Non contraceptive Benefits of Birth Control Pills
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Most women will use birth control pills at some time in their lives. But many women don’t know that birth control pills also can be used to treat a variety of female
problems and can have some surprising health benefits
Treatment of painful periods (dysmenorrhea)
A chemical called prostaglandin is produced in the uterus at the time of the period, and can cause painful menstrual periods
Prostaglandin can cause contractions of the uterus that produce the menstrual cramping that most women experience.
Women who produce high levels of prostaglandin have more intense contractions and more severe cramping.
Birth control pills prevent ovulation which in turn reduces the amount of prostaglandin produced in the uterus. By doing so, birth control pills relieve menstrual cramping.
Treatment of endometriosis
Another cause of painful menstrual cycles is endometriosis.
When the tissue lining the uterus (endometrium) grows outside of the uterus it is called endometriosis
Just as progesterone limits the growth of the uterine lining, the progesterone-like hormones in birth control pills can limit or decrease the growth of endometriosis
Because of this, birth control pills can reduce the pain associated with endometriosis for many women
Birth control pills contain a progesterone-like hormone, which makes the lining of the uterus thinner and causes lighter bleeding episode
Treatment of irregular periods
Birth control pills can be used to make irregular or unpredictable periods occur on a monthly basis.
Women who have menstrual cycles longer than 35 days might not be making progesterone, which prevents the uterine lining from growing too much
Excess growth of the uterine lining can cause heavy bleeding or increase the risk for developing abnormal patterns of growth in the uterine lining, including (cancer)
The most common reason for irregular and infrequent periods is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Because a birth control pill contains progesterone-like medication, it can help regulate the menstrual cycle and protect the lining of the uterus against pre-cancer or cancer
Treatment for acne, hirsutism (excess hair) and alopecia (hair loss)
All birth control pills can improve acne and hair growth in the midline of the body (hirsutism) by reducing the levels of male hormones (androgens) produced by the ovary
Birth control pills reduce production of male hormones and increase the production of the substances in the body that bind the androgens circulating in the bloodstream. Within six months of use, there is usually a reduction in the abnormal hair growth
However, when a woman has more excessive male hormone symptoms, she should see a gynecologist or primary care doctor. These symptoms may include male pattern baldness, smaller breast size, increased muscle mass, growth of the clitoris, or lowering of the pitch of the voice
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