Are Birth Control Pills Safe For Long Term Use?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Are pills safe for long term use? If you've been taking birth control pills for some time and have had no side effects, it's likely that you can continue using them for as long as your doctor deems it's still a safe choice.

For most healthy people, birth control pills are safe for long-term use.

Is it harmful to be on birth control for years?

However, there are some possible side effects from long-term usage, such as an

increased risk of blood clots and breast cancer

. The effects, though, are not all negative: Long-term use of birth control has also been associated with a reduced risk of developing ovarian, endometrial, and colorectal cancers.

How long can you stay on birth control safely?

The ACS also report that taking birth control for more than

5 years

may increase the risk of cervical cancer. The longer people take the pill, the higher their risk. However, the risk should go back down gradually when someone stops taking the pill.

Should you have a break from the pill after 10 years?

More than half of 18- to 19-year-old women in a recent survey agreed that “

women should ‘take a break' from oral contraceptive pills every couple of years

”. You may be surprised to know there is no biological evidence for “giving your body a break” and, in fact, it could do your health more harm than good.

Is it OK to be on the pill for 10 years?

Is it bad to be on birth control pills for a long time? No. Birth control pills are designed to be taken for a long time.

As long as you've had yours prescribed by a clinician, and they aren't causing side effects, you should be safe to keep taking them

.

Should I take a break from birth control?

is incredibly safe for the vast majority, and

a break is not necessary

. Those on the combined pill, patches or the vaginal ring already have a week off every month (although all of these methods can be safely used continuously without breaks).

Can long term use of birth control pills cause infertility?

A Word From Verywell

While the return of your natural menstrual cycle after hormonal contraception use may be delayed, experts agree that

long-term birth control usage is not a cause of infertility

, which means that using birth control to avoid pregnancy now will not affect your ability to conceive later.

Does birth control slow aging?

The longer a woman takes birth control pills or hormone-replacement therapy, and

the higher the dose, the more likely she is to look younger

. That's partly because estrogen can increase water retention, helping to smooth out the skin.

How does birth control affect your body long term?

The long-term use of birth control pills also

slightly raises your risk for blood clots and heart attack after the age of 35

. The risk is higher if you also have: high blood pressure. a history of heart disease.

What happens to your body when you come off the pill?

When people stop using birth control, they may experience side effects, including

irregular menstrual cycles, cramping, acne, and weight changes

.

What to expect after coming off the pill?

Coming off the pill will result in

a withdrawal bleed, which normally lasts for around a week

. Think of it like your pill break. Often this will be similar to your monthly bleed as most women stop bleeding before the end of their seven day break.

How often should you take a break from birth control?

If you have taken your birth control for at least 21 days and you continue to have spotting: Consider a short hormone-free break of

3 – 7 days

. The break cannot be longer than 7 days. Restart your birth control after the break (even if you are still spotting or bleeding).

What is the best long term birth control?


Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs)

are the most effective methods of birth control. LARCs include the copper Paragard IUD, the hormonal (progesterone) Mirena IUD, and the hormonal contraceptive implant (effective for 10, 5 and 3 years, respectively).

Does I pill affect future pregnancy?

Here is your answer-

No, using I-pill, also popular as the morning-after pill, does not affect a female's fertility or future pregnancies

. The emergency pill will not prevent her from getting pregnant in the future. Emergency contraceptive pills are safe to use whenever it is necessary.

Does the pill change your face?

Thus,

they can make the skin clearer, reduce facial hair, and increase the volume of the hair

. Some women have the following skin issues while on the pill: Melasma (dark, blotchy rash over cheekbones) due to estrogen content of the pill.

Do birth control pills cause hormonal imbalance?

Because synthetic hormones may bind to the wrong receptors,

birth control pills may cause hormone imbalances

and detrimental side effects. Not all women experience these problems, but for those that do side effects can be quite miserable.

Which hormones make you look younger?

The hormone

estrogen

is responsible for making skin look younger due to the hyaluronic acid it produces. Estrogen not only affects your skin but also your muscle mass, metabolism, and energy levels. Women have more estrogen than men do; men have more testosterone than women do.

What should I know about stopping birth control?

  • Your cycle may get wacky. …
  • Your periods could be heavier and crampier. …
  • PMS may come back, too. …
  • You may have mid-month twinges. …
  • Your weight may go down. …
  • Acne and unwanted hair may return. …
  • You might feel friskier. …
  • Headaches may vanish.

How do I prepare my body to go off birth control?

Also

taking supplements such as a high-quality multivitamin, fish oil, Vitamin D, and myo-inositol

would be incredibly beneficial during this transition. Taking these initial steps will set the stage for better hormone balance, and allow you to come off the Pill without any significant side effects.

Is it healthy to go on and off birth control?

Although

it's safe to quit your birth control mid-cycle, Dr. Brant suggests finishing out your current round so long as your side effects are not significantly impacting your quality of life

. “I generally encourage people to stay on it until they get in to a doctor to talk about other methods,” Dr.

What are natural birth control methods?

Natural methods of birth control include

fertility awareness methods

. Examples of natural methods of birth control include the calendar rhythm method, basal body temperature method, and cervical mucus examination.

Can I just stop taking birth control cold turkey?

how do you stop taking birth control? just cold- turkey? There's no “right way” to go off birth control —

you can stop taking your pills in the middle of the pack, or finish the pack you're on without starting a new one

.

What is the healthiest birth control?


Abstinence

. Abstinence is the only birth control that is 100 percent effective and is also the best way to protect you against STDs.

What is the safest form of permanent birth control?


Condoms

are the only birth control method that is known to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections and are recommended for anyone who might be at risk, such as people with more than one sex partner or those whose partner has other partners.

What is the safest birth control pill?

What is the safest contraception pill? Generally,

low-dose birth control pills, be it combination or progestin-only minipill

, are considered safest as they are associated with the lowest risk of causing blood clots.

Where do your eggs go when you're on birth control?

So technically,

birth control makes a woman keep her eggs

. There's no evidence that using hormonal birth control – like the pill, the ring, or the Mirena IUD – will have any negative effect on a woman's ability to get pregnant in the future.

Can birth control cause infertility in the future?

But

hormonal contraceptives don't cause infertility

, no matter which method you use or how long you've been using it. What they're designed to do, however, is temporarily delay your fertility and prevent pregnancy. But when you stop taking them, your normal fertility levels will eventually return.

Does I pill affect future pregnancy?

Here is your answer-

No, using I-pill, also popular as the morning-after pill, does not affect a female's fertility or future pregnancies

. The emergency pill will not prevent her from getting pregnant in the future. Emergency contraceptive pills are safe to use whenever it is necessary.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.