What are the various side effects of KB pills that may occur?

Contraceptive pills or commonly known as birth control pills are one of the most effective methods of preventing pregnancy. According to data from the Ministry of Health, the birth control pill is one of the four most common methods of contraception in Indonesia. However, most women report experiencing some side effects of birth control pills. What are the possible side effects of using birth control pills?

Common side effects of birth control pills

These birth control pills contain the hormones estrogen and progesterone which function to prevent the fertilization of sperm cells against eggs in a woman's body. Apart from being known as a birth control pill, birth control pills can also help with irregular periods, painful menstruation, and acne.

However, in some women, there may be side effects that can occur when you take birth control pills. The conditions below are considered some of the most common side effects of using birth control pills.

1. Blood spots appear

Vaginal bleeding is one of the most common side effects of birth control pills. Nearly 50% of people who use birth control pills, have bleeding or spotting from their vagina outside of their normal menstrual schedule. This occurs when the uterus sheds itself so that fertilization does not occur. At least this will happen in the first three months or so of using birth control pills.

As long as you have a blood spot, birth control pills will still be effective at preventing pregnancy. Birth control pills make the uterus always shed so that it is not ready and ripe when fertilization occurs. The shedding of the uterine wall is what makes bleeding more frequent. When you take birth control pills, your uterus will adjust to keep on shedding to prevent pregnancy.

In fact, you can avoid any of the side effects of these birth control pills. For example, you can use the birth control pill at the same time every day. This can help you maintain the consistency of hormone levels in the body.

In addition, you are advised to keep using these birth control pills regularly even if blood spots appear. The reason is, your body may slowly adapt to the use of these pills and the blood stains will eventually disappear on their own.

Not only that, you should make sure of all other types of drugs that you also use. Make sure that there are no drugs that can interact with the birth control pills you are taking so that this side effect does not occur. However, if you experience heavy bleeding for three days or more, you should consult your doctor.

2. Nausea

One of the side effects of using birth control pills is nausea. Some people who have just started taking birth control pills will usually experience mild nausea as a side effect that you may experience. This nausea will usually subside after a while. Some people experience mild symptoms of nausea, but some people may experience moderate symptoms of nausea when taking birth control pills.

Side effects from using birth control pills usually occur in a short period of time. Taking birth control pills swallowed at the same time as food or before going to bed can help prevent nausea from arising.

To prevent nausea as a side effect of using these birth control pills, you are not advised to use these contraceptive pills on an empty stomach. It would be better if you take this drug after dinner or before bed.

You can also take antacids or ulcer medications about 30 minutes before taking these birth control pills. The goal is to neutralize the condition of your stomach so that the side effects of this nausea can be prevented.

You don't need to stop taking these birth control pills even if you feel nauseous. The reason is, you could become pregnant if you stop consuming them. Especially if you also don't use other contraceptives as a backup. However, if the nausea that appears is very severe, then you are advised to see a doctor.

3. Breast swelling and pain

Birth control pills can cause breast swelling and pain when pressed. Side effects from using birth control pills occur in the first weeks after taking the pill and will disappear after that.

The way to prevent swollen and painful breasts is to reduce your intake of caffeine and salt while taking birth control pills. Also use a bra that is not using wires and is not too tight when you wear it to reduce the symptoms of breast pain that you feel.

4. Weight gain

Basically, there is no research that can prove a link between weight gain as a side effect of using birth control pills.

When using birth control pills, some parts of the body may get bigger, including around the breasts and hips. However, some studies also say that the increased hormone estrogen can enlarge fat cells. This has the potential to increase your weight when using birth control pills.

It's a good idea to choose combination birth control pills that contain certain types of progesterone with anti-corticoid anti-mineral properties. These substances function to prevent the buildup of water and salt in the body. This type can keep body weight stable and not gain. Immediately consult further with your doctor about these types of birth control pills.

To prevent weight gain and appetite, keep your calorie intake in your diet too. Regular exercise can also be a way to prevent the enlargement of certain body parts due to the side effects of birth control pills.

5. Moods are volatile

One of the side effects of using birth control pills is mood or mood volatile. This is because birth control pills suppress several other hormones in the body, including hormones that affect mood.

However, you can do several ways to create mood stable again. Do meditation regularly, for example every morning before starting an activity. This is done so that your next day is cheerful and not mood swing .

Besides, to prevent change mood In this case, it's a good idea to consult with your doctor for a solution to determine the type of contraception that is most right for you.

6. Whitish

Leucorrhoea can occur because of the side effects of the birth control pills you are taking. This discharge is usually harmless, but a discoloration or odor of discharge could indicate an infection in your genitals.

To prevent vaginal discharge, you need to keep your vagina clean. Change underwear at least twice a day. You can also use a pantyliner, but you have to change it every four hours. Using a pantyliner for too long can expose the vagina to yeast because of the increased moisture in the vagina.

7. Headache or migraine

One of the side effects of using birth control pills that you may experience is headaches or migraines. An imbalance in the levels of hormones related to the reproductive system, such as estrogen and progesterone, can cause headache and migraine symptoms.

Therefore, as stated in an article published in The Migraine Trust, taking birth control pills with different types and doses will cause different levels of headaches as a side effect. It is thought that birth control pills with low hormone levels will reduce the risk of headache symptoms.

8. changes in sex drive

Did you know that changes in sex drive can also be a side effect of using birth control pills? Yes, because they contain estrogen and progesterone, birth control pills can affect a woman's sexual desire.

For some people birth control pills can reduce arousal, while for others taking these drugs can actually increase sexual desire.

9. Vaginal yeast infection

Yeast infections of the vagina are generally caused by yeast growth Candida albicans which is excessive. This fungal growth causes the vagina to itch, feel hot, painful when urinating or having sex, and produce abnormal vaginal discharge (a liquid and foul-smelling lumpy texture)

Vaginal yeast infection is one type of infection that most often affects women. Reporting from the Medical News Today page, according to The National Women's Health Resource Center , about 75 percent of women have experienced vaginal yeast infection at least once in their life. Even in some women, this infection can recur.

The side effects of birth control pills can increase your risk of developing a vaginal yeast infection. This is because birth control pills contain ethinylestradiol, a synthetic version of the estrogen and progestin that is produced naturally in a woman's body.

This combination of synthetic hormones can disrupt the balance of the natural hormones estrogen and progesterone in the body. When hormone levels are not balanced, blood sugar can increase quite dramatically. But this excess sugar doesn't just happen to your blood, it's also in sweat, urine, and body mucus - including the mucus that lines the vaginal walls and vaginal fluids.

Sugar is the favorite food of mushrooms. So do not be surprised if mushrooms will thrive in places that have a lot of sugar content. In the end, the fungus will develop rapidly and infect the vagina.

Basically, using any type of hormonal contraception can increase your risk of vaginal yeast infection by the same mechanism. These include spiral contraceptives (IUDs), patches, and birth control rings.

Even so, the current versions of several types of hormonal birth control currently available no longer have the same effect. You can consult with your obstetrician to determine what contraception is most suitable for you. Your doctor may also lower your dose of hormonal birth control to reduce your risk of yeast infection.

How to treat vaginal yeast infection

One of the side effects of using birth control pills can be treated with over-the-counter drugs. For example, oral medications or antifungal ointments. Most yeast infections go away within one to two weeks. However, you should still consult a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Some anti-fungal creams that work effectively against infections include:

Clotrimazole (Gyne Lotrimin)
Butoconazole (Gynazole)
Miconazole (Monistat)
Tioconazole (Vagistat-1)
Terconazole (Terazol)

While using any of these medications, you are encouraged to "fast" sexual intercourse during treatment. This aims to prevent the transmission of yeast infection to your partner. In addition, antifungal medications can also reduce the effectiveness of condoms.

If you are already taking anti-yeast infection medication to overcome the side effects of this Kb pill but there are no significant changes, it is better to consult your doctor for further treatment. Especially if you experience other symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, unpleasant-smelling vaginal discharge, diabetes, HIV, pregnancy or breastfeeding.

There is nothing better than trying to prevent yeast infection as a side effect of birth control pills. Well, take care of your femininity with the following things: