Ethinyl estradiol prevents the body from releasing an egg every month, while progestins thicken the mucus at the entrance to the cervix and conspire to make the womb inhospitable.
So far, so good. The end result is that these synthetic versions also have effects that you would never get from raw progesterone. Because the contraceptive pill uses synthetic versions of female hormones, it can have side effects you might not expect — such as facial hair Credit: Getty Images. The internet is awash with anecdotal reports of acne, sweating and unwanted hair growth after going on the pill. Find out more: eight women open up about the side effects they struggled with from the pill in our recent video, below.
But the reason is surprising. The male hormone that these pills use is a close relative of testosterone called nandrolone. A potent androgen a hormone that influences the development of the male reproductive system , it can lead to the development of typically male characteristics.
The hormone used by the pill is a close relative of an androgen that male boxers have used for doping Credit: Alamy. Back in the s, 50s and 60s, pregnant women sometimes took norethindrone in large doses to help prevent miscarriage. But the hormone also caused some unsettling changes to their bodies. The women were sweatier, hairier and spottier. Some noticed that their voices had deepened.
Nearly one in five baby girls born to mothers taking it had masculinised genitals. Some of these unlucky children required surgery. Today androgenic progestins are much less androgenic. The doses in contraceptive pills are much smaller, and the hormones are usually combined with synthetic oestrogen, which cancels out many of the masculine effects on our bodies. Over the years, there have been several generations of progestins.
Though the earlier ones are nearly all androgenic, more recently scientists have developed versions made from synthetic progesterone, instead. More recent types of contraceptive pill are designed to be anti-androgenic, often prescribed to treat acne or excessive hair growth Credit: Getty Images. Generally speaking, the older, cheaper brands of pill tend to contain androgenic hormones, while newer, more expensive ones tend to contain anti-androgens.
There are androgen receptors all over the body, particularly in the sweat glands and hair follicles, which explains why androgenic progestins can make some women sweatier, hairier and spottier.
If you want to manage certain symptoms that are often treated with contraceptives but you want to avoid hormonal birth control , talk to a doctor. The side effects vary from person to person. They depend on the type of birth control you choose. For this reason, a doctor will take your blood pressure and ask about your medical history before prescribing any contraceptives.
Fact: Testosterone often makes your period less regular and more sparse, but many people who take testosterone still menstruate. Long-term use of testosterone usually stops menstruation. For example, people who are assigned male at birth but identify as something other than male might consider feminizing hormone therapy. The process of hormonal transitioning is complex. It requires specialized medication and the supervision of an expert.
According to Mayo Clinic , there are a few potential side effects of feminizing hormone therapy. Hormone therapy can be riskier for people with certain conditions, such as people with a history of hormone-sensitive cancer like prostate cancer or high blood pressure.
Myth: Estrogen-based hormonal birth control is a feminizing treatment that can form a type of hormone therapy for people assigned male at birth.
People who are assigned female at birth — including transgender men taking testosterone — can take hormonal birth control pills safely.
If you have had a miscarriage or abortion , you can start the pill up to 5 days after this and you will be protected from pregnancy straight away.
If you start the pill more than 5 days after the miscarriage or abortion, you'll need to use additional contraception until you have taken the pill for 7 days. Some medicines interact with the combined pill and it does not work properly.
Some interactions are listed on this page, but it is not a complete list. If you want to check your medicines are safe to take with the combined pill, you can:. The antibiotics rifampicin and rifabutin which can be used to treat illnesses including tuberculosis and meningitis can reduce the effectiveness of the combined pill. Other antibiotics do not have this effect. If you are prescribed rifampicin or rifabutin, you may be advised to change to an alternative contraceptive.
If not, you will need to use additional contraception such as condoms while taking the antibiotic and for a short time after. Speak to a doctor or nurse for advice. The combined pill can interact with medicines called enzyme inducers.
These speed up the breakdown of hormones by your liver, reducing the effectiveness of the pill. A GP or nurse may advise you to use an alternative or additional form of contraception while taking any of these medicines.
There are some risks associated with using the combined contraceptive pill. However, these risks are small. The oestrogen in the pill may cause your blood to clot more readily.
If a blood clot develops, it could cause:. The risk of getting a blood clot is very small, but your doctor will check if you have certain risk factors before prescribing the pill. The pill can slightly increase the risk of developing breast cancer and cervical cancer. It can also decrease the risk of developing womb uterus cancer , ovarian cancer and bowel cancer. However, 10 years after you stop taking the pill, your risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer goes back to normal.
Contraception is free to everyone through the NHS. Places where you can get contraception include:. Find a sexual health clinic. If you need contraception, call your GP surgery or a sexual health clinic as soon as possible. Only go in person if you're told to. It can take longer to get contraception at the moment and some types are not widely available. You may only be able to get the combined pill if you've had your blood pressure and weight checked in the last 12 months.
If you cannot get the combined pill, you may be advised to use the progestogen-only pill or condoms for now. If you want advice about changing your contraceptive pill, you can visit a GP, contraceptive nurse sometimes called a family planning nurse , or sexual health clinic. Higher levels of estrogen also increase the risk of an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer.
On the upside, birth control pills may help protect against heart attacks, but that possibility is too iffy to be a good reason for a man to start taking them [source: Maine ]. Now for just a bit about why a man may want to take them. Some may think that taking birth control pills can help a man become more feminine. This is not the case. If femininity is the goal, there are safer and more effective ways to achieve the result. The first might be adopting more feminine behaviors and dress.
A man can also look for clubs and groups of people who identify in a similar way and that offer support, friendship and activities to people who are exploring gender identity.
Find a therapist or counselor who can help you understand the reasons you're exploring femininity. Seeing a therapist is often a required step before hormone therapy can begin [source: Go Ask Alice ]. So if you're a man considering taking birth control pills, stop.
Look at the reasons for your curiosity and what you hope to achieve.
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