288 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
Who Should Not Take Birth Control Pills?
A woman who has any of the following signs should not take oral (or injected)
contraceptives:
• A woman whose period is late, who thinks she might be pregnant.
• Deep or steady pain in one leg.
This may be caused by an inflamed
vein (phlebitis or blood clot). Do
not use birth control pills. (Women
with varicose veins that are not
inflamed can usually take birth
control pills without problems. But
they should stop taking them if the
veins become inflamed.)
• Stroke. A woman who has had any
signs of a stroke (p. 327) should
not take the pill.
• Hepatitis (p. 172), cirrhosis
(p. 328), or other liver disease.
Women with these problems, or
whose eyes had a yellow color during
pregnancy, should not take the pill. It
is better not to take oral contraceptives
for one year after having hepatitis.
• Cancer. If you have had or suspect cancer
of the breast or womb, do not use oral
contraceptives. Before beginning oral
contraceptives, examine your breasts
carefully (see p. 279). In some health
centers you may also be able to get a
simple test (Pap smear or vinegar test) to
check for cancer of the cervix or opening of
the womb. Birth control pills have not been
proven to cause cancer of the breasts or
womb. But if cancer already exists, the pill can make it worse.
Some health problems may be made worse by oral contraceptives. If you have any
of the following problems, it is better to use another method if you can:
• Migraine (p. 162). Women who suffer from true migraine headaches should not
take oral contraceptives. But simple headaches that go away with aspirin are no
reason not to take the pill.
• Heart disease (p. 325).
• High blood pressure (p. 125).
If you suffer from tuberculosis, diabetes, gall bladder problems, kidney disease, or
epilepsy, it is best to get medical advice before taking birth control pills. However, most
women with these diseases can take oral contraceptives without harm.