---
title: Are women happy taking the birth control pill and what side effects do they experience?
description: Most women are happy with the pill. Periods become shorter and lighter, though some experience weight gain and breast tenderness.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/tasmanian-survey-of-pill-symptoms-1996/
---

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- Are women happy taking the birth control pill and what side effects do they experience?

Survey study, 1996

# Are women happy taking the birth control pill and what side effects do they experience?

Most women are happy with the pill. Periods become shorter and lighter, though some experience weight gain and breast tenderness.

 Early or limited evidence

227 young women using oral contraceptives at a family planning clinic in Tasmania

## What they did

A survey of 227 young women visiting a family planning clinic in Tasmania completed questionnaires about their satisfaction with oral contraceptives, side effects they experienced, and understanding of long-term benefits.

## What they found

78 percent were 'very happy' or 'happy' with oral contraceptives. Compared to before pill use, women reported shorter, lighter, and less painful periods. Some reported slight increases in breast swelling and tenderness and fluid retention. Overall, weight gain was reported more often than weight loss. Most women had poor understanding of long-term benefits.

## What it means for you

While most women are satisfied with the pill, side effects like weight gain affect some users. Women should be counselled about possible weight changes and side effects when starting the pill. The main limits are that the sample was self-selected from one clinic and exact frequencies are not clearly stated.

227

women surveyed

78%

very happy or happy with the pill

## About the study

Original title Tasmanian survey of pill symptoms Authors Riddoch GG, Duncombe P, Kovacs G Journal Australian family physician Year 1996 Study design Survey study What was tested Birth control pill use Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9479798/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9479798/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Bipolar disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-bipolar/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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