Contraception has Consequences

How It Works

“The Pill” contains steroidal estrogen and attempts to stop the release of an egg from the ovary, thicken cervical fluids to prevent fertilization (pregnancy), and thins the lining of the uterus to prevent implantation.

It does not always stop ovulation. When breakthrough ovulation occurs, there is a possibility women can get pregnant (fertilization of the egg). Studies have shown that ovulation rates in women taking oral contraceptives ranged from 1.7 to 28.6% per cycle.[1] Roughly half the women taking progestin-only pills (the mini pill) still ovulate.[2] When these contraceptives do not stop pregnancy, they are designed to make it difficult for the embryo to implant and receive nourishment from the mother.[3] Birth control manufacturers insist that their products do not “terminate existing pregnancies.” However, they have redefined the terms “conception” and “pregnancy” to mean implantation rather than fertilization (implantation happens 7-10 days after fertilization).[4]

  • According to the FDA, 9 out of 100 women each year who take the pill faithfully as directed will get pregnant.[5]

  • In any given year, 15 out of 100 couples that use condoms as birth control became pregnant.[6]

  • Hormonal contraceptives (the Pill, the patch, and the shot) have side effects—ranging from minor inconveniences to major, even life-threatening, problems.[7]

  • The steroidal hormones used in the combined birth control pills are classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.[8] They’re listed in the same category as plutonium. Is it worth taking a cancer-causing agent to control fertility?

Minor Side Effects

  • Weight Gain

  • Depression

  • Mood Changes

  • Dizziness

  • Headaches

  • Nausea

  • Breakthrough Bleeding

  • Breast Tenderness[9]

Major Health Risks

  • Both combined and progestogen-only oral contraceptives are associated with a 20-30% increased risk of breast cancer.[10]

  • The Pill is also linked to increased cervical cancer risk.[11]

  • Long-term hormonal contraception may increase the risk of glioma, a brain cancer.[12]

  • Some contraceptives increase your risk of HPV and HIV.[13]

  • The development of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been linked to hormonal contraception.[14]

  • 73% increased risk of depression.[15]

  • 2–3 times the risk of lung blood clots.[16]

  • Decreased bone density.[17]

  • Increased risk of heart attack and stroke.[18]

Check out the Sources:

1. Larimore, Walter L., M.D., and Joseph B. Stanford, M.D. “Postfertilization Effects of Oral Contraceptives and Their Relationship to Informed Consent.” Archives of Family Medicine, vol. 9, no. 2, February 2000, pp. 126-33. https://triggered.edina.clockss.org/ServeContent?issn=1063-3987&volume=9&issue=2&spage=126.

2. Ibid.

3. “Birth Control Pills.” Cleveland Clinic, reviewed on 5 July 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/3977-birth-control-the-pill. Accessed 28 August 2025.

4. Hill, Mark A. “Implantation.” University of New South Wales (UNSW) Embryology, https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Implantation. Accessed 28 August 2025.

5. “Minipill (progestin-only birth control pill).” Mayo Clinic, 13 January 2023. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/minipill/about/pac-20388306. Accessed 28 August 2025.

6. Steiner, M.J. “How well do male latex condoms work? Pregnancy outcome during one menstrual cycle of use.” Contraception, vol. 62, no. 6, December 2000, pp. 315-319. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-7824(00)00185-2.

7. “Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–139.” World Health Organization, updated 27 June 2025. https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications. Accessed 28 August 2025.

8. Stark, Grace Emily. “10 of the Most Common Birth Control Side Effects.” Natural Womanhood, 22 December 2018. https://naturalwomanhood.org/10-most-common-birth-control-side-effects-2018/. Accessed 28 August 2025.

9. Multiple Sources:

  1. Kahlenborn, Chris, M.D., et al. “Oral contraceptive use as a risk factor for premenopausal breast cancer: A meta-analysis.” Mayo Clinic Proceedings, vol. 81, no. 10, October 2006, pp. 1290-1302. https://doi.org/10.4065/81.10.1290.

  2. World Health Organization: International Agency for Research on Cancer. “Combined estrogen-progestogen contraceptives and combined estrogen-progestogen menopausal therapy.” IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, vol. 91, 2007. Available at: https://publications.iarc.who.int/109. Accessed 28 August 2025.

  3. Dolle, Jessica M., et al. “Risk factors for triple negative breast cancer in women under the age of 45.” Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention, vol. 18, no. 4, 8 April 2009, pp. 1157-1165. https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-08-1005.

10. Moreno, Victor, et al. “Effect of oral contraceptives on risk of cervical cancer in women with human papillomavirus infection: the IARC multicentric case-control study.” The Lancet, vol. 359, no. 9312, 30 March 2002, pp. 1085-1092. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(02)08150-3.

11. Hellwig, Kerstin, et al. “Oral Contraceptives and Multiple Sclerosis/Clinically Isolated Syndrome Susceptibility.” PLOS One, vol. 11, no. 3, 7 March 2016. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0149094.

12. Franceschi S, et al. “Genital warts and cervical neoplasia: an epidemiological study.” British Journal of Cancer, vol. 48, no. 5, 1 November 1983, pp. 621–628.

13. Harper, Kristin N. “Two recent studies find Depo-Provera use increases HIV risk.” AIDS, vol. 29, no. 9, 1 June 2015, p. N1. https://journals.lww.com/aidsonline/fulltext/2015/06010/two_recent_studies_find_depo_provera_use_increases.1.aspx

14. Soroush, Ali, et al. “The Role of Oral Contraceptive Pills on Increased Risk of Breast Cancer in Iranian Populations: A Meta-analysis.” Journal of Cancer Prevention, Korean Society of Cancer Prevention, vol. 21, no. 4, 30 December 2016, pp. 294-301. www.jcpjournal.org/journal/view.html?volume=21&number=4&spage=294.

15. Johansson, Therese, et al. "Population-based cohort study of oral contraceptive use and risk of depression." Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, vol. 32, no. 39,12 June 2023. https://doi.org/10.1017/s2045796023000525.

16. van Hylckama Vlieg, A., et al. “Venous thrombotic risk of oral contraceptives, effects of oestrogen dose and progestogen type: results of the MEGA case-control study.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 339, 13 August 2009. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b2921.

17. “Oral contraceptive use and bone density in adolescent and young adult women.” Contraception, vol. 81, no. 1, January 2010, pp. 35-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2009.07.001.

18. Roach, Rachel E.J., et al. “Combined oral contraceptives: the risk of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, no. 8, 27 August 2015. www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011054.pub2/abstract.