new birth control pill / controversy?

[boomdaddy]

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2002/tc20020523_4148.htm

This pill is supposed to eliminate a womans cycle. Does anyone think that this might not be healthy, disrupting a human function? It seems that it is approved for use. What if it is discovered that it is harmful? Should anyone trust a drug that significantly changes the reproduction system?

[capcat]

I tend to think it might have consequences, similar to the findings about hormone replacement in menopause, or at least as they were the last time I checked.

[WILD1]

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2002/tc20020523_4148.htm

This pill is supposed to eliminate a womans cycle. Does anyone think that this might not be healthy, disrupting a human function? It seems that it is approved for use. What if it is discovered that it is harmful? Should anyone trust a drug that significantly changes the reproduction system?
On the contrary, one medical school of thought is that reducing the number of menstrual cycles a women experiences may also reduce the risk of some reproductive cancers. It is believed that as "modern" women delay childbearing and also have less children than did their ancestors, which also means that they experience more cycles than their ancestors, the incidents of reproductive (ovarian, cervical, uterine, etc...) cancers has increased. I was informed that by utilizing such a pill, I may have reduced my cancer risk by as much as 80%...which was fantastic as there are a number of ovarian cancer survivors (thankfully!) within by family. Also, as these pills contain much lower, less dramatic amounts of the pertinent hormones than the previous formulas, they're relatively mild to the system. The process is really nothing new, as the same results could often be achieved with that old tried and true formula...this is just "the pill" in a more consistent dosage.
Trust me, if you had to experience a monthly cycle, a cycle which is often very painful and disruptive, you'd whole-heartedly welcome such an advancement.

[BlueHatWildcat]

Its really not all that unnatural considering women are having more periods now than they ever have before thanks to advanced health care, nutrition, and having fewer kids. I will be the first one in line to get this when it hits the market. I'm only 19 and I don't plan on having babies for a while and considering I'll probably have periods til I'm 50 I really don't mind missing out on some. I would love to know I can wear white pants all month long.

[WILD1]

Its really not all that unnatural considering women are having more periods now than they ever have before thanks to advanced health care, nutrition, and having fewer kids. I will be the first one in line to get this when it hits the market. I'm only 19 and I don't plan on having babies for a while and considering I'll probably have periods til I'm 50 I really don't mind missing out on some. I would love to know I can wear white pants all month long.

I wish this formula had been available when I was younger. The older versions I'd used allowed for more break-through bleeding than this apparently will. While I'll was fortunate to be able to "wear white" anytime I wanted, I know of a lot of others who, like you, could not and they'd certainly have appreciated this. Hey, just think of all those athletic activities you can now enjoy? :icon_lol: Good luck!

[CoquieKat]

I think once I'm done having kids (I haven't started yet), I would love something like this. My periods are always a pain...literally. Then again, given the fact that I'm married, getting a period has been a sign that our birth control is working effectively. :)

They do have BCPs that give you only 4 periods a year (Seasonale, I think), so that might be a good compromise for those women who feel like they still need to get a period, but don't need one every single month.

I just wonder, though--will such pills delay the onset of menopause? Do these pills prevent ovulation totally? If so, do the woman's eggs just delay coming out until the BCP is no longer taken?

[WILD1]

I think once I'm done having kids (I haven't started yet), I would love something like this. My periods are always a pain...literally. Then again, given the fact that I'm married, getting a period has been a sign that our birth control is working effectively. :)

They do have BCPs that give you only 4 periods a year (Seasonale, I think), so that might be a good compromise for those women who feel like they still need to get a period, but don't need one every single month.

I just wonder, though--will such pills delay the onset of menopause? Do these pills prevent ovulation totally? If so, do the woman's eggs just delay coming out until the BCP is no longer taken?

All good questions for which, unfortunately, I don't know the answers but I always thought that "the pill" prevented ovulation, which was precisely how/why they were effective. I could have that wrong. However, I took the pill for years and toward the end of my usage, I tried to use the continuous forms. Didn't have much success, though and I now no longer require contraceptives (endometrial ablation-which, I might add, was so worth it-when you're finished childbearing, I highly recommend!). Although, I have yet to reach menopause, I can tell you that I don't feel as though anything has been delayed by having used the pill in years prior. I am definitely "changing", it's gradual and subtle but it's happening. Some of it's good (the hubby sure likes it ;)) and some of it's not so great but I've found that flaxseed oil and black cohosh can help mitigate certain unpleasantries and if those don't worsen with age, I'm good to go.

[Mr. Peanut]

They do have BCPs that give you only 4 periods a year (Seasonale, I think), so that might be a good compromise for those women who feel like they still need to get a period, but don't need one every single month.

I just wonder, though--will such pills delay the onset of menopause? Do these pills prevent ovulation totally? If so, do the woman's eggs just delay coming out until the BCP is no longer taken?

I think this article is about Seasonale... 4 cycles per year. And yea, its estrogen+progesterone, so it generally prevents ovulation (just like the other pills where you menstruate monthly). The progesterone only ones (depoprovera, minipill) are the ones that don't necessarily prevent ovulation.

Never heard of pills delaying menopause. I wouldn't think so though, since you guys have more than enough eggs not to run out at only 50 whether you prevent a few ovulations or not... but, hey, what do I know (answer-not much).

They also teach us what Wild1 said above - that using the pill lowers the risk for some cancers and mimics what women historically had - lots of time either pregnant or breast feeding.

[capcat]

"Researchers stress that additional studies may be required to prove that this kind of continuous dosing is safe over the long term. But so far, indications are that going longer between periods won't cause women any serious problems.

Rivals are working on new formulations of birth control for women like hormone patches and vaginal rings, but Barr is the only one seeking approval for a continuous birth-control regimen."

I don't have complete faith in laboratories that want to market a product for profit and am skeptical of long-term effects. According to the article, which appears to be several years old, Barr had a greater financial need to establish this market and therefore was the one who was pushing for approval of this regimen at the time, which would have made me even more cautious.
I only took the pill for a few years in my life because I didn't like one of the side effects for me personally. Although I don't know what the current thinking is about menopause, I don't plan to take hormones when that time comes either, unless there is a clear and present health reason to. More power to women who don't have reservations about it.... to each her own.
btw, the article says that many women had fewer periods in the past, and I'm sure someone can post data about that. However, many women does not mean all women and I'm skeptical about using that as a basis for rationalizing the use of a continuous regimen. Theories related to women's health have flip-flopped so often in my lifetime, it has left me listening less to current research and relying more on my own intuition.
I'm not trying to be adversarial...I'm just saying take heed, sisters :big_grin:. Women's health is a market just like any other. Be careful out there ;)

[bleedbluelady]

"Researchers stress that additional studies may be required to prove that this kind of continuous dosing is safe over the long term. But so far, indications are that going longer between periods won't cause women any serious problems.

Rivals are working on new formulations of birth control for women like hormone patches and vaginal rings, but Barr is the only one seeking approval for a continuous birth-control regimen."

I don't have complete faith in laboratories that want to market a product for profit and am skeptical of long-term effects. According to the article, which appears to be several years old, Barr had a greater financial need to establish this market and therefore was the one who was pushing for approval of this regimen at the time, which would have made me even more cautious.
I only took the pill for a few years in my life because I didn't like one of the side effects for me personally. Although I don't know what the current thinking is about menopause, I don't plan to take hormones when that time comes either, unless there is a clear and present health reason to. More power to women who don't have reservations about it.... to each her own.
btw, the article says that many women had fewer periods in the past, and I'm sure someone can post data about that. However, many women does not mean all women and I'm skeptical about using that as a basis for rationalizing the use of a continuous regimen. Theories related to women's health have flip-flopped so often in my lifetime, it has left me listening less to current research and relying more on my own intuition.
I'm not trying to be adversarial...I'm just saying take heed, sisters :big_grin:. Women's health is a market just like any other. Be careful out there ;)

Judy, I'm a "UK College of Pharmacy" graduate. I don't think I could have said it better. :thumbup:

[Terry L. Wildcat]

As a man I think it's our responsiblity for the birth control and nothing works better than a vasectomy and there are no health concerns for the woman.

[PsychoCat]

I love you Terry!! :thumbup::icon_lol:

[WILD1]

As a man I think it's our responsiblity for the birth control and nothing works better than a vasectomy and there are no health concerns for the woman.


Good for you...could I give you my hubby's number? I keep suggesting that he and my bro-in-law go together...maybe get a special "two for one" price? :icon_lol:
Seriously, he's always said he'd have one if it were necessary but, it hasn't yet been. Guess we'll cross that bridge when/if we come to it.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

Good for you...could I give you my hubby's number? I keep suggesting that he and my bro-in-law go together...maybe get a special "two for one" price? :icon_lol:
Seriously, he's always said he'd have one if it were necessary but, it hasn't yet been. Guess we'll cross that bridge when/if we come to it.


I had mine when I was twenty-five and single and that was 1972...it was very hard to find someone who would fix a single man with no kids but Dr. Hellebusch of Lexington came to my rescue...I have had zero regrets and no lady in my life had to use birth control because of me.

Women do have the upper hand in this because if you tell the man no sex until you get fixed the guy will blink first...don't tell your husband I told you this...wink, wink, wink.