Birth control, in any form, is a magical thing. Who wants to be worried about getting pregnant every time they're getting busy? Nobody does. Today we're talking specifically about oral contraception: the pill. In high school everybody made a big deal out of taking birth control pills, and in many ways, the pill was surrounded by a negative stigma. There was this idea that if a girl was on the pill, she's obviously sleeping with every guy at school right? Wrong! Women choose to take birth control pills for many different health reasons, none of which are the business of anybody but her and her doctor. Even if a woman is on the pill to prevent unwanted pregnancies, it's still not your business!
1. To make your menstrual cycle predictable
In theory, a woman should have her period once a month (about every 28 days), but that doesn't always happen. Women can miss periods for all sorts of reasons including changing hormones, changes in exercise regimen, and stress. Even if a girl has a regular cycle, the exact day she will start her period is hard to pinpoint. Who's trying to wear pads for an extra three days waiting to start? Nobody.
2. To relieve cramps
I think most of us already knew this, but let's look at some facts from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). According to the ASRM, cramps are caused by contractions in the uterus, due to the production of a chemical called prostaglandin. Basically, if you produce a lot of prostaglandin, your cramps are worse. Wondering what can help with nasty cramps that make some of us want to stay in bed all day? You guessed it, birth control pills!
3. To control acne
Hormones can cause acne, but they can also control it. Most girls I know started taking the pill to control acne in high school, and they're certainly not complaining about the other benefits of birth control.
4. To relieve heavy bleeding
Back to the ASRM we go to explain how the pill can reduce bleeding. Birth control pills contain a hormone that mimics progesterone, which helps make the lining of the uterus thinner. Thinner uterine lining = lighter flow = happy woman.
5. To avoid unwanted pregnancy
That's right, I'm not leaving this one out. Because it's SUPER important! According to Planned Parenthood, perfect use of the pill is 99% effective. Planned Parenthood does warn us that most people will not perfectly use the pill, which means that the pill is really only about 91% effective, but that's still pretty good! If you're still worried about getting pregnant, using a condom is a good idea, but there's nothing wrong with choosing the pill as your primary form of birth control. (P.S. Friendly reminder that birth control does not protect agaisnt STIs, but condoms do!)
6. To treat endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition in which a woman's uterine tissue starts to grow, well, outside of her uterus. It's painful, and it makes periods hell.
7. To prevent iron deficiency
Believe it or not, a lot of women experience fatigue during or right after their period because of an iron deficiency. Women who take birth control pills are less likely to experience this since the pill can decrease bleeding, therefore decreasing the amount of iron lost.
