Long-Term Side Effects Of Birth Control Pills No One Talks About

Science has made some huge strides in the treatment of everyday, common ailments. However, even some of the biggest scientific breakthroughs can have kinks, specifically in the way of drug side effects. Another problem, though, is that the long-term effects aren't always talked about. Like with the long-term side effects of viagra no one talks about, birth control pills have some lesser-known effects that everyone should know. 

One of the most important long-term side effects of birth control pills is a decrease in bone density. In a meta-analysis of peer-reviewed articles published in Clinical Endocrinology, the researchers found that the pooled data showed a significant negative change to spinal bone mineral density (BMD) within two years of adolescents taking combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs).

That's because estrogen is one of the protective hormones necessary for forming bones, but CHCs suppress this hormone. The problem is that the foundation for bone health occurs during adolescence and young adulthood — up to about age 25. As a result, women who start taking the pill during this period eventually have lower bone density than others who didn't take CHCs as adolescents. Unfortunately, decreased spinal BMD isn't the only long-term side effect of birth control pills.

It's worth pointing out that a reduced risk of colorectal, endometrial, and ovarian cancers is one of the benefits of birth control. On the other hand, there's an increased risk for breast and cervical cancers, which involve a gene mutation but with potentially different underlying causes.

In one study published in The Lancet in 1996, researchers analyzed data from over 150,000 women and found a 24% increase in breast cancer risk while they were using oral contraceptives. The risk remained elevated during the 10 years after stopping as well, with a 7% higher risk in women who had taken birth control pills at some point in their lives. Another study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2017 showed that, among 1.8 million women, newer oral contraceptives still raise the risk of breast cancer within just one year of use. After 10 years of use, the risk increased even more (up to 60%), and a higher risk remained even after discontinuing use.

When it comes to cervical cancer, researchers have found a higher risk among women who use birth control pills for five-plus years. Similar results were published in a 2002 study published in The Lancet and another 2007 study published in The Lancet. However, the increased risk of cervical cancer declines, returning to normal levels, after discontinuing oral contraceptive use.