Birth Control Has Some Possible Side Effects That Are NOT Ideal | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Guys, Before You Ask A Girl Why She Isn't On Birth Control, Learn These 5 Side Effects

Birth control isn't all fun and games.

6222
Guys, Before You Ask A Girl Why She Isn't On Birth Control, Learn These 5 Side Effects

Birth control comes in many different forms for women. The most popular options for girls are pills, shots, IUDs (we will strictly be talking about hormonal IUDs in this article), implants, vaginal rings, and patches. Of course, there are condoms for men. Now, many men just expect women to be on birth control. Some men are often confused as to why some women are not, but that's because most men are not educated on the side effects that birth control has. So dudes, grab a pen and paper, because you're about to get educated AF.

1. First let's get something clear — we don't just take birth control to not get pregnant

Believe it or not, we don't just take birth control pills to avoid your little swimmers getting to our precious eggs. So quite the narcissism. Women go on birth control for a plethora of reasons. A lot of younger girls go on it to help control their hormonal acne. Others go on it to lighten and regulate their periods. Some go on it to help with medical issues such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and endometriosis. And, of course, we also take it to plan when exactly when we want and don't want to get pregnant.

It changes our body shape (for better or worse) 

Some birth control options, such as the shot, can make women gain extra weight due to increased appetite. Other birth control pills won't make women gain weight, but will alter her body composition. In 2009 and exercise physiologist, Steven Riechman did a study on the muscle growth difference between women who were and weren't on birth control. The study concluded that women on the birth control pill, "had gained 40% less muscle than those who weren't on it," after the two groups completing 10 weeks of weight lifting. They concluded that this was due to the popular birth control hormone, progesterone.

As well, the pill affected how much and where women stored fat. Many women gained weight around their thighs, hips, and breasts due to the type of estrogen receptors those parts of the body carried. The use of synthetic hormones causing the number of cells to increase in places such as breasts (why they get bigger) is the reason why birth control increases the risk of certain cancers.

Yes, birth control pills really due increase a women's chances of getting certain cancers 

Are we really surprised? Women's rights, especially women's reproductive rights, haven't been at the forefront of medicine until pretty recently. That's why it isn't that surprising that birth control options are far from perfect. Pills, the most common choice of birth control for women, have been shown to increase the risk of certain cancers. Women who currently use birth control pills have a 24% increase in the risk of getting breast cancer. Even after not using birth control pills, women who had used them have a 7% increase in the risk of breast cancer.

Women who use birth control pills are also at a pretty high risk of getting cervical cancer. "One study found a 10% increased risk for less than 5 years of use, a 60% increased risk with 5–9 years of use, and a doubling of the risk with 10 or more years of use."

However, both endometrial and ovarian cancer risks go down significantly (around 30%).

It's not you, it's our birth control

Men, you get on our nerves a lot when you leave the toilet seat up and we fall into the water during our midnight pees. But next time we flip out about it, please remember, we are on a pill that literally affects our brain and hence, mood. In a study done by scientists, the University of California observed the different areas of the brain of women who were and weren't on the birth control pill. The study concluded that both the lateral orbitofrontal cortex and the posterior cingulate cortex were thinner in women who were on the pill compared to those who weren't. "The lateral orbitofrontal cortex is what helps us regulate emotions in response to external stimuli, while the posterior cingulate cortex helps us to evaluate our internal state of mind." This is why women who are on the pill are at an increased risk of getting depression, experiencing more anxiety, and having more mood swings.

Is this a surprise? I mean hello, we are ingesting a ton of fake hormones that trick our body into thinking its pregnant.

We still think your undeniably good-looking, but our birth control doesn't think the same  

Birth control lowers the sex drive for a lot of women. In a study done, out of 1,022 people taking birth control, 470 said that their sex drive had decreased. This is because birth control pills lower the levels of testosterone, one of the main drivers in sex drive, we naturally secrete.

Being on birth control is a very personal decision that includes a lot of considerations. Before you make assumptions about the women in your life, maybe just sit down and think about the consequences they're facing.

Report this Content
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190251
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14923
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457884
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26643
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments