Side Effects of Continuous Birth Control Pill Usage
December 29, 2008 by Peggy Rowland
Filed under Women's Health
This post is part of a series about continuous birth control pills. Please check back for more. And remember to seek advice from your medical professional before changing the way your take your birth control pills.
Taking birth control pills continuously without the break may be useful for several reasons we’ve already discussed.
But what happens?
It’s up to you and your doctor to decide the best way to get your body used to this new pill regimen. Some doctors (like this one at MayoClinic) suggest a gradual schedule instead of quitting all the inactive pills cold turkey.
But I did just that. The cold turkey way. It’s been a couple of years, so I’m peeling back the memory layers in my brain to recall just how much trouble I had.
And it’s not much trouble. Of course, you do have to find the pill that works for you. Loestrin was the second one I tried.
The main side effect you’ll experience with continuous birth control pill use is spotting. That usually gets better and may go away completely after a few months. All women are different, and this side effect may be annoying enough for some to stop the continuous regimen.
If you don’t take your pill at the same time each day, expect spotting. If you skip a day or two, expect spotting. It will most likely happen.
If spotting (or bleeding) becomes a problem, most doctors will advise you to discontinue the pills for three or four days.
Other side effects are the same as those that you may experience when taking the inactive pills. Spotting is the only side effect I’ve noticed that’s unique to continuous birth control pill usage over the traditional method.
Of course, you need to read all the prescribing info on your pills and talk to your pharmacist.
If you’ve taken birth control pills continuously, have you noticed any side effects?
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I have just been prescribed by my Dr to take my birth control continuously for 3 months and then take the inactive then start again for 3 months. I am in my 10th week of my 3 months and I had about a week and a half of spotting 6 weeks in. However, I am doing this b/c I have endometriosis and I spotted like clock work my whole life. They think this will help. I am experiencing other side effects though, musle tenderness, cramps, constipation. It didn’t start until the 7th week and I am still waiting for it to go away. I my side effects are worse than others b/c of my condition though….anyone else experience anything similar?
Danielle,
Hello. Thanks for commenting. I also take them continuously for endometriosis. I’ve done this for a few years now, and it does get better.
I don’t know what side effects are listed for your pills, but keep in mind that endo is a very tricky disease. Some of your symptoms could be from that and not the pills. Plus, bcps are good for controlling endo, but if you need surgery no pill is going to help you completely.
Even if your symptoms are from the pills, they could possibly go away in a few weeks. Have you asked your doc about them?
HI Peggy-
I had a laparoscopy in November of 2007 and my condition wasn’t very severe. I have not called my Dr yet about the side effects b/c she did warn me there may be some so I am just waiting it out for now I guess. We did switch pills, well not really switch, we went from generic to non-generic b/c my Dr told me that the generic is allowed to have less hormones than the non-generic per the FDA so she thought that may be the issue as well. I appreciate your feedback!
Danielle,
That’s interesting about the generic. I use generic, but I’m aiming for a low dose of estrogen anyway.
Good to hear your condition isn’t severe.
I was curious anyone is experiencing elevated blood pressure and weight gain with continuous birth control use. My pressure was generally 100/70 and since I have started taking the pill continuously, I am at 140/82. That’s borderline hypertension. By the way, no family history of hbp and I am 43.
Maria, I haven’t experienced any blood pressure change. Anyone else?
I’m on a tri-phasic regimen and am experiencing weight gain and swollen/tender breasts in about the 4th week. This is my first time taking birth control continuously to prevent a period.
Hey Rose, I started continuous dosing in May 2009, and am def seeing some body changes/weight gain. Swollen but not tender breasts, and def some thickening around the middle. It is funny, because I have taken these pills for years, just not in continuous dosing but I was starting to get hormonal migraines on my “off” week so my midwife and I thought this would help. To be honest, I’ll put up with the 3 day headache or go to my GP for some migraine pills vs. having this weight gain/breast enlargement stuff!