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Disadvantages of Combined contraceptive pill

As with any ‘non-barrier’ method of contraception, the main disadvantage of the combined pill is that it does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

Some women may also have short-term side effects such as mood changes, breast tenderness, sickness or vomiting, headaches, weight gain or weight loss, and irregular vaginal bleeding. These should all disappear within three months. The combined pill may also increase blood pressure.

The combined pill can also make migraine worse. Migraine is more common in women than men, and this is linked to fluctuating levels of the hormone, oestrogen. If you suffer from severe migraine that has neurological symptoms (‘classical’ migraine), you should not take the combined contraceptive pill. Neurological symptoms include speech and vision difficulties, and numbness or tingling affecting a limb or one side of the body. Taking oestrogen increases your risk of having a stroke if you suffer from severe migraines.

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