Hey Dr Sue — What Is The Negative Side Of Taking Long Term Birth Control Pill?

An oral contraceptive is a great option, unless you have certain conditions like clotting disorders or high blood pressure that’s not being managed. It’s not a great option if you’re taking medications that might interfere with its effectiveness (like certain anti-seizure medications), and also not an option if you’re a smoker who’s over 35.

There are some really great benefits of using oral contraception, like a decreased risk of certain forms of cancers. And it makes your period way more predictable and the flow lighter, if you choose to have your period.

Wait? Choose to have a period? That’s right — you don’t actually have to have your period. How do you do that? Basically, when it’s time to take the placebo pills, just skip them and start taking the next pack of pills. You should talk to your doctor before you do this, if for no other reason then they’ll have to change your prescription to make sure you get enough packs in a year. And by the way, expect some breakthrough bleeding when you first start this. But there are women who have gone years, YEARS, without getting their period by doing this.

One of the big risks you hear about with the pill is its possible link to an increased risk of breast cancer. So is it true? Is there a link? Honestly the answer…