While birth control is typically safe to use, there are side effects beyond the short-term concerns about weight gain or breakthrough bleeding. Some of these risks are limited by the type of birth control you choose.

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1. Blood Clots

People who take birth control pills may be at a higher risk of developing blood clots. However, this complication is rare, and the risk is still generally low for most people.

People who are over 40 years old, who smoke, are very overweight, or have a family history of clotting may be at higher risk.

Pills with higher doses of estrogen are also considered to raise the risk. Progestin-only pills , on the other hand, generally do not cause blood clots. The widely used levonorgestrel has been associated with the lowest risk

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