Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks
Some users report the following:
- Changes in bleeding patterns including:
- Lighter bleeding and fewer days of bleeding
- Irregular bleeding
- Infrequent bleeding
- No monthly bleeding
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Breast tenderness
- Weight change (see Question 6)
- Mood changes
- Acne (can improve or worsen, but usually improves)
Other possible physical changes:
- Blood pressure increases a few points (mm Hg). When increase is due to COCs, blood pressure declines quickly after use of COCs stops.
Known Health Benefits
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Known Health Risks
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Help protect against:
- Risks of pregnancy
- Cancer of the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer)
- Cancer of the ovary
- Symptomatic pelvic inflammatory disease
May help protect against:
- Ovarian cysts
- Iron-deficiency anemia
Reduce:
- Menstrual cramps
- Menstrual bleeding problems
- Ovulation pain
- Excess hair on face or body
- Symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome (irregular bleeding, acne, excess hair on face or body)
- Symptoms of endometriosis (pelvic pain, irregular bleeding)
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Very rare:
- Blood clot in deep veins of legs or lungs (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism)
Extremely rare:
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See also Facts About Combined Oral Contraceptives and Cancer.
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