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  |  Women's Health  |  Reproductive Health  |  Is it harmful to go on and off the pill?
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Is it harmful to go on and off the pill?

by Peg Plumbo

question
I have been on and off oral contraceptives for about five years. I came off again about a month ago and now I want to go back on immediately because of heavy periods and cramping. Is it hard on my body to come on and off oral contraceptives?

answer
Coming on and off the Pill should cause no harm, although staying on oral contraceptives continuously is recommended to keep your cycle regular and to avoid restarting them at the wrong point in your cycle. Unfortunately, many women stop taking oral contraceptives and become pregnant before they restart them.

Remember to start the Pill with your period to regulate your cycle and reduce spotting. Provided you suffer no side-effects, you can safely stay on the Pill until you decide to become pregnant. To improve gestational dating, it is probably best to stop taking oral contraceptives three months before conception is desired.

Actually, women who have been on birth control pills for five years or longer experience many of the beneficial effects of birth control pills (relief from acne, an increase in iron levels, protection from ectopic pregnancy and from ovarian and endometrial cancers).

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