Sex

Positive and Negative Effect of the Pill

Birth control, the Pill in particular, is one of the most studied contraceptives out there. There are constantly new studies and reports proclaiming its positive and negative effects. Sure it keeps you from getting pregnant, but what other consequences could it have?

Despite what you may have heard, taking the Pill does not increase your chance of developing breast cancer. It actually reduces the lifetime risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers (by 80 percent in women who take it for at least 10 years). There’s a slight chance it raises the risk of developing cervical cancer, but that risk disappears soon after you stop taking it. Though it may come with certain risks, the positive outweighs the negative.

For some women, the Pill can have negative effects on relationships. It can put a damper on sex drive because it increases levels of a sex-hormone-binding globulin. Research even shows that the levels of this hormone remain elevated for several months after going off the Pill.

Many women think their weight gain is due in part to the Pill. This is untrue. The Pill has no effect on weight gain according to studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control. Oral contraceptives may however affect how you lose weight. Those who were trying to lose weight while on the Pill had lower levels of muscle-building hormones and higher levels of hormones that break down tissue, compared with those that weren’t on the pill.

Because the Pill helps stabilize levels of hormones in women, it helps reduce mood swings in many women. Though many report a change in mood after taking the Pill, a switch in brands may be all it takes to lift your spirits.

Finally, newer versions of the Pill are good for your heart health. Unless you’re already at risk for cardiovascular disease, the Pill does not increase the chance for heart attack or stroke.

Study Shows Women of All Ages Practice Unsafe Sex

According to a new national study, women of all ages practice unsafe sex and don’t consistently protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies. The study, which surveyed nearly 1,600 women between the ages of 15 and 44, turned the tables on some of the common myths about reckless sex. Turns out, age is not a factor when it comes to safe sex practices.

Of the women studied, 28 percent used oral contraceptives, 21 percent used condoms, and 10 percent had their tubes tied while 14 percent were with partners who had vasectomies. Six percent of the women said they used no contraception at all.

Overall, 28 percent of the women reported they have had an unwanted pregnancy.

The most shocking results had to do with the women’s ages, however. The proportion of those who reported always using a condom was highest among the 15 to 17 year-olds (40 percent) while it was lowest among the oldest group of women aged 40 to 44 years (15 percent).

Andre Lalonde, executive vice president of the Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians, said the study highlights the need for better sex education among women of all ages. Doctors, he said, also need more education on how to deal with sexuality issues among their patients.