Birth control pills prevent the ovaries of a woman from releasing eggs during ovulation. They are categorized as oral contraceptives in medications. This is one of the main types of contraception methods used by women. A pill a day is usually consumed for 21 days followed by a placebo for 7 days. The woman will menstruate during the 7 days when the placebo is being taken.

Considered as one of the main types of contraception/birth control methods, these pills do have some side-effects that can be harmful. Though, in most cases, many of the side-effects of taking these pills are not severe. Also, the body needs to adapt to the pills, which normally takes 3 to 4 months. After the passage of the adapting period, the side-effects reduce.

The harmful side effects of birth control pills include the following:

1. Fatigue
The feeling of fatigue is a common side-effect of the main types of contraception/birth control methods. Include regular exercise in your daily routine to deal with fatigue.

2. Depression
One of the most severe side-effects of these birth control pills is the possibility of depression. It’s best to consult your doctor if upon usage, you feel depressed or experience any symptoms.

3. High blood pressure
There is always the risk of a rise in blood pressure on using these pills.

4. Fluid retention
These pills can cause fluid-retention as one of its side effects.

5. Dizziness
Dizziness is a possible and harmful side effect that can be experienced upon usage of birth-control pills.

6. Insomnia
These pills can also cause insomnia in a few cases. This can affect the daily routine of the person.

7. Cancer and other health issues
Generally, taking these pills over a long period of time is common, but some research has shown that it can increase the risk of some types of cancer. The American Cancer Society states that extended usage of these pills can cause breast cancer and cervical cancer. On the contrary, some research studies have shown that it can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer.

Regular use of these birth control pills can be the cause of serious ailments such as gallbladder disease, blood clots, heart attack, and a stroke. With an increase in age, one needs to look for alternatives to these pills in order to reduce the possibility of the above-mentioned side-effects.

8. Don’t use birth control if
One should avoid these pills if they have certain health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, regular chest pain, liver diseases, etc.