Written by Deborah Meier Brown

How birth-control pills can affect your body and your pursuit of fitness.

When determining if the Pill is right for you, your doctor (preferably a reputable ob/gyn who has some knowledge and experience with female athletes) should be the ultimate judge after thoroughly reviewing your medical history, lifestyle indicators and other factors. Being an informed consumer of health-care services is important, but remember that every woman is different. Marching into a physician’s office and demanding to be put on a certain brand of Pill just because your fitness-minded friend is on it, or because you saw an appealing advertisement for it, isn’t such a hot idea.

Another question you should consider is whether you want reversible contraception. All birth-control pills are reversible, meaning you can stop taking them and, theoretically, get pregnant fairly easily. A method such as tubal ligation, on the other hand, is considered permanent. Of course, keep in mind that birth-control pills won’t prevent the spread of HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases.

Regulating your cycles
Outside of preventing conception, one of the most important benefits of an oral contraceptive for the highly athletic woman may be its ability to treat amenorrhea, a condition where menstrual periods cease. Sharon Winer, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Southern California (Los Angeles), explains that amenorrhea is most commonly associated with women with one or more of these variables: 1) They exercise strenuously; 2) they experience physical and/or emotional stress; and 3) they have dietary and weight changes, frequently resulting in a decrease in bodyfat.