Yea or Nah...Birth Control

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Permalink Reply by colleen on April 11, 2008 at 10:37pm

Hi ... I would like more information.. please .
Colleen

ncolleen@comcast.net

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Permalink Reply by Alix on March 14, 2008 at 5:46pm

My doctor has been pushing me hard for several months now to go ON the pill because I have very low estrogen levels (I'm only 34). She's worried about the effect that is having on my bones as I have lots of bone mets. I've been resisting because of all of the other things the pill does. I've been trying to increase my intake of flax as I've read that's a natural source of estrogen. But, does anyone have any other suggestions???

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Permalink Reply by Holly on March 14, 2008 at 5:56pm

Since I got my first period 15 years ago, I have been on some form of birth control. It has been 30 days exactly and I am noticing changes already and MAN, what a difference. I am not as moody, I used to get headaches like no other, I don't eat just to eat, I feel like I have more energy and an all around better way of living. A girl in my office has done the same thing and she has noticed a world of difference as well.

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Permalink Reply by Christine on March 14, 2008 at 6:12pm

Hi Tae!

This post is part opinion & part fact, both based on my own experience, so take it or leave it... I have been on the pill on and off for the better part of 20 years, and when I was off I was on other high-dose hormones trying to get pregnant. My tubes are tied now and I am still on the pill, mainly because I have bad ovarian cycts when I am off it-- I am looking in to other options since I am over 35. I worry somewhat about my increased risk of breast cancer because of this, but the pill also reduces your risk of other cancers-- uterine I think, I know as an onc nurse I should know this but it is Friday and my brain is completely SHOT!!! So forgive me..

If you have cancer you are already at increased risk for clots, so your doc should be hesitant to put you on estrogens of any kind. If you do take a bcp you are better off with a progesterone pill, and as far as hormonal birth control goes, the nuvaring is the lowest dose you can get because it is directly in contact with your mucous membranes. Another option may be the IUD, but a diaphragm is a great option- used correctly & with spermicide it is very effective. If the statistics are lower than the pill, that is due to incorrect use (like condoms.) It is amazing how many people don't know how to use condoms properly.

On a final and more philosophical note, one thing that I truly believe having worked in my job for three years is that there are things you can do to improve your odds- treatments that absolutely work, but there is also a huge amount that is unknown and beyond our control. Genetics, environment, and other factors that no matter what we do won't change. People who never did anything and get cancer-- never smoked, never drank, and get lung or renal cell cancer.. people who smoked 3 packs a day for 50 years and never get COPD OR lung cancer... I do believe in the cause and effect, but I also believe that I am not going to worry about every single thing that I do. My husband, at 35, ended up with 13 blood clots in his lungs.. you just never know what will happen or why (not always anyway.) That being said, live sensibly and take reasonable precautions, but don't obsess.

If I can answer any questions, I am always happy to do so. :-)

Christine

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Permalink Reply by Sweetfightgirl on April 2, 2008 at 9:13pm

I would talk to your docs as probably someone said...in my case I can't have kids but they put me on them since i have hormone problems due to a pituitary tumor and they are trying to fix my heart...each of us is so different when it comes to hormones you really can only tell by having a hormone panel done and discussing it with your docs...I did have to come off for 3 years during my recovery and illness...they put me back on because I am still sick with another disease now but they now want to try and get my ovaries and other organs working better...I have had almost every hormone problem out there since Cushing's disease is the mother of all bad hormone issues so feel free to pound any q's my way and I can try to direct you but honestly get a panel done first so you know if you are on teh right ones at the right dose or if you even need them...as far as natural, too complicated for me to keep track of calendars and pulling out and sheepskin...gross.

Happy hormones!

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Permalink Reply by Hannah on April 3, 2008 at 4:33pm

The Pill SUCKS! It is unnatural to alter your hormones on a chronic basis just to avoid pregnancy. If you really want to get in tune with your body and understand your fertility you should look in to NFP (Natural Family Planning) My sister-in-law can't use any form of so-called birth control due to lichen schlerosis and a thyroid condition so she's been successfully using NFP to avoid pregnancy for over 3 years. They had twins naturally (super fertile!!!) so you know she is serious about timing her next kid. Well after less than 4 months of trying using NFP timing, she succeeded in conceiving. I know other people who have also used this successfully and if I weren't in early menopause it would be the only method of BC I would consider. Just remember, that kids come when God thinks they should. I was on the pill when I got pregnant with my first(and now I know my ONLY) child. I was diagnosed with liposarcoma while pregnant with him and though he wasn't exactly in our plans (less than one year married) we are SO overjoyed to have him. If we hadn't gotten pregnant then, we never would have been able to have a biological child of our own. Just take that into consideration when you're selecting your BC method. And read, read, read until you really feel like you have ALL the information available. Not all the NFP resources are centered around Catholocism, but one of the best support groups out there for learning the method is based in the Catholic Church. But everything I've heard lately about HRT and hormone balance in general is that the Pill is bad news bears for anyone who doesn't already have an inbalance like PCOS. Good luck and I hope you enjoy parenthood whenever it comes to you...it's the best things I've ever done! :)

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Permalink Reply by Jan Roberts on April 3, 2008 at 4:58pm

Hi Hannah,
As a health professional, I can assure everyone that there are lots of sound reasons to avoid the pill, but the most ironical one is the likelihood of later fertility problems. I have a colleague who is about to publish a book on the subject and she quotes an eminent IVF specialist who says that almost 100% of his patients were on the pill in their teens and 20s.
At this point I want to mention Femmenessence Macaharmony - a natural product that many practitioners are now prescribing for young women whose cycles are irregular (replacing the pill for that application) or for women whose cycles have been completely disrupted by Pill use, restoring normal menstrual cycles in 3-4 months. Please note that one of the foundations of healthy reproduction is a normal 29-day cycle, so it’s great to have a product that will effectively promote the body’s own production of hormones across the board.

If you’re wondering about contraception when you're coming off the pill - you might also like to know about the Natural Fertility Management Contraception Kit – of course applying NFM methods to contraception (and to conscious conception) becomes a great deal easier when cycles are normalised first. Charting the cycle is not the infamous rhythm method but involves observation of changes in cervical mucus, taking basal temperature and knowledge of the woman’s personal “lunar return” All available with the NFM Kit. Women are often not aware of the fact that every month when the moon is in the same angle as it was at the time of their birth - they enjoy a period of heightened fertility. In very healthy women this time is aligned with their physiological ovulation.

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Permalink Reply by Kristin on April 13, 2008 at 1:28am

After 11 years on the pill I went off 6 months prior to trying to get pregnant with my son, and thank goodness I was able to get pregnant without any problems. I will never go back on them now and I have never felt better than being off synthetic hormones. I have been very sucessful with the rythem method only getting pregnant when I wanted to. Have heard it doesn't work for eveyone, but has been perfect for me...especially since my cycles are like clockwork...maybe that is why it works for me. Now if I can just get off my anti-depressants I would be thrilled.
Cheers,
Kristin

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Permalink Reply by Kristin on April 13, 2008 at 1:47am

They serve a purpose and I think they are a much better alternative. I can't use the ones with progesterone because that gives me morning sickness and acne. But there are ones without hormones.

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Permalink Reply by Kristen's Raw on April 15, 2008 at 1:41am

I stopped birth control many years ago and so glad I did. What a difference for my body once I got off all that. I'm into the "natural fertility" thing, too. Now that my periods are regular, it's a no-brainer and so easy.

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Permalink Reply by carolyn on October 15, 2008 at 6:21pm

look at this

finally the FDA attempts to do its job, protecting people

http://www.nationalpartnership.org/site/News2?abbr=daily4_&page...

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Permalink Reply by Mel on November 10, 2008 at 5:17pm

Thanks for posting that. Very interesting.

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