Home > Health Guides by Topic > Gynecology & Reproductive Health > Hormonal Treatments > Medical Uses of Oral Contraceptives Medical Uses of the Oral Contraceptive Pill:
A Guide for Teens
Adolescent girls and young women are frequently prescribed oral contraceptive pills for irregular or absent menstrual periods, menstrual cramps, acne, PMS, endometriosis, and hormone replacement therapy. For example, girls diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) (a hormone imbalance which causes irregular menstrual periods, acne, and excess hair growth) are prescribed oral contraceptives to lower their hormone levels back to normal and regulate menstrual periods. Girls with acne that is not responding to simple measures are often prescribed hormone pills. Girls whose ovaries are not producing enough estrogen (because of anorexia nervosa, excessive exercise, or damage to the ovaries from radiation or chemotherapy) often take oral contraceptive pills to replace estrogen. Girls with endometriosis are also often prescribed oral contraceptives, in cycles or continuously, to suppress the condition.
What are oral contraceptive pills?
Oral contraceptive pills contain two types of synthetic (man-made) female hormones, progestin and estrogen. These hormones are normally produced by the ovaries. There are many different types of oral contraceptives.
What are the medical benefits of the oral contraceptive pill?
Menstrual Cramps
For girls who experience severe menstrual cramps and over-the-counter medications do not help, oral contraceptive pills may be the solution. Oral contraceptive pills can help to decrease menstrual cramps. Because oral contraceptive pills prevent ovulation, they also get rid of pain that you experience with ovulation in the middle of your menstrual cycle.
Irregular or Absent Menstrual Periods
For girls whose menstrual periods are irregular (too often, too late, or not at all), oral contraceptive pills can help to regulate the menstrual cycle to every 28 days and provide the body normal amounts of estrogen to help protect the bones. Oral contraceptive pills also can reduce the amount and length of menstrual bleeding.
Acne
Oral contraceptive pills also improve acne. For moderate to severe acne, which over-the-counter and prescription medications can't cure, oral contraceptive pills may be prescribed. The hormones in the oral contraceptive pill can help stop acne from forming. Most types of oral contraceptives can be used to treat acne. Be patient though, since it takes several months for the oral contraceptive pills to work.
Other Medical Benefits
Because there is less menstrual bleeding with the use of oral contraceptive pills, you are less likely to get anemia (low number of red bloods, which carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues). Oral contraceptive pills decrease your chance of getting endometrial (lining of the uterus) cancer and ovarian cancer, and ovarian cysts. So the pill has lots of health benefits!
What if I forget to take one or more oral contraceptive pills?
If you forget to take the pill at your usual time, take it as soon as you remember. Take your next pill at the regular time. If you do not remember until the next day, then take two pills that day. (If you are also using the pill for birth control, click here for further instructions.)
What are the side effects of the oral contraceptive pill?
Most women have no side effects when taking the oral contraceptive pill, but some women do experience irregular periods, nausea, headaches, or weight change. Each type of oral contraceptive pill can affect each woman differently.
Spotting between periods may occur while taking the first three weeks of hormone pills, but this is not serious. This usually occurs during the first two or three cycles. You should call your health care provider if the bleeding is heavier than a light flow or lasts more than a few days.
Some women have some nausea, but this usually goes away if the pill is taken with a meal or a snack at bedtime. Sometimes a pill with less estrogen is prescribed if the nausea doesn't go away.
Sometimes, women may experience headaches when they start taking oral contraceptive pills. Usually headaches occur because of stress or other reasons. If your health care provider thinks they are related to the pill, he/she may prescribe an oral contraceptive pill with a lower dose of estrogen or may sometimes take you off the oral contraceptive pill.
Mood changes can occur while taking the oral contraceptive pill. Exercise and a healthy diet may help, but if they don't, you may need to get a change in the type of pill you are taking.
Usually the pill helps cure acne, but a few women feel they get acne from the oral contraceptive pill. Your breasts may become tender or may get larger. Your appetite may increase, and a few teens feel bloated.
Some teens gain weight, some lose weight, but most teens stay exactly the same when they are taking the oral contraceptive pill. Many times a young woman thinks she has gained 5-10 pounds, but when her weight is actually measured, there is no change. If you think you may have gained weight due to the Pill, you should see your health care provider and get your weight measured. If you do gain weight, or you want to prevent gaining weight, you should make sure that you eat a healthy diet. You should eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day and avoid fast foods. Also, get enough exercise! If these ideas don't help, talk to your health care provider.
Side effects usually go away in the first three to four cycles. If you do have side effects, you should talk to your health care provider. If the side effects are really bad or if they don't go away after three cycles, your health care provider may switch you to a different pill.
What if my period is very, very light while I'm taking the oral contraceptive pill?
Your period may be so light when you are on the oral contraceptive pill that you may have only a brown smudge on a tampon, pad, or underwear. The hormone doses in the pills are very low. Therefore, not much uterus lining builds up, so very little blood needs to come out each month.
Does the birth control pill cause birth defects?
The Pill does not cause birth defects or affect the health of future children.
Is there any trouble getting pregnant after using the oral contraceptive pill?
There is no change in fertility with use of the oral contraceptive pill. However, girls who were very irregular before starting the pill may be irregular after they stop the pill. For example, girls who have PCOS or lose weight on the pill are particularly likely to be irregular, not because of the pill but because of their medical condition.
Does the oral contraceptive pill cause cancer?
The truth is that the Pill actually protects against cancer of the ovaries and cancer of the lining of the uterus. A woman is half as likely to get cancer of the uterus or ovaries if she takes the pill. Most experts believe that taking the pill does not cause any increased risk of getting breast cancer. Even girls with a family history of breast cancer can take the pill.
Are there any risks if I take the oral contraceptive pill?
Oral contraceptive pills with estrogen may cause a slight increase in the risk of developing blood clots in the legs. Among women who do not take the Pill, 5 per 100,000 women per year develop blood clots. Among women who do take the pill, the risk slightly increases to 15-20 per 100,000 women per year. Find out if anyone in your family (blood relative) has had blood clots, especially when they were young. And if you are a smoker, try to quit as soon as possible.
Are there side effects that I should contact my health care provider about?
Most young women who take the oral contraceptive pill have few or no problems. But if you have any of the following problems, call your health care provider right away.
Remember: ACHES
How long is it safe for me to be on the pill?
It is safe for you to be on the pill for years, whether for regulation of menstrual cycles, cramps, hormone replacement, or birth control.
Do I need to take a break from the Pill?
There is no medical reason that you need to take a "break" from the pill. If you stop taking the pill and then go on it again, you may go through the same side effects that you already went through during the first few months of pill use.
What if I am also using the oral contraceptive pill for birth control?
If you are also taking the oral contraceptive pill for birth control, you should be aware that oral contraceptive pills do not protect a woman from getting a sexually transmitted disease. So it is very important to also use a condom when having sexual intercourse. Condoms are also an important second method to use if you miss more than one pill in a row, during the first month of pills (to be extra safe), when you are taking other medications that change the effectiveness of the birth control pill, or when you are sick and diarrhea or vomiting occur. All of these things can lower the effectiveness of the birth control pill. Whenever you get a new medication, ask if it changes the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive pill. Also, make sure you check out all the information about birth control, emergency contraception, and STDs.
Remember:
The oral contraceptive pill is so much more than a birth control pill. Adolescent girls and young women are frequently prescribed the oral contraceptive pill just for its medical benefits. It is a very safe and effective treatment for many types of medical problems, including irregular or absent menstrual periods, menstrual cramps, acne, PMS, endometriosis, and hormone replacement therapy. So if you have any of these medical problems, talk to your health care provider to find out if the oral contraceptive pill is right for you!
Updated5/12/2005
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