what brand of pills is safe and no side effects?

All birth control pills have side effects and health risks. Artificial female hormones are the active ingredient in hormonal contraceptives like the Pill, and these are estrogen and progestin. Some pills contain both hormones and others progestin only. Using both hormones together is somewhat more effective than progestin alone, but the estrogen component is responsible for most of the serious health hazards associated with the Pill.

Common side effects of oral contraceptives include loss of sex drive (libido), headaches, acne, weight gain, vaginal infections, and depression. Current research indicates that oral contraceptives increase your risk of acquiring HIV if your partner is infected. Oral contraceptives also have some uncommon but serious health risks associated with their use, especially among smokers; these include abnormal blood clotting and heart attacks, breast cancer, and gallbladder disease.

Hormone-based contraceptives are a multi-billion dollar industry, and most of the research supporting the safety and efficacy of these was funded by the companies that profit from their sale. Not surprisingly, side-effects and health risks are minimized by drug manufacturers and those who profit by prescribing them.

Best of luck,
Dr. Williams