Category Archives: birth control

The Relationship between Oral Contraceptives and Brain Cancer

On: By: Posted in birth control, cancer, doctor, Health, Hispanic, Information, obstetrics and gynecology
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oral contraceptionWhen a woman reads something about oral contraception and the big ‘C’, she gets alarmed and maybe even frightened. Truth is, when it comes to these two things the news is fairly relieving. First of all, proper intake of the pill can protect you from the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer. However, recent researches show that it can increase your risk of developing breast cancer whilst other studies say it’s a hoax. Now, you are confused and you start to ask which is really which?

To further your anxiety, recent news has been showing that birth control pills are linked to brain cancer. This leaves you, and plenty other women, panicky! The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology has conducted a study on the incidence of brain cancer called glioma among a group of young women in Denmark. They were eager to find out if the hormones in the pill had a direct effect on glioma and they poured through all the resources that they can find. They looked into the cases of all Danish women from ages 15 to 49 who were diagnosed with glioma and checked if they were taking birth control pills.

They made a record of which type of birth control pills the women were taking and for how long they were taking it. They also compared them to a group of women of the same age range who do not have glioma. The final results show that women who took the pill have 50 percent higher risk of incurring glioma as compared to those who do not. Moreover, the risk is even higher for those who are taking progestin-only pills for a minimum period of 5 years.

Progestin-only Pills Cause Glioma

The people who conducted the research do not guarantee that the progestin-only kind is the responsible factor in the link. To be clear, the study only showed correlation and not causation. What’s clear is that the risk is higher in women who are pill takers. Glioma is a very rare health condition, there are about 5 women who develop it out of a 100,000. In a nut shell, the study does not suggest that you get rid of your pill pack just because of its results. There is no direct relation between the pill’s hormones and glioma risk. Generally, the benefits of hormonal contraception still outweigh its risks. Consult your doctor for more information.

Reasons to Change your Birth Control

On: By: Posted in birth control, doctor, Health, Hispanic, Information, obstetrics and gynecology
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birth control pillsFinding the right birth control option for you can be quite difficult and it is usually a case of trial and error. However, all the effort that it takes is worth it in the end because you’ll be fully protected and ‘accidents’ will not happen. You don’t want to have an unplanned pregnancy, do you? Based on a survey, half of the women in the United States who have had unplanned pregnancy were using birth control methods when it happened. If you don’t want to be in the same situation, make sure to use your choice of control properly or it will pretty much defeat the purpose.

Signs that Mean You Should Switch Up

You can’t remember taking your daily pill, even if you put on dozens of alarms. Many studies show that women forget to take their pill four times a month on an average. Although forgetting one and taking it a bit late does not cause a major problem, forgetting it multiple times will lead to high failure rate. If that is the case, you definitely should look for another birth control method. Talk to your doctor and ask information about this.

You undergo breakthrough bleeding. Breakthrough bleeding usually takes place at the beginning of a new method. It usually goes away after a while. However, if it persists you should definitely let your doctor know. He or she can prescribe you with a pill that has higher dose of hormones. The bleeding may seem a bit alarming but it’s really harmless. Talk to your doctor about it.

Dealing with Mood Swings. This is fairly normal when you are under the pill because it contains a certain amount of progestin. Keep in mind that different birth control pills have varying progestin content and this affects your mood in different ways. If it bothers you that much, consult your doctor about it.

Your Sexual Appetite is Low. Pills stop the ovaries from creating sex hormone testosterone as well as suppress ovulation. Generally, women who take pills find their libidos dampen and if you’re one of them just talk to your doctor about it. He or she may suggest another method for you to take instead of the pill.

You feel bloated. Pills contain a certain level of estrogen which helps retain fluid in your body. The side effect of this is that you may feel bloated. Again, just talk to your doctor about any concerns that you may have as they can find an alternative if the pill is not working well for you.