodstream to distant cells where it exerts an effect.

Jaundice—A condition in which the skin and whites of the eyes take on a yellowish color due to an increase of bilirubin (a compound produced by the liver) in the blood. Also called icterus.

Migraine—A throbbing headache that usually affects only one side of the head. Nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light, and other symptoms often accompany a migraine.

Mucus—The thick fluid produced by the mucous membranes that line many body cavities and structures. It contains mucin, white blood cells, water, inorganic salts, and shed cells, and it serve to lubricate body parts and to trap particles of dirt or other contaminants.

Ovary—One of the two almond-shaped glands in the female reproductive system responsible for producing eggs and the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)—Any infection of the lower female reproductive tract (vagina and cervix) that spreads to the upper female reproductive tract (uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries). Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, high fever, and vaginal discharge. PID is the most common and most serious consequence of infection with sexually transmitted diseases in women and is a leading cause of female fertility problems.

Uterus—The female reproductive organ that contains and nourishes a fetus from implantation until birth. Also called the womb.

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Author Info: Deanna M. Swartout-Corbeil R.N., Samuel Uretsky PharmD, Thomson Gale, Gale, Detroit, Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health, 2006