It hasn’t been a hundred years since people were allowed to use the oral contraceptive pill as an effective method of birth control. On May 9, 1960, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved oral birth control pills.
Since then, in the last 64 years, this oral contraceptive pill has become a major regulator in solving various gynecological problems including birth control.
The oral pill was developed as the first birth control method in America.
The effectiveness of the pill was tested on hundreds of married female volunteers in Birmingham and Slough.
By October 1961 the following year, the British Family Planning Association added the pill to their approved list of contraceptives, a significant step forward.
Because this association was the leading provider of family planning services in the UK.
What are birth control pills? How does it work?
Birth control pills are made only for women. Birth control pills for men are not yet on the market.
Birth control pills are a type of medicine that contains hormones that help prevent pregnancy by preventing the release of eggs from a woman’s ovaries.
Most oral contraceptives contain the hormones estrogen and progestin.
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Its main function is to prevent ovulation or the release of eggs, and estrogen to control menstrual bleeding.
Doctors say that taking birth control pills regularly as advised by experts can prevent pregnancy in 99 percent cases.
The most popular birth control method is the oral pill. There are several types of pills available in the market. Such as combined oral pill, progesterone only pill or minipill and emergency pill.
The most common pill or pill is the combined pill, which is a mixture of estrogen and progesterone hormones.
They say that the high levels of hormones in the first generation pills are now low. Except in exceptional cases the side effects are very few.
The combined pill is usually available in a sheet of 28 tablets. Of which 21 are active pills, and seven are inactive iron pills.
In general, the pill should be started from the first day of menstruation and should be taken continuously for 21 days.
If you forget to eat on the first day, you can start any day up to the fifth day. If one forgets to take the pill one day, doctors advise to take it the next day when he remembers.
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many questions
Mithila working in a private company in Dhaka is a mother of one child. This is his nickname. She told the BBC that she does not want to have children now that she is working, so she takes birth control pills.
But after starting to take birth control pills, he saw some changes in his body.
“I gain weight. I also have a headache. Later, when he went to the doctor again, he stopped the pill, then it was seen that the weight decreased during that time,” he said.
Many women like Mithila have various ideas or questions about oral contraceptive pills or birth control pills.
Many people think that taking birth control pills makes people fat. Some may have headaches, some may have mood swings, some may wonder whether it will cause period problems or not, and some are skeptical about whether the pill can be taken for a long time or not.
However, due to social conservatism, women often do not discuss them openly.
But do these ideas of women using birth control pills have any scientific truth?
Let’s explore some questions and ideas
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Does the pill make you fat?
Many women, like Miz Mithila, a private sector worker, feel that taking the pill makes them fat. But no studies have proven this.
Doctors say birth control pills make girls fat, it is not true. Weight gain in some cases.
But it increases due to accumulation of water in the body. And as a side effect of taking the pill, this watery substance accumulates. Which goes away again within a few months.
Professor Kiswar Laila, a doctor at Holy Family Hospital, told BBC Bangla, “Earlier there was a perception that taking the pill would make you fat. But that was not correct. Also, it is not right to get fat by taking the modern light pills that are available now. That is, the information that the pill is fattening is not correct.”
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital doctor Prof. Rezaul Karim Kajal said, the hormones that were used in the early pills, increased appetite, retained some water in the body – so weight increased.
“But the current pills are third and fourth generation. The fourth generation pills have almost no side effects.”
Professor Kajol said, they help in keeping blood cholesterol under control. Apart from this, oral pills are used to treat various diseases of women including regularization of menstruation.
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Mood swings
Women who take birth control pills often do not understand their behavior. It is difficult to predict when they are happy and when they are depressed.
It is generally believed that these women have mood swings. Doctors say that birth control pills also affect the brain.
A study on this subject was presented at the 105th Annual Conference of the Radiology Society of North America in 2019.
The researchers showed that there was a significant difference in the density of the hypothalamus of the brain between those who took birth control pills and those who were not taking the pill.
‘Hypothalamus’ is the center of control of sexual ability, sleep cycle, mood control, appetite etc.
Doctors are also citing the tendency of women to experience mood swings while taking birth control pills.
Professor Kiswar Laila said, “The current generation of low-dose pills available in the market now reduce mood swings. Earlier the pill had a high level of hormones, now the dose of the pill is very low (low). As a result, the Muay Thai swing is very low.”
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Period or menstrual complications
Apart from birth control, birth control pills are recommended by doctors for the treatment of various diseases including irregular menstruation, excessive bleeding with menstruation, lower abdominal pain during menstruation, mood swings for single and married women.
In addition, doctors recommend the use of pills for various reasons such as endometriosis, simple small ovarian cysts, menstruation at a fixed time for infertility treatment, stopping menstruation until the prescribed time for any operation and treatment.
However, many people think that regular pill users have menstrual problems.
Although doctors say, this idea is not correct.
Professor Kiswar Laila, a doctor at Holy Family Hospital, said that many times it is recommended to take pills to solve period or menstrual problems.
To avoid the side effects of taking the pill, Prof. Kishwa Laila’s advice is as follows – Do not take birth control pills continuously. It is advised to take the pill with a break for some time.
Maybe he will eat for six months, then take another method for two months and eat again for six months. This is suggested.
What is the difference between normal pill and emergency pill?
There is a difference between the emergency pill or the IPill, which is usually prescribed by doctors.
Doctors say, emergency pill is estrogen hormone dependent pill. The emergency pill is an effective way to prevent pregnancy in various situations such as unprotected sex, condom rupture, rape etc.
It is to be used as one tablet once or in two doses at 12 hour intervals. The pill must be used within five days of unprotected sex.
Gynecologist Dr. Urmila Majumdar told BBC Bangla that the difference between the emergency pill and the normal pill is that if someone wants birth control regardless of sexual intercourse or not, he will take the regular pill.
Emergency Pills or IPills are recommended to be taken within 72 hours when one is not using birth control, but there is a possibility of pregnancy as a result of intercourse.
Decreased ability to give birth?
Many women have a misconception that taking it for other treatments affects fertility.
Doctors say, this idea is not correct. It does not affect fertility in any way.
Periods may be delayed after stopping the pill but fertility returns.
Professor Rezaul Karim told BBC Bangla, “The third and fourth generations of pills have no effect on future fertility even if they are used for a long time.”
However, in some cases, doctors emphasize that women refrain from taking birth control pills or take them as prescribed by the doctor.
In some cases, women are discouraged or cautioned against using birth control pills.
For example, if you are over 40 years of age, you have vaginal bleeding, you have high cholesterol levels in your blood, there are restrictions on taking birth control pills.
In addition, extra precautions should be taken for those with vascular or blood clotting diseases, uncontrolled high blood pressure or diabetes, breast cancer, liver disease, jaundice or cancer, previous stroke or heart disease.
And before any major operation, doctors emphasize on women to start or stop taking the pill by consulting the doctor.