Because of their high effectiveness ratings and potential ability to manage other symptoms related to menstruation and lengthen the time between periods, many women choose a hormonal contraceptive, such as “the pill”, for their birth control needs. The pill is a good option, but it’s not right for everyone. In a small number of women, serious side effects may occur.

You should not use the pill if you have or have had any of the following conditions:

• blood clots in the legs, lungs, eyes, or elsewhere, or thrombophlebitis (inflammation of the veins)
• stroke, heart attack, or coronary artery disease (e.g., angina pectoris), or a condition that may be a first sign of a stroke (such as transient ischemic attack or small reversible stroke)
• disease of the heart valve with complications
• severe high blood pressure
• diabetes complications
• known abnormalities of the blood clotting system that increase your risk of developing blood clots
• very high blood cholesterol or triglyceride levels
• heavy smoking (more than 15 cigarettes per day) and over age 35
• migraine headache
• you are scheduled for major surgery
• prolonged bed rest
• jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin), liver disease or liver tumor
• known or suspected cancer of the breast or uterus (womb) or other estrogen-dependent cancer
• unusual vaginal bleeding without a known reason
• loss of vision due to blood vessel disease of the eye
• you are pregnant or suspect you may be pregnant
• pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancrease) associated with high levels of fatty substances in your blood
• allergy (hypersensitivity) to any of the medicinal or non-medicinal ingredients in the brand of birth control pill you are considering

When considering the pill, you should also know:

• The additional estrogen in some pill regimens provides women with more hormonal exposure on a yearly basis. While this added exposure may pose an additional risk of thromboembolic (blood clot) related diseases, studies to date have not suggested, nor can exclude, this additional risk.
• The type of progestin in some pill regimens may increase the levels of potassium in the blood, which may not be appropriate for women with kidney, liver, or adrenal disease (a disease that may alter the body’s fluid and mineral balance) because this could cause serious heart and health problems. Some other drugs may also increase potassium.