Patient's question:
I am only 20 years old, but due to various reasons, I basically have to take emergency contraception pills at least once a month. Is this very bad for my body? What should I do then?Doctor's answer:
Hello:Long-term use of birth control pills can lead to the following side effects:
1. Pseudo-pregnancy-like reactions
Women in the early stages of pregnancy may experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, and loss of appetite, known as pregnancy-like symptoms. Some women may also experience these symptoms in the early stages of taking birth control pills, which are referred to as pseudo-pregnancy-like reactions.
Most short-term birth control pills cause these reactions 5–6 hours after ingestion. To reduce side effects, you can take the pills after dinner or before bed.
Generally, pseudo-pregnancy-like reactions naturally disappear or lessen after taking the pills for 2–3 months.
2. Vaginal bleeding
A few women may experience sudden spotting or menstrual-like bleeding while taking birth control pills. This abnormal bleeding is called "breakthrough bleeding." The cause of vaginal bleeding may be missing or delaying a pill, or the pills may have become damp or the sugar coating may have peeled off, reducing their effectiveness.
If vaginal bleeding occurs in the first half of the menstrual cycle, it may be due to insufficient estrogen. The solution is to take one tablet of ethinyl estradiol daily while continuing to take birth control pills until you finish the course. Increasing estrogen helps regenerate the endometrium, thus stopping the bleeding. If vaginal bleeding occurs in the second half of the menstrual cycle, it is often due to insufficient progesterone. In this case, you can take half to a quarter of a birth control pill each night until you finish the current cycle. If the bleeding is similar to a menstrual period or occurs in the last few days of taking the pills, it can be considered a normal menstrual cycle. In this case, stop taking the pills that night, and start the next cycle five days later, continuing to take one tablet each night and adding half to a quarter of a birth control pill as needed.