By Lee Kyung-min
A 26-year old woman surnamed Han gave up taking oral contraceptives after experiencing severe migraine and nausea. The combination birth control pill that contains two hormones _ estrogen and progestin _ to prevent pregnancy _ is known to be a safe and effective method of birth control for most women, and is also used to help the regulation of periods. She decided to take what seemed to be a bothersome daily routine, to help treat her irregular menstrual cycle.
“I always had irregular menstrual cycles since I was in high school,” she said. “Doctors told me that I was too stressed out over study for the university entrance exam, adding that my condition should get better once the exam was over, but it didn’t get any better long after I graduated university. That is why I tried taking the pills.”
Soon after she began the 28-day regimen that required her to take 21 pills _ one pill per day _ she had migraines, which made it impossible for her to do anything, let alone concentrate on her studies. “Having a headache itself was awful, but it got worse after I had constant nausea, followed by vomiting. I also started feeling depressed, a side effect which I think was compounded by having all those side effects from taking the pills.”
She is among many women _ including those who seek to delay having periods before important events such as major tests or other strenuous outdoor activities _ who decided to get off oral contraceptives due to the side effects.
According to data submitted from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) to Rep. Kim Seung-hee of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party during the National Assembly audit last October, 958 cases of side effects were reported in 2016, up about 50 percent from 659 in 2013. By age, 476 cases were experienced by women in their 30s, followed by 288 by those in their 40s. Nineteen cases were experienced from those aged between 10 and 19, with eight cases from those under 10.
Separate data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) showed over 397 million birth control pills including oral contraceptives and emergency contraceptives, also known as morning after pills, were sold in Korea. Kim, the former MFDS minister, urged the government to come up with measures to better inform women _ especially young women and teenagers _ about the possible side effects of taking the pills. “Many young women and girls are taking birth control pills without being informed about the possibility of cessation of menstruation, or a change in the amount or duration of their menstrual periods. The government should promptly roll out measures to prevent such instances.”
According to the Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, taking the pill offers medical benefits such as decreased menstrual cramps and heavy bleeding. “Some women are reported to have seen an improvement in acne. Other positive aspects include protection against endometrial or ovarian cancer,” an official from the doctors’ group said.
“However, women who should not take the combined pill include those who have had blood clots in their legs and lungs and those who have had breast cancer or liver cancer.” Those who have had a stroke, coronary artery or heart disease, kidney failure, or acute hepatitis should not take the pills. The doctors’ group also said those who require caution include current smokers over 35 who smoke 15 or more cigarettes per day, those who experience migraines soon after taking the pills, and those who have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes.