Who Shouldn't Take Birth Control Pills?

Birth control pills are generally safe. In fact, dozens of placebo-controlled studies, carried out both long-term and short-term, have confirmed that oral contraceptives actually reduce overall mortality in women of reproductive age. Nevertheless, I've known dozens of women who have had serious side effects from birth control pills-- and, perhaps not surprisingly, they were all women who took the drugs against medical advice. For women with certain medical conditions, oral contraceptives can be unacceptably dangerous.

The combination birth control pill, more classically called "The Pill," is not appropriate for everyone. If you have any of the following medical conditions, do not take oral contraceptives without first thoroughly discussing the risks with your health care provider.

Women with History of Blood Clots

Women who have had blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, stroke, pulmonary embolism or heart attack should not generally use birth control pills. Oral contraceptives appear to increase the risk of these conditions, especially for women who have had blood clots in the past. Birth control pills can also interact with blood thinners used to treat blood clots.

Smokers Over 35 
Smoking greatly increases your risk of certain forms of cardiovascular disease, and birth control pills can elevate this risk even further. For smoking women over 35, who naturally experience an increase in cardiovascular risks, birth control pills can be extremely dangerous. If you smoke, quit before using birth control pills.

Nursing Women 
If you are breastfeeding a child, you should probably avoid using combination birth control pills. Estrogen in the Pill may reduce your milk supply or disrupt your baby's hormone development. The minipill, which contains only progestin, or the Mirena IUD may be more appropriate. However, as a general rule, nursing moms are discouraged from using hormonal contraceptives.

Women Who Have Had Certain Cancers

Women who have had breast, history or endometrial cancers should avoid using birth control pills unless specifically advised to use them by a qualified practitioner. Although the Pill appears to reduce the risk of some types of cancers, it may increase the risk of others. If you are a cancer survivor, be mindful of any medications that could increase the risk of your cancer returning.

Women With Liver, Kidney and Adrenal Disease

In general, you should not use combination birth control pills if you have any disease affecting your liver, kidneys or adrenal glands. Oral contraceptives can aggrevate these conditions, and these diseases also increase the risk of serious side effects from birth control. Talk to your doctor about other birth control options if you're concerned.

People Taking Certain Drugs

If you use anticonvulsants to treat a seizure disorder such as epilepsy, you should not use birth control pills without getting the go-ahead from your primary health care provider. Women using the herbal supplement Saint John's wort, used to treat depression, also shouldn't take birth control pills because they will be less effective. If you are using any medication, make sure that it is safe to use with birth control.