Hi, I took BCPs continuously for over 10 years (I'm 36 now), wit...

Hi, I took BCPs continuously for over 10 years (I'm 36 now), with last 6 or 7 years on Yasmin. I felt great while on it, but there were I few changes in my health that prompted me to stop the Pill. a) I developed high cholesterol and triglycerides. I am a runner and a healthy eater (mostly vegetarian, fats limited to olive oil); I check my blood lipids every year. Given my lifestyle, the doctors had the only remaining explanation that is must run in my family - but no, this is not a hereditary condition in my case. I did some online research and found out other women whose cholesterol and lipids shot up while on Yasmin or other BCP. b) After many years of perfectly normal Pap smears, I developed first mild and then moderate cervical dysplasia. I underwent LEEP, which is a minor surgery to remove the diseased tissue, which went well, but the condition returned within several months. And now I've been referred to see an oncologist. While the cholesterol -BCP link is a speculation at this point, the BCP link to cervical cancer is a well-known fact. My advice to those who consider getting on the pill: do it if you absolutely have to, but get off after 3-5 years, don't wait for 10 years to find out what it did to your health.