Finally -- A Move to Eliminate Birth Control Pills

re: Finally -- A Move to Eliminate Birth Control Pills

Joan McGovern Tendler — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:37:57 GMT

Third generation pills have a high risk of blood clots, but I think it's important to understand that it is the estrogen in these pills, rather than the progestin, desogestrel, that causes blood clots. Researchers have determined that progestins that have anti-masculinizing acitivity, such as desogestrel as well as Yasmin's progestin, do not counter-balance the effect of the estrogen, ethinylestradiol, resulting in more estrogen "side effects." Estrogen increases levels of copper in the body, lowering levels of zinc. The result is the development of breast and other cancers, autoimmune diseases, depression, birth defects such as Down syndrome, neural tube defects, ADHD, and more. Thus any increase beyond the normal level of estradiol is very problematic.

So, lest second generation pills with other progestins start looking safe, compared to third generation pills, we must remember they have the same estrogen, ethinylestradiol. A highly-esteemed chemist told me that ethinylestradiol is closer in action to the plastics pollutant Bisphenol A than it is to a woman's natural estradiol! Public Citizen is taking an important step, but I hope that this serves as a wake-up call to examine all hormonal birth control pills, including patches, shots, rings, rods, and whatever else they dream up, to truly evaluate the health risks to the many women and teens who take them.

re: Finally -- A Move to Eliminate Birth Control Pills

cafeneko — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:39:07 GMT

Most media ignore the preferred form of birth control for millions of women in Europe and many other more advanced countries. The non-hormonal IUD, <a href = "http://www.paragard.com">Paragard</a>

10 years of no worries, no hormones, removeable at any time.

re: Finally -- A Move to Eliminate Birth Control Pills

Russ Bianchi — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 18:08:47 GMT

The birth rate in North America (Canada and the USA) is approximately 4.1 million births per year.

Both in most of Europe, and North America, these countries are not producing as many children as their population statistically are aging.

The need for health dangerous and artificial means of birth control, generally speaking, is an expensive and bad idea for your health, read about Dr. Mercola's alternative suggestions he lists.

re: Finally -- A Move to Eliminate Birth Control Pills

Phantom O Banjo — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 17:16:03 GMT

Would this also apply to menopausal women on hormone replacement causing similar health problems?

re: Finally -- A Move to Eliminate Birth Control Pills

mmc88121 — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 17:10:29 GMT

Even though their are other natural ways to prevent unwanted conceptions, the only thing that has been proven to be effective 100% of the time is total abstinence.

mmc88121

re: Finally -- A Move to Eliminate Birth Control Pills

PepperR23 — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 17:02:24 GMT

Just this week I went to the hospital with my daughter, where she had an emergency CAT scan to rule out a Pulmonary Embolism. She has been on the BCP Yasmin for 5 years and has developed shortness of breath, chest pain, extreme fatique, migraines, GI symptoms, Pains in her legs, and many other symptoms. She is 24 and in perfect shape, as well as very active. I had begun researching this pill recently and had gone to several sites on the INT regarding side-effects to Yasmin. This is a very dangerous drug and should be banned. This drug also contains a dieretic, reeking havoc with potassium levels. My daughter may not recover for a long time.

re: Finally -- A Move to Eliminate Birth Control Pills

Josh Rubin — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 15:31:31 GMT

There are many problems with the pill in my opinion. For one, it is synthetic. It is made in a lab and does not match the human genetic make up. This is a huge stress to the body and can cause GI problems, many physiological imbalances and hormonal issues. Secondly, the pill is not linear. As you take it in, it creates chaos in the rest of the body. Thirdly, it creates other symptoms and dysfunctions. And lastly it is used today for so many other things by MD's such as mood, eliiminating acne and so forth.

There are options for not getting pregnant. There are condoms, what I call "outside sex," or just being safe if you are not using a condom. I have worked with so many young women, as young as 21 that have severe mental, emotional, and physiological problems secondary to the pill. I can say this for one because they sit in front on me and I assess them, their life etc and all problems stem back to the pill. Secondly, I do hormonal testing and the most common thing I see is very, I mean very low levels of progesterone (estrogen dominance) and adrenal issues, leading to thyroid issues.

If you are on the pill, consult with your MD to get info to get off. Get with a practitioner that does functional lab testing to get readings of your hormones, then get on bio-identical hormones to balance them out. It typically takes 6-12 months, but in the end, I see all symptoms that women get with PMS gone, a happier and more vital person, and I test with this another lab retest.

Go search the side effects of the pill online, it is quite scarey!

re: Prevent Fatal Blood Clots by Avoiding Oral Contraceptives

websam — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 15:06:00 GMT

Well, beside the ill advised diet I was on, I did go on the patch about 4 years ago. Last Christmas, after taking very serious medications for migraines for a few months (ones which caused my chest to tighten when taken, which my doctor said was normal!), I had to have a tooth pulled. When I went to go under anesthesia, the man asked me about my blood pressure and if i had a condition. I said, well no! I figured, he had to be wrong. But as advised, I did see my doctor.

Now immediately after seeing my doctor I was placed on blood pressure medications after discovering my blood pressure to exceed 150/110. Shortly after this, I read an article about the birth control patch causing all these problems. I called my gynecologist to discuss. She said the findings are starting to show this is causing higher blood pressure. YET, they are still advertising the patch in their office! She switched me to a progesterine?-only pill which she said shows no effect on it and it has been around a long time.

I am still taking that, but immediately going off the patch I noticed a huge drop in my blood pressure. Imagine that. I'm still working on it, because I think that combined with my other ill-eating patterns it was a bad combination.

Thank you Dr. Mercola for doing what you do! If not for you and my wonderful Naturopathic doctor, I'd still be on 3-4 meds. I'm 28!