The Dark Side of Birth Control:

Nevyn

http://www.alternet.org/sex/146041/the_dark_side_of_birth_control%3A_the_pill_still_has_many_adverse_affects_glossed_over_by_big_pharma

The Dark Side of Birth Control: The Pill Still Has Many Adverse Affects Glossed Over By Big Pharma
On the 50th anniversary of the pill, we need to appreciate this remarkable innovation while also being honest about its limitations.
March 17, 2010 |

As we get ready, in 2010, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hormonal contraception in the United States, women have every right to stand up and cheer for a birth control option that has revolutionized how effective a contraceptive can be. “The Pill” and its descendants have indeed provided women with a unique tool that has changed the terms in which women control their social and professional choices.

Amidst all the applause, though, let us not oversimplify the history of a drug that has often coupled danger with opportunity, and indeed reinforced some serious inequities even as it promised to enhance women’s rights. Today, 50 years later, ovulation suppression through hormonal drugs still harbors many adverse effects, which range from mood swings and diminished libido, to fatalities from blood clots. The innovation itself emerged at the cost of experimentation on poor women, and came, in part, out of a desire to control the fertility of poor populations.

The pill was able to be born because of deep social and economic injustices, not solely as a response to them. The pill trials were conducted on poor women in Puerto Rico, in part because they had fewer legal protections against some of the dangers of new drug trials. Male doctors scoffed when female doctor Edris Rice-Wray suggested that the side effects of the new pill might be too numerous to be generally tolerable and carried on with hardly a pause when more than one woman in the trial died mysteriously. It turned out that Rice-Wray was right about the risks of the pill but wrong about women’s willingness to endure them.

It might be easy to see the approval acceptance of hormonal contraception as a pure female victory, and indeed it happened in part because women deeply hungered for reliable birth control. It is also true that it was moved forward not only to satisfy this need, but because of deep anxieties among the powerful that a booming population in the developing world would lead to the spread of communism, and that a similar growth in poor (and non-white) populations within the United States would cause domestic instability. Even as the pill offered the promise of liberation to affluent women it provided a powerful and easily abused tool for controlling the fertility of poor and disempowered women. Margaret Sanger realized this, and readily voiced deeply racist and classist sentiments in service of her otherwise valiant agenda.

Within just a few years of the approval of Enovid, the first pill, it became clear that women were experiencing serious adverse health effects. Barbara Seaman, a young journalist for Brides and Ladies Home Journal magazines realized how common truly frightening health problems were when she began receiving letters from readers. Experiences ranged from the aggravating —weight gain, mood swings, sexual problems—to the life threatening—blood clots and other potentially fatal problems including cancers. Seaman’s ground-breaking 1969 book, The Doctors’ Case Against the Pill, chronicled the suffering of real women on the pill and documented the multiple health risks tying the silence and lack of information about them to drug company greed, unequal power between doctors and patients, and sexism in American life.

It was a tough message for many women to hear, and certainly one that defied (and continues to defy) a narrative that argues simply that access to reliable birth control gives women power. But for those who were willing to take up the difficult implications of Seaman’s work, an important feminist model emerged. When members of DC Women’s Liberation disrupted hearings on the pill spearheaded by Senator Gaylord Nelson it was to protest the manipulative way the pill was being marketed to women, not to praise the product. Women were demanding something truly radical: the right to insist not just on access to contraception, but to demand that the products be safe. Today, while many valid questions about the pill’s safety and side effects remain, the hormone dose has been reduced ten times, and patient package inserts have been added to warn patients of the risks. This is due to the tireless efforts of the women’s health movement.

Women have certainly seen their lives and opportunities transformed in the past fifty years. While the pill is one powerful player in this remarkable story, this revolution has occurred largely through the persistent efforts of women (in multiple contexts and conditions) on their own behalves. The pill did not create second wave feminism. And likewise, it did not create all the changes that that remarkable movement oversaw. Those things happened because courageous women were willing to sacrifice and fight over time for them. In recent years, the reproductive justice movement, powerfully led in many cases by feminists of color, has made the point that single-mindedly striving for the right to birth control and abortion ignores the complex power systems that too often dictate the terms in which women make decisions about their health in general and their reproductive and sexual health in particular.

Laura Eldridge is a women’s health writer and activist. Her upcoming book In Our Control: The Complete Guide to Contraceptive Choices for Women (Seven Stories Press; June 2010) will be the most comprehensive book on birth control since the 1970s.

Found this article yesterday, it is nice for this to be spoken about.
I think too many drs just hand out the pill and expect women to read and understand the leaflet with it (which has tiny print and is in medical gobblygok) with out explaining how hormonal contraception works or what the side effects might be.

Seem it takes women talking to other women to find out what the sideeffects are and so that we think we are not going mad.

Pembily

Thaedydal wrote: »

Seem it takes women talking to other women to find out what the sideeffects are and so that we think we are not going mad.

Yup cos some docotors wont tell you anything!!! I have to be on it for medical reasons but wouldn't mind not being on it but its too painful to not be on it

I find female doctors just as dismissive about it :mad:

Bonito

Definitely very true! They tell you nothing unless you ask them. I don't see why they don't just read the leaflet and explain it to their patients and then give them the leaflets in case they have any more questions.

Nevyn

I think the risks and possible side effects should be dicussed with a patient so that they can make an informed decision as to take it or not, and at least if and when the side effects kick in they know whats causing it.

Bonito

Thaedydal wrote: »

I think the risks and possible side effects should be dicussed with a patient so that they can make an informed decision as to take it or not, and at least if and when the side effects kick in they know whats causing it.

Bingo. Some girls/women will read the leaflet the 1st day they get the prescription and not bat an eyelid at it again and then a few weeks later if/when they start experiencing the side effects they wont stop to think "wait, didn't the leaflet for my pill say such and such might happen while taking the pill".

miss5

Excellent thread, My friend's sister who is only fifteen was given it without
any real advice from her G.P. Women deserve to be informed about what they
are taking.

If I knew then what I know about depo provera I would never ever have taken it.

My doc was purely about birth control, he never explained any of the side effects, when I went to him with stress/depression, he never linked it to the injection. He told me that weight gain would be solely due to eating too much - despite me eating the exact same as before, I was unaware that this drug can slow down your metabolism. And now, over 18 months since my last injection, I have been referred to consultants due to not having had a period.

While the the pill is a very effective method of birth control when used correctly, my eyes have been opened to the negative effects which is can have. I can't see myself ever going back any type of contraceptive pill again

Nevyn

I would not recommended the depo to any woman, I have heard far to many stories like yours whoopsadaisydoodles

Abi

That was quite a read.

Deleted User wrote: »

While the the pill is a very effective method of birth control when used correctly, my eyes have been opened to the negative effects which is can have. I can't see myself ever going back any type of contraceptive pill again

I've just gone back on it again... having second thoughts now

Nevyn

I'd suggest keeping a pull diary, make note of how your feeling even two lines a day just to keep track that way if you hit any side effects you'll notice.

LizT

My doctor wanted to put me on the pill to help clear up acne that I've had for the past few months. I refused point blank. I know it's very rare but I'd be very wary of how it affects fertility plus the increased risk of cancer. I'm just being too cautious!

Bonito

Did you ask about the mini pill?

LizT

No, I've been prescribed zineryt so I'm going to try that for a while.

Bonito

Good aul zineryt. Make sure your skin is clean and hydrated before application.

LizT

Yeah, I've been upping my intake of water... I need to go to the bathroom so much more now!
To be honest I haven't noticed that much of a difference but apparently it takes 3 months. Fingers crossed!

Bonito

Do what I done. Weekly pics rather than daily noticing in the mirror. Sorry for going off topic Thaedydal.

jellie

My doctor went through all the risks with me when i went on the pill, to the point where i was a bit worried and on the look out for any possible side effects for the first while. She was quite a young doctor & really nice (shes gone now )

a friend of a friend got a blood clot in her leg due to the pill and it travelled to her lungs, she was in a very serious condition for awhile (but shes fine now thank God).

Emme

I often wonder what the long term effects of the pill are. Big Pharma will try and cover those up, but could the pill be linked to more severe symptoms of menopause? My mum never took the pill and sailed through menopause. Some of the women who are going through menopause now are likely to have taken the pill long term throughout their 20s and 30s.

Does taking the pill long term affect waist:hip ratio - ie do long term pill takers have bigger waists in relation to their hips?

Obviously the last point is trivial when you think about blood clots, depression etc but as somebody who could never tolerate the pill (except Yasmin) I've often wondered about its long term effects.

Abi

Emme wrote: »

I often wonder what the long term effects of the pill are. Big Pharma will try and cover those up, but could the pill be linked to more severe symptoms of menopause? My mum never took the pill and sailed through menopause. Some of the women who are going through menopause now are likely to have taken the pill long term throughout their 20s and 30s.

Does taking the pill long term affect waist:hip ratio - ie do long term pill takers have bigger waists in relation to their hips?
Obviously the last point is trivial when you think about blood clots, depression etc but as somebody who could never tolerate the pill (except Yasmin) I've often wondered about its long term effects.

When I first went on the pill in my teens I was put on the combination pill, and I found that did change my body shape tbh. Definitely my hips changed and my boobs couldn't be missed they just got that big

I've been on various pills over the years including Celest and Femidine (sp?). I never really took the pill for any long periods of time, I liked giving my body a break from it and figured it would help me to not build up an immunity to it.

I've been at my happiest on the mini-pill, I've never noticed any changes to my body, appetite, or sex drive or anything like that on it. I only started it again this week, but I'm just gonna keep an eye on things as Thaed said.

Truley

I started taking dianette at fifteen and have been on the pill continuously since, that's seven years without a break. Three of those years I have been on Yasmin.

For medical reasons I have been unable to have sex for a while so took it as a chance to stop taking the pill. I have been on it too long now, I have been on it my entire sex life. I have no idea how the pill has been affecting me all these years. I want to see if there are any changes as a result of coming off it, mainly in my happiness, my libido and/or my skin.

Well it's been two weeks and my skin has never been so bad, I actually got a fright when I looked in the mirror I'm hoping it will get better itself. It's still a bit early to notice a change in moods and sex drive. There is one major side affect I know i'm going to miss... Yasmin = Boob job in a tablet :cool:

I have to say my doctor has been incredibly unhelpful; when I suggested years ago that the pill might be affecting my mood she dismissed the idea as rubbish - well there's only one way to find out isn't there! So I think it's time I listened to my body and take responsibility for my own health and wellbeing. The pharmaceutical industry sure wont.

I think the article is interesting...but its all over the place...taking some of points...the contraceptive pill was developed for morally dubious reasons ( controlling the fertility of poor woman )....its benefits to poor women far out way its morally dubious beginning in my opinion...

The pharmaceutical industry make a lot of money out it...the pharmaceutical isn't a charity!!!

The long term health effects on woman....yes there might be something there and women shouldn't take the pill ( or any other medication with out considering the side effects and discussing it with there doctor )....and as a side note why is there no mention of men taking responsibility for contraception in a relationship...my partner and i had a long discussion about this when i was having my merriana replaced...because its his responsibility as well as mine..

The pill and weight gain...i looked this up and apparently it can be about 1 or 2lb thats all... and its only associated with certin types of contraceptive pill...so if you change type its not as much of a problem....

The effect on Libido....sexual desire in woman is a hugely complex area....i would say...decrease in libido is a lot more to do with things like the quality of the relationship you in, the effect of being a parent, familiarity, ( read mating in captivity ), ill health...the interesting thing is how woman will blame the contraceptive pill first for there lost of libido, with out looking at other factors which may be involved

Perhaps im lucky but iv never experienced and side effect from using contraceptives....i think the invention of safe reliable contraceptives has helped so many women..

Orla K

I haven't been on the pill in years, when I was on it I got a chest pain. May not have been related I know at the time there were other things that could have been causing it, I ended up stopping the pill and the other thing as well.

At the time the mother of the guy I was with didn't want me on the pill, not because she didn't want her son having sex but because of the side effects with the pill.

I'd never go back on the pill.

Nevyn

Well this is the ladies lounge and the options for men currently are restriced to condoms and getting the snip.

and yes it has some very morally doubious beginings with trials with liquid eostrogen being added to the soup given to women in consentration camps in WW2.

I agree that safe contraceptive options for women are wonderful but I don't think that that shouldn't stop use pushing for better safe contraception options for women.

Bonito

Isn't there tests of a male pill being done? Maybe pharmaceutical companies should cop on and pump some money in to that for a while rather than laying it all on the womens shoulders.

Is there an age restriction on the snip, if anybody knows?

marcjacobs

I have been on the pill for 7-8 years now.. My mom decided to put me on it when I was 13. Thanks to her for being "open-minded" I never got pregnant.
I am in a serious relationship now, living with my boyfriend. We are still young and obviously not ready to have kids yet. To me it seems like the easiest way. I rarely forget to take it. I hate condoms too. (There is another tread about contraceptive, I know)
I feel like the pill makes me go crazy sometimes.
I get TERRIBLE mood swings.
Do you think my body kinda needs a break from it ?
I am scared to stop taking it, because i've been taking it forever.
What does it feels like when you stop after so many years ?
How does your body reacts? If I skip one sometimes, It makes me feel kinda sick. I feel like It is just not good for me anymore. Anyone ever felt that way ? I also heard that you shouldn't take the pill for too long or it can affect your fertility. Is it true ? Should I just get a break from it, or change for a different brand? I need to go see my GP soon but I was just wondering if you have ever been in my situation.
thanks

Nevyn

Bonito wrote: »

Isn't there tests of a male pill being done? Maybe pharmaceutical companies should cop on and pump some money in to that for a while rather than laying it all on the womens shoulders.

The trials were suspended as the pharma companies didn't think there would be enough profit to make it worth while spending more money developing and trialing it.

Bonito wrote: »

Is there an age restriction on the snip, if anybody knows?

I think that varies depending on the dr and the clinic.

LavaLamp

I stopped taking my pill at the beginning of the year, and I feel so much better, can't pin it down to anything specific, but just in general I feel more kind of human. Now I think about it I wish I hadn't taken it for so long (about 12 years), thankfully my cycle returned immediately so I am lucky, have read some awful stories about how long it can take to come back.

This site is a good read http://sweeteningthepill.blogspot.com I started reading it while I was still on the pill and it made me feel really crap taking it every day.

Emme

Thaedydal wrote: »

and yes it has some very morally doubious beginings with trials with liquid eostrogen being added to the soup given to women in consentration camps in WW2.

:eek: Is this the soup that was given to the girls who were in the "doll house"? The doll house was horrific, young girls were put in there and forced to service German soldiers passing through on their way to the Russian front. They were fed better than other concentration camp inmates but many committed suicide by walking out in front of armed guards who would shoot them. I read a book by a woman who was in the doll house - they were sterilised (I'm not sure how) and maybe the oestrogen was a crude form of HRT.

wasabi

mariaalice wrote: »

The effect on Libido....sexual desire in woman is a hugely complex area....i would say...decrease in libido is a lot more to do with things like the quality of the relationship you in, the effect of being a parent, familiarity, ( read mating in captivity ), ill health...the interesting thing is how woman will blame the contraceptive pill first for there lost of libido, with out looking at other factors which may be involved

I've noticed a massive change in libido practically immediately (i.e. within days) of going off hormonal contraception. None of your confounding factors would have changed in that time period. It definitely can have an effect there. I've vowed to never use hormonal contraception again to be honest (I want to get my tubes tied really).

eth0_

Sorry, but as soon as I see someone mention "Big pharma" I know their article is going to be a load of reactionary nonsense.

Admittedly, under 18's should benefit from a little more hand holding from their GP when it comes to contraception but adult women, take some responsibility for your own life and do your research on drugs you have been prescribed. There is really no excuse for ignorance.

jellie

eth0_ wrote: »

Sorry, but as soon as I see someone mention "Big pharma" I know their article is going to be a load of reactionary nonsense.

Admittedly, under 18's should benefit from a little more hand holding from their GP when it comes to contraception but adult women, take some responsibility for your own life and do your research on drugs you have been prescribed. There is really no excuse for ignorance.

some would argue that thats the doctors job. A lot of people are of the frame of mind that if the doctor gives it to me it must be fine.

Im not disagreeing with you, i think we all have responsibility for our own bodies, i read always read the leaflets on any prescriptions im given (due to an idiot doctor prescribing me something that shouldnt be prescribed to people allergic to penicillin after me telling her of my allergy :rolleyes:) but i do think that people should have a certain level of trust in what their doctor is prescribing for them. But at the same time the doctor should indicate the risks, or at the very least indicate that there are risks and the patient should investigate them and make a fully informed decision.

eth0_

marcjacobs wrote: »

I feel like the pill makes me go crazy sometimes.
I get TERRIBLE mood swings.
Do you think my body kinda needs a break from it ?

You might benefit from switching to another brand of pill, or looking at something else like an IUD/implant/depo provera injection. Talk to your GP about it.

The last brand I was on (microgynon I think) - and I can't even remember why I changed to that brand, I think I had changed GP's and this one was recommended to me - gave me terrible mood swings. So I switched to Depo and I think it's the best thing since sliced bread. I suffer(ed) from PCOS and after about 6 months of being on Depo my symptoms had gone and I was able to stop taking medication for it.

Oh, and there's no evidence that shows being on oral contraceptives long-term affects your fertility, although it could take up to a year for your cycle to get back to normal after you stop taking them.

wasabi

eth0_ wrote: »

Sorry, but as soon as I see someone mention "Big pharma" I know their article is going to be a load of reactionary nonsense.

Admittedly, under 18's should benefit from a little more hand holding from their GP when it comes to contraception but adult women, take some responsibility for your own life and do your research on drugs you have been prescribed. There is really no excuse for ignorance.

I don't know about that eth0, if we're all supposed to go out and do our research then what are we paying our GPs 50-60 euros a consult for? They're the ones who are supposed to be the experts and we pay enough for their services that we should expect a bit more than to have the blood pressure taken and a hastily-scribbled prescription thrust at us.

And what happens to all the functionally-illiterate women out there, how are they supposed to go about doing this research? There's probably tens of thousands of them in this country still of childbearing age. The boards community isn't representative of the country in general, remember.

Edit: what jellie said

Emme

eth0_ wrote: »

Sorry, but as soon as I see someone mention "Big pharma" I know their article is going to be a load of reactionary nonsense.

Admittedly, under 18's should benefit from a little more hand holding from their GP when it comes to contraception but adult women, take some responsibility for your own life and do your research on drugs you have been prescribed. There is really no excuse for ignorance.

Some of us have done exactly that and despite the fact that research data can be skewed to make a drug appear more or less favourable the pill appears downright scary.

Sometimes anecdotal evidence (people's reported personal experience) can be very different from the evidence that comes from scientific studies. It's all very well telling people not to mind anecdotal evidence and heed the scientific evidence instead but the pill was marketed as a product to give women control over their bodies. In some cases it has done exactly the opposite.

The reality is that medical professionals are often to busy to sit down with women and discuss their fears about the pill. When there's a waiting room full of patients outside it's quicker to write a prescription for the pill than to take the time to discuss all the other contraceptive options with the woman in the surgery.

marcjacobs

eth0_ wrote: »

You might benefit from switching to another brand of pill, or looking at something else like an IUD/implant/depo provera injection. Talk to your GP about it.

I'm only here for a few months, running out of pills. I am gunna need to see a GP anyways, to get a new prescription (similar brand). The thing is I have an amazing specialist back home. I don't want to have to try different brands or something else while I am here, because of the doctor fees and stuff. I thought about stopping completely taking the pill while I am here but It makes me really nervous. I guess I will just ask the GP here, call my specialist back home and see what he thinks about it. I know it's a little off topic but I heard that if you are under 25, you can go to YHS and see a GP for free to get a new prescription. I am in Cork city, anyone knows about that ?

Thanks Lavalamp, I am reading the blog you linked and It's exactly the way I feel!!

iguana

About 10 years ago I had a doctor insist to me that there were absolutely no ill effects to taking the pill. We ended up having a huge argument about it in his office. I had gone in to get an emergency contraceptive (condom split) for the second time in 4 years (which I don't think is massively excessive?) and schedule a smear test. Because I wanted the MAP and relied on condoms other than that he suggested going on the pill. I told him I didn't want to take regular hormonal contraceptive and was happy with the barrier method.

He tried to insinuate that condoms were obviously terrible because otherwise I wouldn't be in the surgery that morning. He told me there were so many hormones in the MAP I would be better off taking the daily pill than occasional emergency pills. When I didn't believe the the emergency pill had several years worth of hormones in it he got really angry with me and we ended up having a huge argument. When I finally got the prescription I wanted and was leaving he told me he looked forward to seeing me back in a few months/year with my unwanted pregnancy. I never even scheduled the smear test I was so gobsmacked by his arrogance and bad advice.

Nevyn

Twice a year is the recommended limit for the emergency contraception or morning after pill as that does roughly equal a year of being on the piil. Emergency contraception is not meant to be a regular fall back, I honestly think your dr while he may have been brusque with you, I think he's is right on that, but he should have mention other barrier options like the diaphram.

eth0_

eth0_ wrote: »

Admittedly, under 18's should benefit from a little more hand holding from their GP when it comes to contraception but adult women, take some responsibility for your own life and do your research on drugs you have been prescribed. There is really no excuse for ignorance.

eth0_ wrote: »

You might benefit from switching to another brand of pill, or looking at something else like an IUD/implant/depo provera injection. Talk to your GP about it.
.

You should be able to speak to your GP and trust the information that they are giving you. Googling information online is a fairly new phenomenon and unfortunately there is so much conflicting information out there that it may encourage someone to make the wrong decisions.

At the end of the day, Doctors are the ones who we rely on when making medical decisions, we do this as they are supposed to be qualified to give us this information.

iguana

Thaedydal wrote: »

Twice a year is the recommended limit for the emergency contraception or morning after pill as that does roughly equal a year of being on the piil. Emergency contraception is not meant to be a regular fall back, I honestly think your dr while he may have been brusque with you, I think he's is right on that, but he should have mention other barrier options like the diaphram.

That appointment was in 2000 I had previously taken the MAP in 1996/7, that is in no way a similar amount of hormone as taking a daily pill for that time. If I was taking it a couple of times a year for that time he would have had a point, but not the fact that I took it once at 17 and again at 21. He was far from brusque, he was rude, aggressive and deeply misinformed. He was absolutely insistent that there were no side-effects to the pill whatsoever.

I was interested in using a diaphragm but he absolutely refused to discuss that with me. But he wasn't alone in that, I came up against wall after wall whenever I tried to get a diaphragm. I eventually got it in London in 2006 after seeing at least 6 doctors about it over the years. I don't know if it's a coincidence but I was wearing my wedding ring at the appointment where I eventually got the diaphragm and I feel that made a difference. I absolutely love my diaphragm, it's by far and away the best type of contraceptive I ever used.

ash23

Ahhh, good ol' contraception. I've tried 'em all!

When I became sexually active first it was condoms. Then I went on the pill. Then I got pregnant. Duh.
After I had my child I was talked into the implant. Ended up severly moody, boderline depressed, weight gain, zero sex drive.....
Got it out eventually and tried a variety of pills and nuva ring. All caused moodiness, weight gain and zero sex drive.

Eventually started using Persona which I used for 3 years until the end of a long term relationship.

Decided recently to try another pill after a condom incident, just to be sure, to be sure

Doctor recommended the Evra patch and I've been on it for 2 months now. No mood swings, no obvious weight gain, no decrease in sex drive and no babies...... my skin has deteriorated a bit but I can live with that.


If I were in an LTR again I'd love to try the diaphragm.
It's a pity its not as "popular" as other hormonal methods. One doctor actively discouraged me from using Persona.

Emme

iguana wrote: »

I was interested in using a diaphragm but he absolutely refused to discuss that with me. But he wasn't alone in that, I came up against wall after wall whenever I tried to get a diaphragm. I eventually got it in London in 2006 after seeing at least 6 doctors about it over the years. I don't know if it's a coincidence but I was wearing my wedding ring at the appointment where I eventually got the diaphragm and I feel that made a difference. I absolutely love my diaphragm, it's by far and away the best type of contraceptive I ever used.

I got a diaphragm no problem through the Well Woman Centre on two occasions and would highly recommend it as a form of contraception. They just asked me was I in a steady relationship (I was at the time) and that was it. The diaphragm has to be replaced every year and refitted if you put on a certain amount of weight.

sex panther

oh i dunno the diaphram seems kina scary ive been on the pill,patch and injection, the injection was the best and i didnt get any period with it which my friends thought was wierd but a period when on any contraceptive is false anyways.
Just dont stay on the "jab" too long my sister was on it for 5 years and has had numerous abnormal cells removed from her cervix, the specialist said the injection contributed to it and it was a disgrace that our doctor kept her on it for so long without advising her to change or come off it, apparently your only supposed to be on it for a year or two max.