Q: I've been on the birth control pill for 18 years. Are there long-term side effects?

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  Posted by Elisabeth Fri Feb 20, 2009 11:43am PST

  My aunt got a blood clot from being on the Pill for 16 years.

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  Posted by Suzanne Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:18pm PST

  Massive hair loss. If I'd only known . . . :(

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  Posted by Andrea Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:40pm PST

  I have been on the pill for 14 years. I think that the benefit of not getting pregnant until my husband and I are ready is worth more than the risks and side effects. The only major thing Ive noticed from the pill is spider veins. Never had them until I started taking the pill. But what the heck...wait til after I have kids and have them lasered.

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  Posted by Diamond Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:59pm PST

  I haven’t had any bad side effects so far, I’ve been on the pill for 7 years. I’ve had good ones though, my acne went down, my breasts got a little bigger, and there is WAY less pain during that time of the month. I have switched pills 3 times from Orsotrcyclin Low (spelling?), to Necon, and now Ocella. That was only due to the cost, but there haven’t been any bad transitions.

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  Posted by SIU drinker Fri Feb 20, 2009 11:44pm PST

  i have heard the main concern is once you are off it, the longer you were on it the longer it might take you to become pregnant when you want to be..

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  Posted by still smiling Sat Feb 21, 2009 5:54am PST

  Breast Cancer: read Suzanne Sommer's book about her health journey..........

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  Posted by shrus6291 Sat Feb 21, 2009 9:18am PST

  Obviously, the longer you have been on the pill, the longer your hormones and cycle has been whack (the good kind), so it would take longer for the body to adjust. That's all there is.

  Not commenting about the other possible side effects such as hair loss and all that, not sure.

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  Posted by ThirdCoast Sat Feb 21, 2009 2:16pm PST

  I took oral contraceptives until menopause, almost 35 years. Only side effect was slight increase in blood pressure, which I would have probably had anyway because of family history. The important issue is to have a good OB-GYN, regular exams, and be well informed.

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  Posted by saylavie Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:13pm PST

  I am still on bc pills. I suffer from migraines. I am taking them continually so I have no period and the migraines, while they still happen some months, are not so severe. I too, have been on them for 35 years this year. Blood pressure fine with me so far. Everyone is different though. Good advice from ThirdCoast, a good OB-GYN,regular exams, and be well informed. Smart lady.

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  Posted by mata_13_hari Sat Feb 21, 2009 10:44pm PST

  This is a good question and it poses a lot of room for doubt.(At least to me).I took the Pill on and off since I was 19....I haven't been on it recently except for about 3 years ago I took it for a year.

  Now to be honest I'm skittish about the risks of heart attack and stroke.I do not smoke tobacco but,I am 44 now and I need to ask a good OBgyn if I'm still that fertile and if I SHOULD be concerned about circulatory system dangers.

  Maybe my next bc method shouldn't BE hormones now?Since they say HRT is no longer safe,should we take hormones TOO long????

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