Effectiveness, Benefits, and Risks of Hormonal Contraceptives among Womens (Term Paper Sample)

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Effectiveness, Benefits, and Risks of Hormonal Contraceptives among Women
Some women of childbearing age use the oral contraceptive as a family planning method. The oral contraceptive is also known as the birth control pill, and it contains two types of hormones; progesterone and oestrogen. Oral contraceptive prevents pregnancy by stopping the production of ova every month. It also changes the mucus of the opening of the uterus to prevent the sperms from entering, and also change the texture of the uterine wall (Petitti 1440). Research indicates that when used correctly, the oral contraceptives have 99.9% of preventing unwanted pregnancies (Petitti 1440).
Apart from preventing pregnancy, the birth control pill has some non-contraceptive benefits. It helps in regulation of menstrual cycles especially in women who experience unpredictable and irregular cycles. Irregular cycles mostly result from hormonal imbalance, and the active hormones contained in the oral contraceptive help in stabilizing the woman's hormones. Besides, the oral contraceptive is used to make the irregular or unpredictable periods occur on a monthly basis, and the woman can predict when she will experience her monthly flows. The progesterone-like medication contained in the oral contraceptive helps in protecting the lining of the uterus against cancer or pre-cancer. This hormone hinders the uterine lining from growing too much as this may predispose the woman to cancer causing agents (ASRM).
The oral contraceptive can also be used in the treatment of heavy periods, a condition known as menorrhagia. Since the progesterone hormone in the oral contraceptive makes the uterine wall thinner, this results in lighter bleeding. Health practitioners can prescribe the oral contraceptive to the women who experience uncomfortable, heavy bleeding. The birth control pill is also used as a treatment of painful periods by reducing the cramping of the uterine wall. There is a chemical secreted in the uterus known as prostaglandin, which is responsible for uterine cramping which results in painful menstrual periods. The higher the levels of the prostaglandin during menstruation, the higher the uterine cramping. The use of birth control pills prevents ovulation, which consequently reduces the levels of prostaglandin secreted in the uterus, resulting in less cramping during menstruation (ASRM).
The oral contraceptive is also used as a treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a condition which results in mood disorders among women during ovulation. Studies have suggested that women who are in oral contraceptive exhibit low levels of mood swings during ovulation, compared to women who are not taking the oral contraceptives. This is believed to be as a result of regulated hormone levels as a result of taking the oral contraceptive.
Another benefit of oral contraceptive is that it can be used as a treatment for acne, excess hair growth and hair loss. The oestrogen contained in the oral contraceptive suppresses the secretion of androgens. Androgens are male hormones which are produced by the ovary, and all women of reproductive ages secrete small amounts of it. When the androgen levels are higher than the normal amounts, a woman may start to grow hair on the chin, above the lip or between the breast, and also develop severe acne. The birth control pill reduces the production of abnormal levels of androgens, and the blocks the circulation of androgens in the bloodstream (ASRM).
Despite the oral contraceptive’s effectiveness in controlling unwanted pregnancies, as well as its numerous non-contraceptive benefits, the use of oral contraceptive is accompanied by several risks and side effects. First, the birth control pill does not prevent the transmission and spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea and HIV and AIDs. Secondly, the use of the pill has been-been linked to increased risks of developing certain clinical conditions such as cardiovascular conditions, stroke, pulmonary embolism and other adverse effects in women (Petitti 1449).
Similarly, studies suggest a positive correlation between the use of oral contraceptive and risk of coronary thrombosis and cerebral thrombosis Also, the extended use of oral contraceptive predisposes women to develop venous thr...