Is it Worth It?

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As a young adult you're taught that birth control is good for you when it comes to having sex. What you're not told though, are the side effects or even long-term effects of its many different forms.

Normally when people think about sex they instantly think about pregnancy and how to prevent themselves from having unplanned pregnancies. Since most people began to be sexually active between the ages of 15-18 year old, that's when they're usually first introduced to birth control. When young adults become sexually active and their parents usually take them to an OGBYN where the doctors usually say something like, "Birth control is used as a contraceptive that prevents you from getting pregnant during sex... If you're sexually active and not using birth control then nine times out of ten you'll probably end up pregnant." But with all the side effects and possible long term effects, is it really worth it? Have you done your research on birth control to see what harm it could do to your body? Birth control, also known as a contraception, is a method used to prevent pregnancy. The birth control method uses medicines, surgical procedures, as well as devices. There are about 15 different birth control methods that can be used to prevent sex, but the ones that are most common are those such as: the pill, surgical sterilization, IUD, injections, patches, implants, and vaginal rings.

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Most of the birth control side effects can include things like vomiting, skin discoloration, mood swings, acne, and bleeding between menstrual cycles. Birth control methods could also cause heart attacks, blood clots, and strokes in the long run. For example, the diaphragm / cervical cap method of birth control can increase your risk for toxic shock syndrome if used improperly. When starting birth control many women aren’t always aware of all the side effects that could come with it or the side effects that could come when you decide you want to quit. A lot of women say that quitting birth control isn’t as easy as starting it. There have been reports of women who’ve had their menstrual cycle for almost a month long after quitting birth control. The American Cancer Society also determined that women have a greater risk at getting breast cancer if they’ve taken the birth control pills. They also have a greater risk of cervical cancer.

These are just some of the things they don't tell you about birth control medications, which is why it is very important to be aware of the possible risk factors of certain medications. Here are some links for you to read more about birth control:
15 Types of Birth Control
Birth Control Side Effects Explained