Common Side Effects Counseling pill users about possible side effects can improve OC use.
Side effects cause more women to discontinue pill use than any other factor.
For example, in Bukidnon Province, the Philippines, women who were counseled about potential OC side effects and who rated their provider as friendly were less likely to stop using the pill than women who did not receive such counseling. Despite such findings, other studies show that many OC clients know little about the possibility of side effects and how to manage them. Explanations that women can understand help them continue to use the pill until the side effects subside. Training Training can improve counseling. In training, providers can learn more about both contraceptive methods and how to counsel effectively.