Facts about birth control pills that you need to know

Some recent studies suggest that, in addition to preventing pregnancy, in some cases, birth control pills can also alter women's perceptions of their partners, reduce sexual desire, and so on.

After birth control pills became available in 1960, bra manufacturers noticed an increase in women's breast size, with sales of C-cup bras rising by 50%. This may be due to the estrogen and progesterone in some birth control pills. Estrogen can cause water retention leading to increased breast size, but this change is usually temporary, and breast size returns to its original level a few months after stopping the medication.

Birth control pills can reduce libido.

Dr. Christiane Northrup, author of the book Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, explains that birth control pills reduce testosterone levels – a hormone crucial for female libido. However, a report in the European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health, summarizing 36 studies from 1978 to 2011, found that only 15% of women taking birth control pills experienced decreased libido.

When you stop taking the medication, you may find the other person less attractive.

In a 2014 study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers tracked 48 couples who met while the woman was taking hormonal birth control pills and observed their relationships afterward. The study found that most of these women found their partners less attractive after stopping the pills. Hormonal changes caused this feeling, but the researchers also stated that these changes were “quite subtle and not alarming.”

Your partner may need to use extra lubricant if you are taking birth control pills.

Current birth control pills contain low levels of estrogen, which affects vaginal lubrication. Some women may find that their vagina is not sufficiently lubricated, and their partners may need to use additional water-based lubricants during intercourse.

Your partner may not need to use a condom if you are taking birth control pills.

Birth control pills can be a good solution for those who don't want to use condoms during sex, but they need time to work. The pills won't be effective immediately after you start taking them. For safety, you should use both birth control and contraception together for more effective protection against sexually transmitted infections.

Birth control pills affect mood.

Each person's body reacts differently to birth control pills. Some people experience more mood swings, while others have more stable moods, feel less irritable during their periods, and don't suffer from migraines.

According to The Laborer