Common questions about the pill
Do you need to take frequent breaks from the pill?
We’ve discussed the need (or lack thereof) to take the standard 7-day break when you’re on the contraceptive pill. But another idea
that’s commonly regarded as true, is that you need to take a break from the pill every couple of years. You actually don’t.
Once you start taking the pill you can take it until you hit menopause unless you decide to stop taking it, or another health condition is
factored in. You won’t get any other side effects from taking the pill continuously, you might even feel fewer side effects as time goes on.
Does the pill make you gain weight?
Weight changes are a potential side effect of the pill. However, it is usually far less common and substantial than is normally thought.
Multiple studies have suggested that the changes in weight caused solely by the contraceptive pill are small. Other factors, such as your diet,
play a much more vital role in maintaining your body weight while
you’re on or off the pill.
Is the pill bad for your health?
Even though taking the contraceptive pill slightly increases your risk of health problems, these complications are quite rare.
As we mentioned before, there are some side effects caused by the pill. If these make you anxious or worried, you should talk to your
doctor.
Do the hormones you take accumulate in your body?
It is commonly said that you need to take a break from the pill once in a while in order to let your body “flush out” the hormones you’ve been taking. This is not true.
When you take the contraceptive pill, the hormones in the pill dissolve and are absorbed into the bloodstream. These hormones are metabolised by the liver and gut to be eliminated from your body without leaving
residue or any sort of hormone build-up.