Spotting may also occur in some women who take low dose pills if the time at which the pill is taken each day varies. Persistent minor side effects may be eliminated by changing the type of pills you are taking. Because of the lower dose pills used today, serious problems such as migraine headaches, elevated blood pressure, blood clots, nonmalignant liver tumors, gall bladder disease, heart attacks, and strokes are rarely seen. However, if you experience any of the Early Pill Warning Signs listed below or if you develop depression, yellow jaundice, or a breast lump, it is your responsibility to immediately contact a health care provider. Cigarette smoking combined with OCP use increases the risk of several serious conditions including blood clots, stroke, heart attack, liver tumor, gallbladder disease, and high blood pressure.
Smoking is far more dangerous than the pill.
The pill has been found to be relatively safe for older women provided they do not smoke. Count the first day of your menstrual period as day one. Depending on the directions from your health care provider you will start your first packet of pills on either the first Sunday of your cycle or the first day of menstrual flow . Take the pills for 28 consecutive days if you have a 28-day pack. Upon completion of the packet, begin the next packet of pills immediately the next day.