There are a lot of rumors about negative health effects of hormonal birth control spreading on social media. While all medication can have side effects and potential risks, the reality is that birth control is safe and effective for most people. Let’s separate fact from fiction.
What is hormonal birth control and how does it work?
Hormonal birth control is a type of contraception that uses synthetic versions of the body’s natural reproductive hormones—estrogen and progestin, or progestin alone—to reduce the chance of pregnancy. It is available in several forms, including pills, patches, vaginal rings, injections, implants, and some intrauterine devices (IUDs).
Hormonal birth control prevents pregnancy in one or more of three ways: by preventing an egg from being released from the ovary, thickening the cervical mucus, and thinning the lining of the uterus.
Does using birth control raise your risk of infertility?
Because hormonal birth control uses your body’s own biology to prevent pregnancy, it does not permanently change the reproductive system. For most people, fertility returns soon after they stop using hormonal contraceptives, although the timing may vary depending on the birth control method.
However, birth control can mask symptoms of conditions that may contribute to infertility, like ovulation disorders, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, formerly known as PCOS) and endometriosis. When a person receives a diagnosis after they stop taking birth control, they may falsely assume that their birth control caused the condition. However, there is no reliable evidence to suggest that hormonal birth control affects your fertility once you stop using it.
Should I take a “hormone break” from my birth control?
There is no medical reason to take regular breaks from hormonal birth control if it is working well for you and you want to continue using it.
Some people believe the body needs time to “recover” from the hormones in birth control. However, research has shown that healthy people can safely use many forms of hormonal birth control for years. Taking breaks does not make it work better or improve your health. In fact, some people may experience symptoms that their birth control was helping to manage if they stop, such as heavier periods, painful cramps, and acne.
Can taking hormonal birth control make me depressed?
This one is a little trickier, because many people experience changes to their mood when using hormonal birth control. For those with mood changes or disorders that fluctuate drastically with their cycle (such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD), birth control pills often provide a positive improvement in these symptoms. For others, the opposite effect can occur and adding a hormonal pill can have negative effects on their moods and mental health.
Additionally, many people start taking birth control during adolescence, a time when symptoms of depression often start [archived link]. Some large studies have found a small link between certain hormonal contraceptives and depression. But finding a link isn’t the same as proving a cause because many other factors could be behind it. Overall, high-quality studies have found that most people who use hormonal birth control do not develop depression because of it.
If you notice that your mood changes after you start taking birth control, talk to your clinician. They may recommend trying a different birth control method or look for another possible cause of the symptoms.
Can my birth control make me feel less sexually attracted to my partner?
Some people do notice changes in their sex drive after starting hormonal birth control. However, the cause of impaired sexual function is often multifactorial, meaning that it is influenced by several biological, psychological, and social factors. Study findings also vary, with some reporting worsened, neutral, or even improved sexual function after starting hormonal contraceptives. If you are experiencing new sexual symptoms and you think your birth control may be the reason, you should talk to your clinician.
However, it is also important to understand that experiencing changes in your sexual function is not the same as losing attraction to your partner. The latter is a relatively new myth circulating on the internet, and it is not backed by evidence. Sexual desire and romantic attraction are different, and many other physical and emotional factors can influence both.
What if I become pregnant while taking hormonal contraception?
No birth control method is 100% effective, so pregnancy can sometimes happen even when birth control is used correctly. The good news is that the hormones present in your birth control will not have a negative impact on a pregnancy if it occurs. Many studies have been done to establish whether there is any risk to a developing fetus, and the evidence shows that taking birth control early in a pregnancy does not increase the risk of miscarriage or birth defects [archived link]. If you do become pregnant while taking birth control, you should stop once you receive a positive pregnancy test and reach out to your clinician.
So what are the real health risks of taking hormonal contraception?
As with all medications, taking hormonal birth control can lead to real risks and side effects. Some people should avoid birth control methods that contain estrogen or should talk with their clinician before using them. This includes people who:
- Smoke and are age 35 or older
- Have a history of blood clots, stroke, or certain heart diseases
- Have migraine headaches with aura
- Have uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Have certain types of liver disease
- Have had breast cancer
Many of these people can still safely use progestin-only birth control methods, but the best option depends on their medical history.
Hormonal birth control can also raise your risk for certain health problems, particularly if you have specific pre-existing health conditions. These include heart attack, stroke, blood clots, and liver tumors. However, these occur very rarely and are more common with combination (estrogen and progestin) methods than with progestin-only.
There are also some common side effects of using hormonal birth control, but they are usually mild and often improve or disappear after a few months. These include nausea, breast tenderness, spotting between periods, headaches, and moodiness or irritability.
And remember, hormonal birth control won’t protect you from STIs. You’ll need to use another method of contraception, like condoms, to keep yourself safe.
Bottom Line
Ultimately, the best birth control is the one that is safe for your health, fits your lifestyle, and matches your reproductive goals. If you have questions or concerns about hormonal birth control, talk with your clinician. When you meet with them, be sure to share your medical history and discuss any ongoing health problems and current medications. Together, you can choose the option that is right for you.
Stay well, stay curious.
Love,
Those Nerdy Girls
Useful links:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Contraception and Birth Control Methods | Contraception | CDC [archived link]
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): Birth Control | ACOG
American Medical Association (AMA): What doctors want patients to know about birth control | American Medical Association
Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF): Misleading Narratives and Social Media Shape Contraception Perceptions — The Monitor | KFF [archived link]
Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health: “Do You Know What Birth Control Actually Does to Your Body?”: Assessing Contraceptive Information on TikTok – PMC
PBS News Hour: Examining the facts about contraceptives as birth control misinformation spreads online | PBS News [archived link]
Mama Doctor Jones: Gynecologist Debunks Viral Birth Control LIES
