Common Side Effects of Birth Control

January 16th, 2012 by admin1

Hormone-based birth control often comes with side effects that can range from slightly annoying to bad enough to make you switch.  You may not know what you can tolerate until you’ve given a couple of them a try. But here are some solutions for the most common problems.

Headache, dizziness, breast tenderness

• If they don’t go away, switching brands may help.

Nausea

• This reaction will probably go away in a couple of months.

Breakthrough bleeding

• Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about spotting.

Decreased libido

• Try a different formulation if you experience this side effect.

Mood swings

• If it’s really the birth control and not some other factor that’s bringing you down, you may need to find a nonhormonal method.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.