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Bad news to all you girls out there who use a low-estrogen birth control pill: your pill might be ruining your orgasms. Eek! Is anyone else finding that while birth control pills are generally supposed to be making our sex lives easier, they just complicate things instead? Or is it just me?
Here’s the deal: researchers have recently discovered that low-estrogen birth control pills are linked to chronic pelvic pain and orgasm pain. And since orgasms are supposed to be wonderful and lovely and the complete opposite of painful, these findings pretty much suck.
A team of doctors looked at about 1,000 women and found that the women who took low-estrogen birth control pills also reported more pelvic pain – in fact, low-dose pill users were twice as likely to experience pain during or after an orgasm (compared to women who aren’t on that kind of pill). The women who took higher-dose pills did not experience this kind of pain. It seems like doctors still aren’t sure why or how this is happening and further research definitely needs to be done.
However, if you’re on a low-estrogen pill and you’ve been feeling pain down there when you orgasm, this probably explains a lot. Since these findings are relatively new, it’s probably not a side effect that you were warned about when your doctor prescribed you the pill.
Thinking of switching to a higher-dose pill to get rid of pelvic and orgasm pain? Totally understandable, but keep in mind that low-estrogen pills do have their own advantages. Most women start taking low-dose pills because they can’t deal with the annoying side effects of higher-dose pills (higher-dose pills are pills with more estrogen in them, FYI). Higher-dose pills are more traditional and often include side effects like acne, breast tenderness or enlargement, nausea, bloating, headaches and a decrease in sex drive, among other things. Low-estrogen birth control pills don’t generally have these side effects because they have considerably lower amounts of estrogen.
Not only do low-estrogen pills not have the same side effects as higher-dose pills, but they also can actually help and improve any PMS-related issues you may be having. Low-dose pills can help with heavy or irregular periods, they can help get rid of acne, bloating, cramps, headaches or breast soreness and they can even give you more protection against diseases like ovarian cancer.
If you’re not sure what kind of birth control you’re taking, ask your doctor or check out the box it came in. Some popular brands include Yaz, LoEstrin, Ortho-Cept, Cyclessa, Mircette, Alesse, and Lo Ovral. If you’re on a low-estrogen birth control pill and you’ve found that you’re experiencing pelvic or orgasm pain, I guess the question is, is it worth it? You need to decide if want to continue using it and deal with pelvic pain instead of other PMS symptoms, or if you want to switch to a higher-dose and get rid of pelvic pain but add on other side effects.
Whatever you decide, make sure you talk to your doctor and include him/her in your decision. If you’re having pelvic pain, don’t automatically assume your pill is to blame – talk to your doctor to see if there could be any other reason there. And if you do decide to switch, remember: it can take a long time to find a birth control pill that’s right for you. I know it’s frustrating, but be patient! One day you’ll find one that works with your body.
Do you use a low-estrogen birth control pill? Do you ever experience pelvic or orgasm pain? Would you switch pills because of that? Tell us in the comments.
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