Birth Control Heartburn: Understanding Causes, Risks, and Management Strategies
How does birth control affect acid reflux and heartburn. What are the risks of long-term PPI use for managing these symptoms. How can women on birth control prevent and manage acid reflux naturally.
The Link Between Birth Control and Acid Reflux
Hormonal birth control methods have revolutionized women’s reproductive health, but they can come with unexpected side effects. One such side effect that many women experience is an increase in acid reflux and heartburn symptoms. Understanding this connection is crucial for women who use birth control and experience digestive discomfort.
How Does Birth Control Cause Acid Reflux?
The primary mechanism by which birth control pills can lead to acid reflux involves hormonal changes, particularly an increase in estrogen levels. Here’s how it works:
- Estrogen dominance: Birth control pills can create an “estrogen dominant” state in the body.
- Relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES): Excess estrogen can cause the LES to relax, allowing stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus.
- Weight gain: Increased estrogen levels can predispose some women to weight gain, which is a risk factor for acid reflux.
- Thyroid issues: Birth control pills may affect thyroid function, potentially leading to low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria).
Is acid reflux an inevitable consequence of using birth control? Not necessarily. While the risk is increased, not all women will experience this side effect. Individual factors such as diet, lifestyle, and overall health play significant roles in determining susceptibility to acid reflux symptoms.
The Dangers of Long-Term PPI Use for Birth Control-Related Heartburn
When women experience persistent heartburn or acid reflux while on birth control, they are often prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to manage these symptoms. However, long-term use of PPIs can lead to various health risks that are important to consider.
Potential Risks of Extended PPI Use
- Anemia: PPIs can interfere with iron absorption, potentially leading to iron-deficiency anemia.
- Osteoporosis: Long-term PPI use may increase the risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis.
- Clostridium difficile infections: PPIs can alter gut bacteria, increasing susceptibility to C. diff infections.
- Nutrient deficiencies: Magnesium and vitamin B12 deficiencies are common with prolonged PPI use.
- Dementia: Some studies suggest a potential link between long-term PPI use and increased risk of dementia.
Are there alternatives to PPIs for managing birth control-related heartburn? Yes, several natural approaches and lifestyle modifications can be effective in managing symptoms without the risks associated with long-term PPI use.
Natural Approaches to Managing Birth Control-Induced Acid Reflux
For women experiencing acid reflux or heartburn while on birth control, there are several natural strategies that can help alleviate symptoms without resorting to long-term medication use.
Dietary and Lifestyle Modifications
- Avoid trigger foods: Common triggers include spicy, fatty, or acidic foods.
- Eat smaller meals: This can reduce pressure on the LES.
- Don’t lie down after eating: Wait at least 3 hours before reclining.
- Elevate the head of your bed: This can help prevent nighttime reflux.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Excess weight can exacerbate reflux symptoms.
- Quit smoking: Smoking can weaken the LES and increase acid production.
Natural Remedies
Can natural remedies effectively manage birth control-related heartburn? Many women find relief through the following approaches:
- Apple cider vinegar: A teaspoon in water before meals may help increase stomach acid production.
- Ginger tea: Known for its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to soothe the digestive tract.
- Aloe vera juice: May help reduce inflammation in the digestive system.
- Probiotics: Can help balance gut bacteria and improve digestion.
- Digestive enzymes: May aid in proper food breakdown and nutrient absorption.
How effective are these natural remedies compared to PPIs? While individual responses vary, many women find significant relief through these approaches without the risks associated with long-term PPI use.
Nutrient Depletion: A Hidden Risk of Birth Control
One often overlooked aspect of hormonal birth control use is its potential to deplete certain nutrients in the body. This nutrient depletion can contribute to various health issues, including digestive problems like acid reflux.
Key Nutrients Affected by Birth Control
- B vitamins: Particularly B6, B12, and folate
- Magnesium: Essential for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body
- Zinc: Important for immune function and wound healing
- Selenium: A crucial antioxidant
- Vitamin C: Important for immune function and collagen production
How can women on birth control prevent nutrient depletion? Targeted supplementation and a nutrient-dense diet can help replenish these essential nutrients and potentially reduce the risk of developing acid reflux and other side effects.
The Role of Inflammation in Birth Control-Related Digestive Issues
Inflammation plays a significant role in many health issues, including digestive problems like acid reflux. Hormonal birth control can potentially increase inflammation in the body, exacerbating these issues.
Strategies to Reduce Inflammation
- Anti-inflammatory diet: Focus on omega-3 rich foods, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
- Regular exercise: Helps reduce overall inflammation in the body
- Stress management: Chronic stress can contribute to inflammation
- Adequate sleep: Poor sleep can increase inflammatory markers
- Herbal supplements: Turmeric, ginger, and boswellia have anti-inflammatory properties
Can reducing inflammation help alleviate birth control-related acid reflux? Many women find that addressing inflammation through diet and lifestyle changes can significantly improve their digestive symptoms.
The Importance of Informed Consent in Birth Control Use
While birth control is undoubtedly empowering for many women, it’s crucial that healthcare providers offer comprehensive information about potential side effects, including the risk of acid reflux and heartburn.
Key Points for Informed Consent
- Potential side effects, including digestive issues
- Nutrient depletion risks and the importance of supplementation
- Increased risk of being prescribed additional medications
- Alternative birth control methods
- Strategies for managing potential side effects
How can women ensure they’re making an informed decision about birth control? Open communication with healthcare providers, thorough research, and considering all available options are key steps in the decision-making process.
Holistic Approaches to Women’s Health While on Birth Control
Taking a holistic approach to health while using hormonal birth control can help mitigate potential side effects and support overall well-being. This approach considers the interconnectedness of various bodily systems and addresses health from multiple angles.
Key Components of a Holistic Approach
- Regular health check-ups: Monitor for any emerging issues
- Nutritional support: Address potential nutrient depletions
- Stress management: Implement stress-reduction techniques
- Physical activity: Engage in regular exercise
- Mind-body practices: Consider yoga, meditation, or tai chi
- Alternative therapies: Explore acupuncture or herbal medicine under professional guidance
Can a holistic approach prevent birth control-related acid reflux? While it may not prevent all cases, many women find that a comprehensive approach to health significantly reduces their risk of developing digestive issues and other side effects.
In conclusion, while hormonal birth control can increase the risk of acid reflux and heartburn, understanding these risks and implementing proactive strategies can help women manage their symptoms effectively. By adopting a holistic approach to health, women can enjoy the benefits of birth control while minimizing potential side effects. Remember, every woman’s experience is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Always consult with a healthcare provider before making changes to your birth control regimen or starting new supplements or treatments.
Acid Reflex and PPI’s — Dr. Molly Sears, ND
Once again-I am all for the use of Birth Control, it is empowering. I am also all for the use of adequate Informed consent about the use of the birth control and I love empowering women through education surrounding the use of the birth control. This week I will be sharing a series about the reality of the Pill and PolyPharm (;the use of multiple medications to address side effects of previously prescribed medications.)
Women on the birth control are SIGNIFICANTLY more likely to be prescribed multiple drugs after starting Hormonal Birth Control:
Used to manage
Acid reflex
GERD
Heartburn
The Facts
According to the authors of a 2007 study in the “Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology,” a relationship has been found between the use of oral contraceptives and the development of acid reflux.
Long term use of PPI’s can put you as risk of Anemia, Osteoporosis, C. Diff infections, Magnesium and B12 deficiencies, and Dementia.
Developing Heartburn, GERD, and Acid Reflex while on the Pill: The connection
Hormonal birth control can cause an “estrogen dominant” state within the body. This excess estrogen relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing regurgitation up the esophagus
An Increase in Estrogen predisposes you to obesity and vice versa. Both being overweight and this state of estrogen excess caused by the pill concurrently increases your risk for developing Acid reflex.
Thyroid issues that arise on the pill can contribute to hypochlorydia (low stomach acid) and most acid reflex is caused by low amounts of stomach acid
Final thoughts:
Does this mean you need to come off the birth control? Again, maybe- but probably not, it is your choice. I am writing this to create a space where women can educate themselves and empower them to know what side effects there are, what it can lead to, and how awareness can help them avoid falling into the cycle of poly pharm. With my patients on hormonal birth control we work to specifically ensure that we are replenishing the nutrient depletions, supporting our immune system, and optimizing our inflammation in our body to prevent these negative processes from occurring. For low stomach acid and heartburn symptoms clinically we try a simple intervention with Apple Cider Vinegar to manage this symptom. Sometimes this is enough and sometimes your body requires additional digestive support and repair.
Resources:
Heidelbaugh JJ, Kim AH, Chang R, Walker PC. Overutilization of proton-pump inhibitors: what the clinician needs to know. Ther Adv Gastroenterol. 2012;5(4):219-232.
Schoenfeld AJ, Grady D. Adverse effects associated with proton pump inhibitors. JAMA Intern Med. 2016;176(2):172-174.
Molly Sears
0 Likes
Postmenopausal hormone therapy as a risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux symptoms among female twins
1. Nilsson M, Johnsen R, Ye W, Hveem K, Lagergren J. Prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms and the influence of age and sex. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2004;39:1040–5. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
2. Dent J, El-Serag HB, Wallander MA, Johansson S. Epidemiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review. Gut. 2005;54:710–7. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
3. Nebel OT, Fornes MF, Castell DO. Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux: incidence and precipitating factors. Am J Dig Dis. 1976;21:953–6. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
4. Locke GR, 3rd, Talley NJ, Fett SL, Zinsmeister AR, Melton LJ., 3rd Prevalence and clinical spectrum of gastroesophageal reflux: a population-based study in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Gastroenterology. 1997;112:1448–56. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
5. Revicki DA, Wood M, Maton PN, Sorensen S. The impact of gastroesophageal reflux disease on health-related quality of life. Am J Med. 1998;104:252–8. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
6. Eloubeidi MA, Provenzale D. Health-related quality of life and severity of symptoms in patients with Barrett’s esophagus and gastroesophageal reflux disease patients without Barrett’s esophagus. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000;95:1881–7. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
7. Solaymani-Dodaran M, Logan RF, West J, Card T. Mortality associated with Barrett’s esophagus and gastroesophageal reflux disease diagnoses-a population-based cohort study. Am J Gastroenterol. 2005;100:2616–21. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
8. Sandler RS, Everhart JE, Donowitz M, Adams E, Cronin K, Goodman C, Gemmen E, Shah S, Avdic A, Rubin R. The burden of selected digestive diseases in the United States. Gastroenterology. 2002;122:1500–11. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
9. Henke CJ, Levin TR, Henning JM, Potter LP. Work loss costs due to peptic ulcer disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease in a health maintenance organization. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000;95:788–92. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
10. Lagergren J, Bergstrom R, Lindgren A, Nyren O. Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux as a risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma. N Engl J Med. 1999;340:825–31. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
11. Berrino F. World Health Organization IAfRoCaCotEC. Vol. 151. Lyon: IARC scientific publications; 1999. Survival of Cancer Patients in Europe: The EUROCARE-2 Study. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
12. Devesa SS, Blot WJ, Fraumeni JF., Jr Changing patterns in the incidence of esophageal and gastric carcinoma in the United States. Cancer. 1998;83:2049–53. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
13. Cameron AJ, Lagergren J, Henriksson C, Nyren O, Locke GR, 3rd, Pedersen NL. Gastroesophageal reflux disease in monozygotic and dizygotic twins. Gastroenterology. 2002;122:55–9. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
14. Nilsson M, Johnsen R, Ye W, Hveem K, Lagergren J. Obesity and estrogen as risk factors for gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. Jama. 2003;290:66–72. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
15. Corley DA, Kubo A. Body Mass Index and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2006 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
16. Jacobson BC, Somers SC, Fuchs CS, Kelly CP, Camargo CA., Jr Body-mass index and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux in women. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:2340–8. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
17. Hampel H, Abraham NS, El-Serag HB. Meta-analysis: obesity and the risk for gastroesophageal reflux disease and its complications. Ann Intern Med. 2005;143:199–211. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
18. Locke GR, 3rd, Talley NJ, Fett SL, Zinsmeister AR, Melton LJ., 3rd Risk factors associated with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. Am J Med. 1999;106:642–9. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
19. Nilsson M, Johnsen R, Ye W, Hveem K, Lagergren J. Lifestyle related risk factors in the aetiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux. Gut. 2004;53:1730–5. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
20. Mohammed I, Cherkas LF, Riley SA, Spector TD, Trudgill NJ. Genetic influences in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a twin study. Gut. 2003;52:1085–9. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
21. Nilsson M, Lundegardh G, Carling L, Ye W, Lagergren J. Body mass and reflux oesophagitis: an oestrogen-dependent association? Scand J Gastroenterol. 2002;37:626–30. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
22. Lichtenstein P, De Faire U, Floderus B, Svartengren M, Svedberg P, Pedersen NL. The Swedish Twin Registry: a unique resource for clinical, epidemiological and genetic studies. J Intern Med. 2002;252:184–205. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
23. Vakil N, van Zanten SV, Kahrilas P, Dent J, Jones R. The Montreal definition and classification of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a global evidence-based consensus. Am J Gastroenterol. 2006;101:1900–20. quiz 1943. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
24. Lubin JH, Gail MH. Biased selection of controls for case-control analyses of cohort studies. Biometrics. 1984;40:63–75. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
25. Hawkes CH. Twin studies in medicine–what do they tell us? Qjm. 1997;90:311–21. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
26. Zeger SL, Liang KY. Longitudinal data analysis for discrete and continuous outcomes. Biometrics. 1986;42:121–30. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
27. WHO. WHO Technical Report Series. Vol. 724. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1985. Energy and protein requirements. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation. Geneva, WHO; pp. 1–67. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
28. Eslick GD, Jones MP, Talley NJ. Non-cardiac chest pain: prevalence, risk factors, impact and consulting–a population-based study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2003;17:1115–24. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
29. Klauser AG, Schindlbeck NE, Muller-Lissner SA. Symptoms in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Lancet. 1990;335:205–8. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
30. Revicki DA, Wood M, Wiklund I, Crawley J. Reliability and validity of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Qual Life Res. 1998;7:75–83. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
31. Norell SE, Boethius G, Persson I. Oral contraceptive use: interview data versus pharmacy records. Int J Epidemiol. 1998;27:1033–7. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
32. Wilson PW, Garrison RJ, Castelli WP. Postmenopausal estrogen use, cigarette smoking, and cardiovascular morbidity in women over 50. The Framingham Study. N Engl J Med. 1985;313:1038–43. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
33. Colditz GA, Hankinson SE, Hunter DJ, Willett WC, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, Hennekens C, Rosner B, Speizer FE. The use of estrogens and progestins and the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. N Engl J Med. 1995;332:1589–93. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
34. Matthews KA, Kuller LH, Wing RR, Meilahn EN, Plantinga P. Prior to use of estrogen replacement therapy, are users healthier than nonusers? Am J Epidemiol. 1996;143:971–8. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
35. Weiner CP, Lizasoain I, Baylis SA, Knowles RG, Charles IG, Moncada S. Induction of calcium-dependent nitric oxide synthases by sex hormones. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994;91:5212–6. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
36. Hirsch DP, Holloway RH, Tytgat GN, Boeckxstaens GE. Involvement of nitric oxide in human transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations and esophageal primary peristalsis. Gastroenterology. 1998;115:1374–80. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
37. Van Thiel DH, Gavaler JS, Stremple J. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure in women using sequential oral contraceptives. Gastroenterology. 1976;71:232–4. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
38. Richter JE. Gastroesophageal reflux disease during pregnancy. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2003;32:235–61. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
39. Olans LB, Wolf JL. Gastroesophageal reflux in pregnancy. Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am. 1994;4:699–712. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
40. Torbey CF, Richter JE. Gastrointestinal motility disorders in pregnancy. Semin Gastrointest Dis. 1995;6:203–16. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
41. Van Thiel DH, Wald A. Evidence refuting a role for increased abdominal pressure in the pathogenesis of the heartburn associated with pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1981;140:420–2. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
42. Fisher RS, Roberts GS, Grabowski CJ, Cohen S. Altered lower esophageal sphincter function during early pregnancy. Gastroenterology. 1978;74:1233–7. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
43. Fisher RS, Roberts GS, Grabowski CJ, Cohen S. Inhibition of lower esophageal sphincter circular muscle by female sex hormones. Am J Physiol. 1978;234:E243–7. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
44. Lagergren J. Controversies surrounding body mass, reflux, and risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Lancet Oncol. 2006;7:347–9. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
“Birth control pills have made my life a nightmare”
Millions of women take birth control pills, and many are quite happy. However, there are times when these pills have a detrimental effect on the psyche.
Vicki Spratt, Associate Editor of The Debrief, tells how she battled depression, anxiety and panic attacks for years while trying to find the right medication.
How it all started o
My mother and I came to my local doctor with a complaint that my periods had not ended for three weeks. She recommended birth control pills for me – with some reservations, of course. Pills do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, the doctor stressed, and unprotected sex can lead to the development of cervical cancer. She was forced to say this, although I was only 14 years old, and I thought about sex last.
Image copyright VICKY SPRATT
The nurse filled out the prescription and I ended up with a three month supply of oral contraceptives. Going to the pharmacy for green blisters with tiny yellow pills I took as a kind of rite of passage into women. These were not just pills, but a sweetened concentrate of feminism, the struggle for women’s rights, medical progress.
That’s how it all started. It was 14 years ago, and since then I have been “playing drug roulette” for more than ten years, testing various drugs on myself with varying success. At the same time, I began to experience anxiety, depression, and mood swings that, with minor interruptions, haunted me all my adult life.
I had several failed romances and had to miss a year of university. All this I attributed to my shortcomings. Like, such a person I am: unadapted to life, insecure, unhappy. It wasn’t until my 20s, when I had already graduated from university and my mental and behavioral problems could no longer be attributed to “difficult adolescence”, that I first seriously thought about the side effects of pills.
Image copyright BSIP/Getty
Types of birth control pills
There are two main types of birth control pills: combination pills, which contain estrogen and progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone), and “pure progestin pills” or “mini pills,” which contain only one hormone (progestin).
- Combination tablets are available under many different names. They differ in dosage and ratio of estrogen and progestin.
- Progestin tablets also vary depending on the combination of norethisterone or desogestrel in their composition.
- Many women experience individual intolerance to certain components of hormonal contraceptives.
One day after another panic attack and as a result of a sleepless night, I sat down at the computer and started looking for information on Google. The day before, I switched to new progestin contraceptives, which I was prescribed because of a migraine. As it turned out, combination pills are contraindicated for those who suffer from migraine with aura.
I typed in the name of my drug and the words “depression” and “anxiety”. The Internet immediately showed me forum threads and posts by bloggers who were suffering from the same symptoms as me.
By that time, I had already gone to my local doctor several times complaining of sudden and powerful panic attacks – this had never happened before. The topic of contraceptives never came up in the conversation, despite the fact that the attacks occurred simultaneously with the transition to new pills. Instead, I was prescribed a large dose of beta-blockers – drugs that treat anxiety – and advised to take a course of cognitive-behavioral therapy.
So I lived for about six or eight months. I can’t say for sure, because this period in my memory is very blurred and accelerated, because the feeling of anxiety and danger was constantly pulsing in my veins.
Photo credit, BSIP/Getty
Learn more
The Debrief conducted a survey of 1022 readers aged 18 to 30:
- 93% of respondents were taking birth control intravenous tablets at or before the interview .
- Of these, 45% suffered from anxiety, the other 45% from depression.
- 46% said the pills reduced their sex drive.
- 58% believe the pills have had a negative impact on their mental health.
- 4% speak of the positive effect of the tablets.
I would like to laugh when I think about it. This is how all good stories should end, right? But there was nothing funny about what I went through. It was horror. I felt fear all the time. I did not recognize myself, did not love and could not live in peace. I didn’t know what to do, who to turn to and whether this would end. In addition to anxiety, I was seized by apathy. I felt like a complete mediocrity and blamed only myself for what was happening.
Thinking I was crazy, I told my doctor that I “felt like I’m not myself, but someone else,” as if my brain had become moldy and shrunken.
“Don’t you think it has something to do with my pills?” I asked. I remember the expression on her face: she was trying to keep a neutral look, but she could hardly contain her sarcasm. I explained that six of the seven types of pills I was taking had a negative effect on my well-being. The only exception was high estrogen pills, which made me feel like a superwoman for a year until they were discontinued (partly due to migraines, partly because long-term use of this drug increases the risk of thrombosis).
Having mastered herself, the doctor said categorically “no”: my problems are not related to pills.
However, I didn’t listen to her or my therapist and stopped taking progestin pills.
What happened next, I can only call a gradual and careful return of my “I”. After three to four weeks, I stopped taking beta-blockers. To this day, I always carry them with me in my purse in case I fall “off the high rock of my consciousness” again. However, for three and a half years they were never needed.
Of course, my problems didn’t disappear overnight, but the panic attacks stopped. None have happened over the years. From time to time I experience depression, anxiety and stress, but not to the extent that when I took the progestin pills. I remembered what joy is. My sex drive has returned. I stopped being afraid of everyone and everyone.
A year after the panic attacks stopped, I went on a solo trip to the other side of the world. A year earlier, this would have been unthinkable. Sitting on a distant tropical beach under a warm thunderstorm, I suddenly burst into tears of joy. What a relief it was that I became myself again, that I can control my thoughts, that I was not mistaken – I really know myself better than the doctors assured me.
I am now 28 years old and no longer take hormonal contraceptives. With the exception of mild mood swings during the day before my period, I was completely free from anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.
Image copyright VICKY SPRATT
Ever since I lost myself on progestin pills and found myself again on a South Asian beach, my problem has gradually begun to attract more and more attention. In 2013, Holly Grigg Spall’s book Sweetening The Pill was published, in which the author stated the impact of hormonal contraception on women’s mental health.
In addition, an important study was conducted: Professor Øyvind Lidegaard from the University of Copenhagen found that women who take birth control pills (both combined and progestin) are more likely to be prescribed antidepressants than others. This difference was especially noticeable among young women aged 15-19 who took the combination pill.
Lidegaard was able to carry out this study because he was given access to the health records of over a million Danish women aged 15 to 34.
After reading about this study, I sent an information request to the National Health Service. As a journalist for The Debrief, I knew that many British women also suffer from such effects of pills – our readers complained to us almost daily. I asked how many women take birth control pills along with antidepressants or beta-blockers. I was told that their system does not yet allow sampling of this data.
Pills and depression
Here is what Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, President of the Royal College of Physicians says:
“Hormones have been proven to affect mood – both positively and negatively. For most women, reliable contraception and regulation of the menstrual cycle are undeniable the benefits outweigh the side effects, if any. In addition, many women claim that hormonal drugs improve their mood.
If a woman thinks that contraceptives are negatively affecting her mood, she should see a doctor. ”
Depression is now considered a possible but rare side effect of hormonal contraceptives, according to the instructions that come with the pills. The National Health Service website refers to “mood swings” without directly naming depression, anxiety, or panic attacks.
You don’t have to give up pills, but you don’t have to put up with the negative side effects that keep us from living. We need information to make a choice. We need more thorough research on the effect of hormonal contraceptives on the female psyche, monitoring the reaction of patients, more support for those who suffer from serious side effects. Women should not feel ignored or not taken seriously.
Vicki Spratt is Associate Editor of The Debrief, website for women in their 20s and 30s. Now this site publishes a series of materials “ Mad About The Pill “.
Buy antiseptic pills, suppositories, packs – Price for oral contraceptives (OC)
Filters
Virobnik
See all
See all
Take it all
Found 194 items
Sorting for locks Sorting from cheap to expensive Sorting from expensive to cheap
Avodel tab 1.5mg No. 1
AVODEL
no more
Available in stock: 2 pcs
254.40 UAH.
Androfarm tab 50mg №20
ANDROPHARM
0005
713.20 UAH
Angelik tab v/o No. 28
ANGELIK
vacant
Available in stock: 67 pcs
437.70UAH.
Belara tab v / o No. 63
BELAR
no voucher
In the presence of the measure: 23 pack
1 056.90 UAH.
VISAN tab 2mg №28 (14×2) bl
VISAN
cancel the ticket
Available in stock: 36 pack
829.50 UAH.
Diane-35 dr.
Difenda tab №28
DIFENDA
vacant
Available in stock: 2 pcs
228.80 UAH
Desirette tab i/o 0.075mg №28
DESIRETT
Jazz plus tab v/o No. 28
JAZZ
Free of charge
In the presence of the merchant: 179 pcs
323.60UAH.
Jazz tab in / about No. 28
JAZZ
cancel voucher
Available in stock: 164 units
317UAH.
Divigel gel 0.1% package 1 g №28
DIVIGEL
Dufaston tab i.v. 10mg №14
DUFASTON
0005
482.30 UAH
Dufaston tab i. v. 10mg №20
DUFASTON
Escapel tab 1.5mg No. 1
ESCAPEL
free of charge
Available in stock: 155 pcs
370.70 UAH.
Subscribe to our latest promotions
Earn a 2% discount on your next purchase
Just some basic information about the great reductions
Anti-drug pills
Regardless of the name of the drug, practically all anti-drug pills are taken according to one principle. The stench ignores ovulation, zapobigayuchi themselves attaching the zaplodne ova to the mucosal surface of the uterus.
Antiseptic drugs can be seen:
- lower implants;
- injectables;
- min-drank;
- estrogen-progestin combination drugs;
- hormonal packs for vaginal congestion;
- hormonal preparations;
- postcoital medications;
- contraceptive plasters.
You can buy anti-inflammatory tablets not only for the prevention of non-emergency vaginess, but also for:
Types of oral contraceptives
Oral contraceptives, the price of which is available in our online pharmacy, show different effects on the reproductive organs:
- to attach a frozen egg;
- block the onset of the ovulation process;
- reduce the friability of spermatozoa due to the increase in the viscosity of the mucus;
- add to the life of spermatozoa.
Oral contraceptives are recommended for the quantity and amount of hormones and are supplemented with combinations and one-component (gestagenic).
Distinguished by number of hormones:
- low dose preparations – recommended for patients of reproductive age;
- microdosing – to prescribe on the very cob of state maturity to women up to 25 years of age;
- high-dose – zastosovuyutsya when the balance of state hormones is disturbed, due to pathology or century-old changes.
Emergency high-dose oral contraceptives and buy to lie down with different mechanical barriers or if they are damaged. Enter them next no later than 72 years after the act and not more often than three times on the river. Such disposable drugs for emergency help block the onset of ovulation and cause bleeding, similar to menstruation.
Antizaplide pills – list 040
Hormonal contraceptives
Classified hormonal contraceptives per:
- gestagenic – avoid synthetic analogues of progestin;
- combinations – include both types of female hormones: analogues of progestin and estrogen.
Combinations of preparations for which can be single-phase, if the dosing and hormonal levels are not changed by the prolongation of the last cycle, two- and three-phase, which mimic the equalization of hormones in the daily cycle. You can also look at prostatitis with us.
Biphasic preparations at the same time are practically not vicarious for contraception. It is important to prescribe them to summer women for the relief of menopausal symptoms.
Triphasic people also step by step: they don’t give any significant advantage over monophasic people and they show much more respect when taking them.
In general, it is obvious that the lower the concentration of hormones, and the lower the injection of the drug into the body, the doctors recommend hormonal microdosing tablets to healthy women.
If you want to buy hormonal contraceptives, it is necessary to buy not insoles for contraception, but also to improve the balance of hormones, the drug can give you a preparation with a higher concentration of hormones.