6 Things Every Woman Should Know Before Using Oral Contraceptives

Oral contraceptive is the fastest selling medicine in some countries like Nigeria, where a lot of women (especially those between 18-24years old) use them after having unprotected s exual intercourse.
Many women that use them are not aware of the potential dangers and risks associated with consuming these products.  Here are facts and warnings you must know!

1. It is not advisable to use oral contraceptives if you are older than 35 and smoke, have a history of blood clots, or have a history of breast, liver, or endometrial cancer

2. Antibiotics may reduce how well oral contraceptives works in some women. Talk to your doctor about a backup method of birth control if you need to take antibiotics.

3. Women should wait three weeks after giving birth to begin using birth control that contains both estrogen and progestin. These methods increase the risk of dangerous blood clots that could form after giving birth.

4. Women who delivered by cesarean section or have other risk factors for blood clots, such as obesity, smoking, or preeclampsia, should wait six weeks.

5. They cause body changes in women including enlarged breasts, weight gain or loss, mood swings, irregular bleeding or spotting, and decreased libido.

6. Oral contraceptives raise your risk of cervical and breast cancers, high blood pressure and heart disease, stroke, infertility as well as yeast overgrowth and infection.

Please always speak to your health professional before using any form of oral contraceptive, and share this if you find it relevant.