Good news!

[adamantplatypus.livejournal.com]

On the news tonight, they were saying that Ortho-Cyclen and other types of birth control can cut down on the chances of developing cancer!

They said that Progestin(sp?) does the best job of protecting against overian cancer. Pills that contain Estrogen and Progestin cuts the chances of getting cancer by 50%!

Comments

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

Yay :)

I caught something about birth control pills as the news ticker scrolled at the bottom of the screen, thought "Yikes, I need to remember to check to see what that was" since I didn't see whether it was good or bad, and then promptly forgot about it.

[eggytoast.livejournal.com]

Actually, the reasoning is simply a continuation of old research (that has been repeatedly proven) that shows periods are a major cause of feminine cancers, such as ovarian and breast cancer. It's due to the buildup of estrogen and other hormones during menstration, and some other factors. Pretty bad when a natural part of life is out to get ya :)

So birth control pills cut down on the risk of cancer because they not only often reduce the "side effects" of periods, but if you don't take the placebos, you don't have a period, which cuts down the risk a lot. The only problem is that there are many people who find not having a period "weird," and a lot more who think it'll affect fertility, and therefore don't support it.

[adamantplatypus.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I'd have to disagree.

The majority of women who take the pill are told to "use as directed", which is placebo pill and all. I'd say a good 80% of women have no idea that you can even skip placebo pills, I know my doctor has never discussed that option with me.

Not only that, but it would be terribly irresponsible to "forget" to mention that the findings are ONLY if you skip the middle man so to speak and do away with your period all together.

It seems to me they're finding the ADDED progestin in the pill is what does the trick. That little extra amount of female hormones do more good, not more harm as you're suggesting.

[eggytoast.livejournal.com]

While I didn't see the specific news program you're referring to, I do know that there has been a lot of research on what I wrote about, and you're right -- a lot of women aren't told that skipping your period is actually good for you if you want to reduce your risk of cancer. However, the only reason they have the placebo pills is to keep women on a pattern -- you don't have to even take the placebos, or you could just take them all at once, since they're either vitamins or sugar. And it allows women to feel "natural." It is pretty amazing how powerful placebos are, especially when you call them placebo instead of 'sugar pill' or 'something to keep you on a schedule but doesn't actually do anything but taste good.' I've seen advertisements that say "100% Placebo!" as if it was a sellable product :D

There's no scientific evidence that going off the pill for 7 days out of 28 to induce a period is necessary or will harm the body. Rather, it's the surge of hormones during the period that I'm referring to. A regular dose of progestin with estrogen, in relatively small doses, may indeed reduce the risk of certain cancers, but I've seen plenty of "irresponsible" reporting and unless they specified whether the pill included a 7-day break like many other oral contraceptives or rather had women on the pill continuously, making up for the "lack" of estrogen and other hormones by putting them in the pill, I'm skeptical over the findings.

[aleyna.livejournal.com]

one stipulation of the research..

it was conducted from 1982-1983 and the bc pills women were taking then aren't commonly used by women today.