Not only can birth control pills effectively prevent pregnancy they also improve or prevent several reproductive health conditions. According to “American Family Physician’s” most recent update on oral contraceptives, “The non contraceptive benefits (and favorable side effect profiles) of oral contraceptive pills are so important that some patients use the pills exclusively for those reasons.”
The conditions which the American Academy of Family Physicians endorses the use of birth control pills are:
Excessive androgens:
They can contribute to the development of acne, birth control pills reduce the amount of androgen that is available. How this works depends on the specific hormone combination in a particular oral contraceptive. In a 1997 study, 83% of participants who received norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol rated their acne improved after six months. Sales of Ortho Tri-Cyclen have tripled since the results of this study were published.
Benign Breast Cysts:
Birth control pills are considered first line treatment for this condition. Seventy to ninety percent of patients see improvement in the symptoms of fibrocystic breast conditions with use of oral contraceptives.
Dysmenorrhea:
Women who use birth control pills rarely experience menstrual cramps.
Ectopic Pregnancy:
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) there is controversy about whether birth control pills prevent ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg fails to implant itself in the uterus, most often remaining in the fallopian tubes.
Endometriosis:
Progestin only birth control pills are an effective treatment for endometriosis. Unfortunately the side effects of this treatment which includes irregular bleeding, fluid retention, and depression have made this option unbearable for many women.
Functional Ovarian Cysts:
These are the most common type of ovarian cyst and usually dissolve within two menstrual cycles without treatment. Birth control pills may help prevent this type of ovarian cyst by helping to regulate the menstrual cycle.
Hirsutism:
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is the most common cause of excessive hair growth in women. Oral contraceptives can improve or stabilize up to 50% of cases caused by PCOS.
Metrorrhagia:
Women who experience abnormal uterine bleeding can often regulate their menstrual cycle with oral contraceptives, if after close medical investigation the abnormal bleeding is not found to be a symptom of a more serious condition.
Mittelschmerz:
Birth control pills block the wave of hormones that occurs before ovulation, and are often effective for relieving mid-cycle or ovulation pain.
Ovarian & Endometrial Cancer:
Women who use birth control pills experience these types of cancer at about half the rate of nonusers. However it’s important to note that there may be an increased risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer in women who use birth control pills for more than five years.
Premenstrual Syndrome:
Many women experience less symptoms of PMS while using birth control pills. However, there are other treatments and lifestyle modifications which may also provide relief and which should be considered.
BirthControlBuzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, birth control types (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line.
For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control(prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line. For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
