Understanding the possible side effects of birth control pills in Katy

Effects of Birth Control at Jenkins Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Medicine in Katy Area

Birth control pills can seem like the perfect drug. They prevent unplanned pregnancies, can make your periods more regular and lighter, and can even improve hormonal imbalances that cause acne. While they do have great benefits, the best of which is helping users avoid pregnancy, they can also have unexpected side effects. Dr. Taryll Jenkins of Jenkins Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine has been counseling patients in the Katy area on the best choice of birth control for many years. He understands that each patient will react differently to a particular brand of birth control pill.

When used appropriately, meaning that the pill is taken every day at the same time, the pill has an extremely high effective rate. It’s typically an affordable and easy solution for pregnancy prevention. However, birth control pills do have some common side effects. For example:

Spotting: About half of all pill users will experience some light bleeding between periods, typically within the first three months of beginning use or changing a prescription. In most cases, it stops after the third month.
Nausea: Some patients will experience nausea when they begin taking the pill. This typically goes away after several weeks; however, it can be lessened by taking the pill with food or at bedtime instead of in the morning on an empty stomach.
Weight gain: While studies have shown that there is no consistent correlation between the use of birth control pills and an increase in weight, some patients claim fluid retention, specifically in the chest and hip area.
Mood changes: As the patient adjusts to the hormones from the pill, she may experience mood swings or other emotional changes. Patients should be sure to talk to their doctor about these mood changes.
Skipped periods: Most patients will take a hormonal pill for three weeks and then a placebo pill for a week, during which she has her period. However, in some cases, a patient will skip her period all together. If this happens, patients often worry about pregnancy. Physicians recommend taking a pregnancy test before starting another pack of pills and calling the doctor. The skipped period could be due to the type of pill a patient is taking or it could be due to stress, illness, or thyroid abnormalities.

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New patients please call:
855-346-8610

Existing patients please call:
281-347-2600

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For more information about birth control pills and their potential side effects, call Jenkins Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine today.

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We offer general care, gynecology, and obstetrics services that span all stages of a woman's life. Dr. Taryll L. Jenkins, MD received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and Doctorate of Medicine from Meharry Medical College School of Medicine, TN. He completed his residency training at the University of Texas and Hermann Hospital, TX and is Board-certified from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, with years of research experience.

Having graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelors of Science in Biological Chemistry in 2011, Dr. Stephanie Roy received her Doctor of Medicine Degree in 2015 from the University of Texas Medical Branch. Today she is a leading Board-certified physician who works hard to provide you and your family with high quality services. In addition to spending time at the practice, Dr. Roy possesses extensive volunteer experience in the community. She was also a tutor at the Medical Careers Diversity Program in 2012 and since then has spent her free time volunteering for the St. Vincent’s Clinic.

Dr. Tiffany Ikwuagwu is passionate about caring for the diverse communities in Katy and Houston, TX. Having completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Houston, her medical degree at the Baylor College of Medicine, and her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the McGovern Medical School, she worked as principal investigator on a research project with Dr. Nana Ankumah at UT Houston. A member of the American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Dr. Ikwuagwu has served in several leadership roles and has made many contributions to the community.

Yara Ramirez, MD earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Baylor University and her doctorate in medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston where she also completed her residency. She won the Resident Teaching Award from UTMB’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for two consecutive years.
Dr. Ramirez has researched extensively on many obstetrics-related topics. She has been a Junior Fellow Representative for the UTMB Residency Program and a Medical Student Education Committee Member at the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has volunteered for various local and foreign community programs. Her fluency in Spanish and French is an asset to her organization.

Nadia Alexander is a Board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a Master’s of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center. With seven years of experience in women’s health and a focus on obstetrics and ambulatory gynecology (vaginitis, UTI, and vaginal bleeding), she provides quality, compassionate care to patients in various stages of reproductive life. She is fluent in English and Spanish and is the lead contact for our Telehealth service.