Guess birth control isn't so horrible after all...

Jaymes · Jul 1, 2005

I saw a news report today that had me going

. I can't find a source to the story in particular I saw, but I can find many sources that say in essence what the report said.

CBC News said:
The Pill also offers many health benefits, including some protection against:
infection of the fallopian tubes (pelvic inflammatory disease), which commonly leads to infertility
ectopic pregnancy
non-cancerous breast growths
ovarian cysts
cancer of the ovaries
cancer of the lining of the uterus
troublesome menstrual cramps
iron deficiency anemia that results from heavy periods
rheumatoid arthritis
acne

Compare to the supposedly horrible side-effects, none of which I've experience the entire time I've been on birth control (over a year):

bleeding between periods
weight gain or loss
breast tenderness
nausea and sometimes vomiting
depression

(Okay, I have suffered from depression, but I had that before the pill.

)

Just thought you guys might be interested.

Source

Lintu · Jul 1, 2005

I haven't had any of the bad side effects either in 3 years of taking it. Even if I weren't using it as a contraceptive, I'd still use it for the positive effects.

michel · Jul 1, 2005

Lintu said:
I haven't had any of the bad side effects either in 3 years of taking it. Even if I weren't using it as a contraceptive, I'd still use it for the positive effects.

My wife was much the same; unfortunately, she had to come off the pill because of her age & elavated blood pressure; she is now weighing up the pros and cons of H.R.T..............

Prima · Jul 1, 2005

I have a friend who had all of those nasty side effects except the bleeding between periods (I don't recall her having that, at least)

So, yes, it has bad side effects, and good effects, too, like any medication. Exactly what are you trying to debate here?

Valjean · Jul 1, 2005

Inasmuch as the underlying cause of almost all poverty and human misery in the world is overpopulation, ie: breeding beyond the economic capacity of one's region, I'd say contraceptives are an overwhelming boon to human happiness and well-being, despite their occasional side-effects.

Jaymes · Jul 1, 2005

Whether the good outweighs the bad, I suppose. I have a friend who's deathly allergic to birth control pills (she ended up in the hospital when she tried to take them), so I know not everyone can or wants to take them. But possibly preventing ovarian cancer and cancer in the lining of the uterus... shouldn't that alone make them worth taking?

I suppose half the reason I posted this is because of some of the rabid ranting I've seen elsewhere about how horrible birth control is and how it ruins women's bodies, and other such nonsense.

Pilgrim of this Reality · Jul 1, 2005

Most arguments i have heard against contraceptives are usually more concerned with the "morality" of using them over the side effects. Roman Catholics are the largest and most vocal of these groups. One arguement i have heard against contraceptives is they are wasteful of "seed." I need to refresh myself on all of these arguments in other threads. I did some thinking on this and found an interesting statistic, 80% of all pregnancies in the animal kingdom end in a natural abortion (for lack of a better term) and function just like a regular cycle in women. As for the wastefulness of "seed" that is illogical because natural processes like "wet dreams" and periods is essentially wasteful and thus sinful. I am sure not everyone in the camp against contraceptives are as extreme in views. They do have valid points about contraceptive may reduce morality by almost eliminating the consequences of promiscuity.

Sunstone · Jul 1, 2005

The notion that contraceptives are "wasteful of seed" seems to me to be rather remote and abstract compared to the concrete consequences of an unwanted pregnancy.

Melody · Jul 2, 2005

Jensa said:
Whether the good outweighs the bad, I suppose. I have a friend who's deathly allergic to birth control pills (she ended up in the hospital when she tried to take them), so I know not everyone can or wants to take them. But possibly preventing ovarian cancer and cancer in the lining of the uterus... shouldn't that alone make them worth taking?

I'd have to see the studies to believe this is true because, as I've said in other threads, statistics are easy to skew.

Birth control pills aren't appropriate for everyone, despite the news report. For example, and this could possibly have changed in the last 20 years, the birth control contraindications stated that their use was not recommended if you were overweight or smoked, had a history of heart disease and/or family history of cervical cancer.

I wonder if in 40 years they'll find a link between the rising incidence of infertility and the use of the pill.

EnhancedSpirit · Jul 2, 2005

Like anything else, the general rule should be all in moderation. I agree it is beneficial to many. But I feel if you continually put foreign matter in your system, over long periods of time even those who don't suffer the possible side effects, will eventually experience problems of somesort.

I have read things like long term use of contraceptives causes the body to stop producing the pheromones that attract the opposite sex, and loss of libido. I think if you use internal contraceptives, you should give your body a break every few years. If I remember correctly, doctors incourage this as well.

Lintu · Jul 2, 2005

I think that the rise in infertility has been attributed to the huge number of people who have or have had STDs (particularly chlamydia) as well as people waiting until their 40s to start a family. I have yet to see any evidence that the pill causes infertility, but I guess we'll see. My mom was on the pill and got pregnant as soon as she wanted to with my sister and me.

The pill definitely does have an effect on libido for a lot of women. I guess it's just one of those situations where you have to weigh the consequences. What's going to make me less sexual...a slight drop in libido, or a screaming baby and not enough money to pay the bills?

michel · Jul 2, 2005

Lintu said:
I think that the rise in infertility has been attributed to the huge number of people who have or have had STDs (particularly chlamydia) as well as people waiting until their 40s to start a family. I have yet to see any evidence that the pill causes infertility, but I guess we'll see. My mom was on the pill and got pregnant as soon as she wanted to with my sister and me.

The pill definitely does have an effect on libido for a lot of women. I guess it's just one of those situations where you have to weigh the consequences. What's going to make me less sexual...a slight drop in libido, or a screaming baby and not enough money to pay the bills?

the rise in infertility (in the male) has also been attributed to the use of female hormones in the foodstuff of animals - especially chicken.

Bastet · Jul 2, 2005

Melody said:
Birth control pills aren't appropriate for everyone, despite the news report. For example, and this could possibly have changed in the last 20 years, the birth control contraindications stated that their use was not recommended if you were overweight or smoked, had a history of heart disease and/or family history of cervical cancer.

This is true of the type of contraceptive pill that is taken on a daily basis, but apparently not so for other forms. A close friend of mine went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago, because she was considering going back on the pill after having not taken it for several years. The doctor refused to prescribe it for her, because my friend is overweight, and has a family history of both heart attack and stroke (her father died of a heart attack, and her mother had several strokes before she died). The progestogen-estrogen combination oral contraceptive pill increases the risk of blood clots...but the doctor suggested to my friend that if she was considering becoming sexually active in the future, that she should consider the "mini-pill" (a progestogen-only pill, which is somewhat less effective, although I don't have figures on what "somewhat" is). The "mini-pill" is injected into the upper arm, and lasts for 3 months.

Bastet · Jul 2, 2005

Jensa ~ I know your heart is in the right place, but your list of the "supposedly horrible side-effects" is more than a little off. I have the information sheet sitting right next to me for the pill I take, and here are the warnings on it, including what I would call the possible "horrible side-effects":

You should not take these pills without your doctor's continued supervision, as they can cause serious side effects in some users and should not be taken at all by certain women.
Women who should not use oral contraceptives are those:
1. Who have, or have had, blood clotting disorder, a stroke, clot in the lung, or infections or clots in varicose or other veins, a heart attack or angina pectoris, severe diabetes with vascular changes.
2. Who suspect they may be pregnant.
3. Who have, or have had, cancer of the breast or sex organs, or unexplained vaginal bleeding.
4. With a significantly damaged liver, or congenital disorders of the liver, previous or existing liver tumors, or a history of jaundice or severe generalised itching during a previous pregnancy.
5. With sickle-cell anaemia.
6. With disturbances of lipometabilism.
7. With a history of herpes of pregnancy.
8. With otosclerosis (a form of hearing loss) which has become worse in a previous pregnancy.
9. Who are breast feeding, as small amounts of contraceptive have been found in the mother's milk and the effect upon the infants is not yet known. Reduction of the milk supply may occur.

Most side effects of the pill are not serious. The most common side effects are headaches, nausea, gastric upsets, vomiting, bleeding between menstrual periods, weight gain and breast tenderness, changes in libido or depressive moods. Vaginal irritation or discharge may occur due to the overgrowth of a yeast organism for which treatment is available.
In predisposed women, long-term use of the tablets can sometimes cause brownish patches on the face which are made worse by long term exposure to the sun. Women who have this tendency should therefore avoid spending too long in the sun.
Individual cases of poor tolerance of contact lenses have been reported.

The most serious side effects, which are fortunately infrequent are:
1. Blood clots in the legs, lungs, brain, heart and other organs.
2. Liver tumours which may bleed severely. The doctor must therefore be informed of the occurrenceof unusual upper abdominal complaints which do not disappear spontaneously within a short time.
3. Birth defects if the pill is taken while you are pregnant.
4. High blood pressure.
5. Gall bladder disease.

Smoking significantly increases the risks of serious effects on the blood vessels. If you smoke you are advised to choose another form of contraception.

There is another 2/3 of a page in directions, along with more warnings about symptoms to look out for and reasons for immediate discontinuation of the pill. Don't get me wrong, I am not anti-contraceptives, and not anti-pill -- I take it myself (and have just realised why half of my forehead is a brownish colour...guess that's why they say at the top of the leaflet to always read the warnings, even if you're a long time user of the pill, because the info is continuously being updated

). But I believe you should always be aware of what you are putting into your body, and the possible consequences - good and bad - and make a fully informed decision.

Scuba Pete · Jul 2, 2005

I practise birth control... I had a vasectomy. No deposit, no return. It doesn't ALWAYS have to be the lady's job.

Bastet · Jul 2, 2005

NetDoc said:
I practise birth control... I had a vasectomy. No deposit, no return. It doesn't ALWAYS have to be the lady's job.

Good for you.

But not all of us are on the pill for contraceptive reasons. If I could find a way around taking it myself, I would.

Yerda · Jul 2, 2005

Melody said:
I wonder if in 40 years they'll find a link between the rising incidence of infertility and the use of the pill.

The pill that lasts a lifetime!

Melody · Jul 3, 2005

NetDoc said:
I practise birth control... I had a vasectomy. No deposit, no return. It doesn't ALWAYS have to be the lady's job.

I had to have a C-section with my youngest (he had a fat head) and, even though I was laid open and they could've tied my tubes, my sweet and wonderful husband told the doctor that it wasn't necessary because he'd get a vasectomy because there were far more serious possible complications for a woman than a man. Now *that* is love....and I think I'll keep him.

michel · Jul 3, 2005

Bastet said:
Jensa ~ I know your heart is in the right place, but your list of the "supposedly horrible side-effects" is more than a little off. I have the information sheet sitting right next to me for the pill I take, and here are the warnings on it, including what I would call the possible "horrible side-effects":

You should not take these pills without your doctor's continued supervision, as they can cause serious side effects in some users and should not be taken at all by certain women.
Women who should not use oral contraceptives are those:
1. Who have, or have had, blood clotting disorder, a stroke, clot in the lung, or infections or clots in varicose or other veins, a heart attack or angina pectoris, severe diabetes with vascular changes.
2. Who suspect they may be pregnant.
3. Who have, or have had, cancer of the breast or sex organs, or unexplained vaginal bleeding.
4. With a significantly damaged liver, or congenital disorders of the liver, previous or existing liver tumors, or a history of jaundice or severe generalised itching during a previous pregnancy.
5. With sickle-cell anaemia.
6. With disturbances of lipometabilism.
7. With a history of herpes of pregnancy.
8. With otosclerosis (a form of hearing loss) which has become worse in a previous pregnancy.
9. Who are breast feeding, as small amounts of contraceptive have been found in the mother's milk and the effect upon the infants is not yet known. Reduction of the milk supply may occur.

Most side effects of the pill are not serious. The most common side effects are headaches, nausea, gastric upsets, vomiting, bleeding between menstrual periods, weight gain and breast tenderness, changes in libido or depressive moods. Vaginal irritation or discharge may occur due to the overgrowth of a yeast organism for which treatment is available.
In predisposed women, long-term use of the tablets can sometimes cause brownish patches on the face which are made worse by long term exposure to the sun. Women who have this tendency should therefore avoid spending too long in the sun.
Individual cases of poor tolerance of contact lenses have been reported.

The most serious side effects, which are fortunately infrequent are:
1. Blood clots in the legs, lungs, brain, heart and other organs.
2. Liver tumours which may bleed severely. The doctor must therefore be informed of the occurrenceof unusual upper abdominal complaints which do not disappear spontaneously within a short time.
3. Birth defects if the pill is taken while you are pregnant.
4. High blood pressure.
5. Gall bladder disease.

Smoking significantly increases the risks of serious effects on the blood vessels. If you smoke you are advised to choose another form of contraception.

There is another 2/3 of a page in directions, along with more warnings about symptoms to look out for and reasons for immediate discontinuation of the pill. Don't get me wrong, I am not anti-contraceptives, and not anti-pill -- I take it myself (and have just realised why half of my forehead is a brownish colour...guess that's why they say at the top of the leaflet to always read the warnings, even if you're a long time user of the pill, because the info is continuously being updated ). But I believe you should always be aware of what you are putting into your body, and the possible consequences - good and bad - and make a fully informed decision.

My wife has a cousin who had DVT (Deep vein Thrombosis) at the age of nineteen ; she was on the Pill, smoked quite heavilly, and was overweight. I couldn't believe it when I heard - in one so young.

Guess birth control isn't so horrible after all...

Jaymes

The cake is a lie

Lintu

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michel

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Prima

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Valjean

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Jaymes

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Pilgrim of this Reality

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Lintu

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Bastet

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Scuba Pete

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