Friday, April 04, 2008

ANOTHER reason not to use birth control pills

I've heard from Ali and others about the weird things birth control pills seem to do to people healthwise. It's already known that they can cause blood clots (so DO NOT use if you have any kind of thrombophilia, e.g., if your doctors say you are at risk for conditions like deep vein thrombosis), and people report that their cycles became irregular even after only a few cycles.

Last I spoke, Julie Indichova (author of Inconceivable) is also conducting a study on birth control pills and their effect on infertility. It's especially important to make one's self aware of the risks, especially when they are using the pills to STOP MENSES COMPLETELY (eek) and to treat ACNE (double eek).
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(NaturalNews) Women who take oral contraceptives may have more plaque buildup in their arteries, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Ghent, Belgium, and presented at a conference of the American Heart Association.

Researchers conducted a long-term observational study on 1,300 healthy women living in the small town of Erpe-Mere, Belgium. Approximately 81 percent of participants had taken birth control pills for at least a year at some point in their lives, and 27 percent were currently taking the contraceptives.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 80 percent of U.S. women use oral contraceptives at some point between the ages of 15 and 44.

More here.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Marie, for posting this. Whenever I speak of the dangers of birth control pills women usually respond with silence and embarrassment - they don't want to hear it. I think it is because this issue is closely tied to feminism - birth control pills are seen as a feminist commodity because it gives us freedom with our bodies. That would be wonderful if it were simple as that. But as you mentioned, it can also risk the health, well-being and even lives of women. How empowering can that be?

Ali

Anonymous said...

What about the residual estrogen that is being found in tap water across the nation. Yet another reason to avoid. For birth control, cant get any greener than Natural Family Planning. This method works by taking temperature and determining thickness of mucus. Done properly its 99% effective. Free yourselves ladies from the pharmaceutical pushers and truly reclaim your bodies and womanhood!

Dee

GreenFertility said...

Thanks Ali, and Dee--

And yes, I cover Natural Family Planning (a.k.a. Fertility Awareness Method--FAM) in my Natural Health article. It's not only easy, it's cool to see how your body changes throughout your cycle--now THAT'S feminist, not drugs!!!!

teh4 said...

Just read an article 2theadvocate.com about how complications from blood clots kill more Americans annually than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Perhaps medical professionals don't stress the link between birth control and developing a Deep-Vein Thrombosis enough or effectively. I don't have the numbers here, just posting some food for thought.

-Tara

teh4 said...

Could someone direct me to your or others research in this area? I'd be interested in learning more. Thanks

-Tara

GreenFertility said...

Hi Tara, here are some non genetic risks (many of them are our daily lifestyle factors) that increase risk for clots--i.e., birth control pills PLUS sedentary lifestyle heightens risk. For genetic thrombophilia conditions, you can easily Google it. Many of these so called "mutations" like Leiden Factor V are actually fairly common, it's just that no one gets tested for it.

Appreciate another inquiring mind!

Other Factors That Increase Risk for Blood Clots

For all people – those with and without an inherited thrombophilia – a number of things can significantly affect the chances of having a venous thrombosis (blood clot). These include triggering events, lifestyle factors, age, and other health conditions.

When a person has a blood clot, it is the result of a variety of risk factors working together – not simply their genes. Many people are not aware of the lifestyle and other nongenetic risks that increase the chance they will develop a blood clot.
Triggering events include:

* Immobility – such as hospitalization and prolonged bed rest
* Surgery – due to trauma, venous catheters, and prolonged bed rest
* Long distance travel – by airplane or automobile, lasting four or more hours

Triggering events for women include:

* Oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
* Pregnancy
* Hormone replacement therapy

Lifestyle factors include:

* Sedentary lifestyle – not getting exercise
* Obesity – more than 30 pounds overweight (BMI chart)
* Smoking – heavy tobacco use

Other health conditions include:

* Injury and infection
* Inflammatory disease
* Active cancer

For all people, as age increases, the risk of having a blood clot increases. Having a genetic risk for thrombophilia further increases the chance of having a blood clot.

teh4 said...

Thanks, Marie.
I've also been reading up on Natural Family Planning and I was most surprised by how high tech tracking and recording cycles have become - I didn't realize there is software out there dedicated to NFP!

I thought you'd be interested in reading this woman's story about Mayan abdominal massage as your focus is Green Fertility.

http://www.trusera.com/users/dejanaya/stories/becoming-a-better-person

-Tara

teh4 said...

http://www.trusera.com/users/dejanaya/stories/becoming-a-better-person

teh4 said...

I apologize for the number of posts -
the link isn't copying correctly. If you go to www.trusera.com and search for "Becoming a Better Person" it will come up.

GreenFertility said...

Hi Tara,

She also mentions clear passages; I have heard it can, sometimes, clear blocked fallopian tubes w/o surgery. Sounds like a good place to start, to me!

Anonymous said...

I have always had concerns about birth control pills and it seems that very few women, including doctors, are open to discuss the risks. I also wonder if there are studies that find that HPV has increased due to the availability of the pill? I am concerned that too many women look to the pill as a quick fix, without considering the risks. Thank you for your posting and comments!

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

I find it to be irresponsible to disuade people from taking birth control. The risks are minimal and this "article" seems to be sparse with facts. There is no scientific reason to have a period and talking about enjoying your cycle has nothing to do with feminism...odd yes, feminist, no.

Anonymous said...

when men can become pregnant birth control will not be an issue ...as long as they can't they will continue to try to erode women's reproductive righs and try to control and dictate our lives and the idiot women who believe them...

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please cite your sources.

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Anonymous said...

Hello. My name is Lauren. I'm 15 years old and I'm doing a research project on birth control pills. As a teenager, I understand that teens have become more sexually active, and in order to reduce teen pregnancy, birth control is a method often used. While reading this article, I noticed that you have failed to recognize the benefits (for whether you believe it or not, there ARE many benefits).

One benefit of birth control is that it's easy to use, and it's not very complicated. Rather than measuring mucus thickness or taking their temperature, one can simply take a pill. Also, it lowers the chance of ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Birth control also reduces acne, which is a commonality in teens and adults. Birth control also makes periods lighter and regulated.
Not only can birth control be used for general contraception, it can be used emergency contraception as well.

I don't want this to become an arguement. I posted this comment to reveal a different perspective. I'm not intentionally trying to anger ot persuade anyone.

Also, if you could please enlighten me with an organized list of reasons as to why oral contraception is harmful to women, that would be fantastic!!

Thanks for your time, ladies.

Question the pill said...

Little girl doing your research project:
We have already heard this frantic laundry list of reasons fed to the general public about why bc is good for you.
NOW what we are looking at is the RISKS.

If you want to know the TRUTH about a product, do you ask the seller, who in this case is extremely slimey with a horrible reputation? Or do you check the reviews?
*These* are the reviews.

SYNTHETIC HORMONES ARE NOT GOOD FOR YOU. That is common fucking sense. But now they are in our tap water.