The perfect male contraceptive would be cheap, reliable, reversible, long-acting and have few side effects.

few side effects

Most birth control pills contain an estrogen and a progestin. Those that contain estrogen use the same kind of estrogen (ethinyl estradiol), but the dose can vary. Several different types of progestin hormones are used in birth control pills. The strength of the estrogen, the type of progestin, and the dose of progestin all play a role in determining which side effects a particular birth control pill is likely (or unlikely) to cause.

Some progestins have androgenic activity (testosterone-like activity). These progestins are often thought to carry a higher risk for acne and excessive hair growth (a condition known as hirsutism). Other progestins have anti-androgenic (anti-testosterone) effects and are thought to be useful for treating acne or excessive hair growth. Some progestins may worsen water retention, while others may help relieve this problem. Differences in the estrogen content may affect menstrual bleeding tendencies, and many high-estrogen pills can increase the risk of blood clots.

Some birth control pill side effects, while occurring infrequently, are potentially serious and should be reported immediately to your healthcare provider. These include but are not limited to:

• Depression or other emotional changes
• Migraines
• Breast lumps
• Heavy vaginal bleeding between periods (light bleeding or spotting is normal)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High cholesterol
• Signs of a blood clot in the leg, such as:

• • Pain in the calf
  • Leg cramps
  • Leg or foot swelling

• Signs of a blood clot in the lung, such as:

• • Shortness of breath
  • Sharp chest pain
  • Coughing up blood

• Chest pain or heaviness, which may be signs of a heart attack
• Sudden loss of vision or vision changes, which can be a sign of a blood clot in the eye
• Signs of a stroke, such as:

• • Vision or speech changes
  • Weakness or numbness in an arm or leg
  • Severe headache

• Signs of liver damage, such as:

• • Yellow eyes or skin (jaundice)
  • Dark urine
  • Upper-right abdominal pain

• Signs of an allergic reaction, such as:

• • Unexplained rash
  • Hives
  • Itching
  • Unexplained swelling
  • Wheezing
  • Difficulty breathing or swallowing.