BENEFITS BEYOND BIRTH CONTROL

Non-contraceptive health benefits associated with Oral Contraceptives

1. Protective effects against developing ovarian cancer~ Women who use birth control pills for at least six months have about half the chance of developing ovarian cancer as women who never use oral contraceptive’s. This protective effect persists for any years after stopping the pill.

2. Protective effects against developing uterine cancer~ Women who use birth control pills for at least one year have about half the chance of developing uterine cancer as women who do not. This protective effect lasts for many years after discontinuing usage.

3. Decreased incidence of benign breast cysts or lumps~ Women who use birth control pills are less likely to develop non-cancerous cysts or lumps such as fibrocystic breast disease. The longer a woman uses oral contraceptives the risk of developing non-cancerous breast disease declines.

4. Reduced risk of acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)~ Women who currently take oral contraceptives have about half the risk of developing PID as compared to women who do not use oral birth control. PID, an infection of the fallopian tubes and ovaries, is a major cause of female infertility. Approximately 750,000 cases of PID are diagnosed and treated each year. Oral contraceptives use alone, however, DOES NOT PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES.

5. Reduced risk of ectopic pregnancy~ Because birth control pills can prevent pregnancy, current users have only one-tenth the risk of ectopic pregnancy as compared to women who use other methods of birth control. An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus and is often called a “tubal pregnancy”.

6. Fewer ovarian cysts~ Because OC’s inhibit ovulation, women using oral contraception may be less likely to develop ovarian cysts

7. Improved menstrual cycle regularity~ Women who take birth control pills have more regular menstrual periods and fewer complaints of heavy menstrual flow and spotting than women who use other methods of birth control.

8. Reduced menstrual blood loss~ Oral contraceptive use usually decreases the number of days of menstrual bleeding and the amount of blood loss due to menstrual bleeding.

9. Less iron-deficiency (anemia)~ The decrease in menstrual blood loss which usually occurs with OC use makes the development of anemia less likely.

10. Fewer menstrual cramps~ Studies have shown that birth control pill users have fewer painful menstrual cramps

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