Birth control pills
Jan. 23rd, 2002 11:13 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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menstrualhutJust thought other women might like to hear about this...
"The use of birth control pills has been linked to several diseases including heart disease, although this link is controversial. The female hormone progestin is associated with an elevated risk of heart disease, and birth control pills with either a low dose or an alternative form of this hormone might help improve heart disease risk. The jury is still out on the suspicion that birth control pills increase the risk of breast cancer and a potential link to cervical cancer is still being investigated.
Long term use of birth control pills can affect the absorption and use of several nutrients. The pills are associated with weight gain, increased appetite, reduced absorption of folic acid and other vitamins, and altered distribution of several nutrients within the body's tissues.
High blood levels of some nutrients, such as vitamin A, copper, and iron, are noted in some women, while low blood levels of vitamins E, C, B1, B2, folic acid and zinc are noted in others on birth control pills. Although increased dietary intake of foods rich in these nutrients or a moderate-dose vitamin and mineral supplement are sensible approaches to the prevention of drug-induced nutritional deficiencies, there is unfortunately no evidence that this completely helps improve the nutritional status of women taking birth control pills.
Numerous studies also report that these pills lower blood and tissue levels and increase the dietary requirements for vitamin B6. This nutrient is particularly interesting since even moderate deficiencies of vitamin B6 produce many mood disorders associated with the use of birth control pills, such as depression, irritability and insomnia.
Vitamin B6 is an essential component in the production of the chemical serotonin that regulates pain, mood, some eating behaviours, and sleep. Low vitamin B6 levels reduce serotonin levels, which could produce mild depression and the other symptoms mentioned above. Improvements in mood and sleep are reported when vitamin B6 intake is increased." Nature & Health April/May 1999
"The use of birth control pills has been linked to several diseases including heart disease, although this link is controversial. The female hormone progestin is associated with an elevated risk of heart disease, and birth control pills with either a low dose or an alternative form of this hormone might help improve heart disease risk. The jury is still out on the suspicion that birth control pills increase the risk of breast cancer and a potential link to cervical cancer is still being investigated.
Long term use of birth control pills can affect the absorption and use of several nutrients. The pills are associated with weight gain, increased appetite, reduced absorption of folic acid and other vitamins, and altered distribution of several nutrients within the body's tissues.
High blood levels of some nutrients, such as vitamin A, copper, and iron, are noted in some women, while low blood levels of vitamins E, C, B1, B2, folic acid and zinc are noted in others on birth control pills. Although increased dietary intake of foods rich in these nutrients or a moderate-dose vitamin and mineral supplement are sensible approaches to the prevention of drug-induced nutritional deficiencies, there is unfortunately no evidence that this completely helps improve the nutritional status of women taking birth control pills.
Numerous studies also report that these pills lower blood and tissue levels and increase the dietary requirements for vitamin B6. This nutrient is particularly interesting since even moderate deficiencies of vitamin B6 produce many mood disorders associated with the use of birth control pills, such as depression, irritability and insomnia.
Vitamin B6 is an essential component in the production of the chemical serotonin that regulates pain, mood, some eating behaviours, and sleep. Low vitamin B6 levels reduce serotonin levels, which could produce mild depression and the other symptoms mentioned above. Improvements in mood and sleep are reported when vitamin B6 intake is increased." Nature & Health April/May 1999
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no subject
Date: 2002-01-24 04:23 pm (UTC)And while bc has bad side effects, it also has good ones. I believe it helps prevent ovarian cancer. Personally, I'd rather be protected from the cancer there is no test for, and put at risk for a cancer that is easily caught in its early stages, than vice-versa.
And it's likely that I'm the only one who ever reads the package inserts ^_^**
no subject
Date: 2002-01-24 04:24 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2002-01-24 04:30 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2002-01-24 04:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2002-01-24 05:21 pm (UTC)"might help improve heart disease risk"
I just found it funny that they chose to phrase it in this particular way, as i sure dont want HELP to IMPROVE my heart disease risk :o)
Re:
Date: 2002-01-24 05:23 pm (UTC)