Hormonal birth control a godsend -- stop trashing it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might have been you when I was young. That’s before I learned I have a genetic blood clotting disorder and my mom almost died of a blood clot, and the hematologists warned me that I could never use hormonal BC again. One of them, a woman, told me she was angry about how many young women with clots she saw.

These aren’t risk-free. And it is not some conservative conspiracy to say that.

DP. I'm glad you found out, and I'm glad you have alternative options.

But before you knew about your inherited thrombophilia, you know what would have been a greater risk to you for forming clots than BCP? Pregnancy.

What a condescending and unnecessary response. Ugly.

But notably not untrue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.ceu.ox.ac.uk/news/any-type-of-hormonal-contraceptive-may-increase-risk-of-breast-cancer#:~:text=An%20analysis%20of%20data%20by,higher%20risk%20of%20breast%20cancer.

I like to see what the researchers say across the pond where Big Pharma doesn’t dictate research and sales.

In short: all hormonal contraceptives increase your risk of breast cancer.

Educate yourself and evaluate whether condoms and the calendar might be a better approach.

It is a great approach if you want to be knocked up.

NFP kept me not-pregnant for 13 years.

- OCD poster

Neat. Anecdote is not data.

Exactly. Very few people are precisely regular enough to make that an actual contraceptive method. A getting-pregnant method, yes. But if your goal is to not be pregnant...not effective.

Neither is oral hormonal contraceptive over the course of a woman’s lifetime. Frankly some abortions or else unplanned pregnancies will have to supplement any method given the length of fertility and low efficacy of every method of birth control over a 10 year timeframe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.ceu.ox.ac.uk/news/any-type-of-hormonal-contraceptive-may-increase-risk-of-breast-cancer#:~:text=An%20analysis%20of%20data%20by,higher%20risk%20of%20breast%20cancer.

I like to see what the researchers say across the pond where Big Pharma doesn’t dictate research and sales.

In short: all hormonal contraceptives increase your risk of breast cancer.

Educate yourself and evaluate whether condoms and the calendar might be a better approach.

It is a great approach if you want to be knocked up.

NFP kept me not-pregnant for 13 years.

- OCD poster

Neat. Anecdote is not data.

Exactly. Very few people are precisely regular enough to make that an actual contraceptive method. A getting-pregnant method, yes. But if your goal is to not be pregnant...not effective.

Neither is oral hormonal contraceptive over the course of a woman’s lifetime. Frankly some abortions or else unplanned pregnancies will have to supplement any method given the length of fertility and low efficacy of every method of birth control over a 10 year timeframe.

Do you think LARCs are a method of birth control with low efficacy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might have been you when I was young. That’s before I learned I have a genetic blood clotting disorder and my mom almost died of a blood clot, and the hematologists warned me that I could never use hormonal BC again. One of them, a woman, told me she was angry about how many young women with clots she saw.

These aren’t risk-free. And it is not some conservative conspiracy to say that.

I am OP and in my 60s. All my friends were on the pill, no one was having serious enough side effects to stop. 20 years on the pill and it was easy breezy. I only switched in my 40s after I had kids to a hormonal IUD, which is even better.

Yes, some people can't take it. But for my crowd growing up, it was much better than getting pregnant.

In fact, the 5 people in my circle who got pregnant did so went they switched to other methods or didn't know about the effects of antibiotics on the pill. They all had abortions.

I see all the time women of the DCUM badmouthing hormonal birth control.
For the majority women it is fantastic.

Lots if sex, no pregnancy worries. Women like my mother would have given anything for this control over their lives.

I'm glad this was your experience. I'm glad the pill exists. I want the pill to be available more freely and I want it available as an option for my daughter.

But you are asking people to only say nice things about a medication that only women or people who were born female use, but is not always adequate and can sometimes be dangerous. I spent 6 years trying to find a hormonal birth control hat worked for me before just deciding to stop trying, and it was very frustrating being told over and over that actually, HBC is a godsend and I should be happy with my choices, which all sucked.

I reserve the right to complain all I want about HBC. I want more and better options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.ceu.ox.ac.uk/news/any-type-of-hormonal-contraceptive-may-increase-risk-of-breast-cancer#:~:text=An%20analysis%20of%20data%20by,higher%20risk%20of%20breast%20cancer.

I like to see what the researchers say across the pond where Big Pharma doesn’t dictate research and sales.

In short: all hormonal contraceptives increase your risk of breast cancer.

Educate yourself and evaluate whether condoms and the calendar might be a better approach.

Did you read the conclusions published by the authors of the study in the very link?

Kirstin Pirie, statistical programmer at Oxford Population Health, and one of the lead authors, said ‘The findings suggest that current or recent use of all types of progestogen-only contraceptives is associated with a slight increase in breast cancer risk, similar to that associated with use of combined oral contraceptives. Given that a person’s underlying risk of developing breast cancer increases with advancing age, the absolute excess risk of breast cancer associated with either type of oral contraceptive will be smaller in women who use it at younger ages. These excess risks must, however, be viewed in the context of the well-established benefits of contraceptive use in women's reproductive years.’

Senior Health Information Manager at Cancer Research UK, Claire Knight, said ‘Combined and progestogen-only hormonal contraception can increase the risk of breast cancer, but the risk is small. Women who are most likely to be using contraception are under the age of 50, where the risk of breast cancer is even lower. For anyone looking to lower their cancer risk, not smoking, eating a healthy balanced diet, drinking less alcohol, and keeping a healthy weight will have the most impact. There are lots of possible benefits to using contraception, as well as other risks not related to cancer. That’s why deciding to take them is a personal choice and should be done after speaking to your doctor so you can make a decision that is right for you.’

Are you going to pay attention to that, since you linked to it?

Increased risk whether big or small is still increased risk.

#noduh

I’m not interested in increasing my risk.

[Anonymous]

I have had an abortion and birth control was not good for me. It’s great it works for most women, but not all. My cholesterol increased a lot while on the pill. I gained weight, my breasts were sore, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might have been you when I was young. That’s before I learned I have a genetic blood clotting disorder and my mom almost died of a blood clot, and the hematologists warned me that I could never use hormonal BC again. One of them, a woman, told me she was angry about how many young women with clots she saw.

These aren’t risk-free. And it is not some conservative conspiracy to say that.

DP. I'm glad you found out, and I'm glad you have alternative options.

But before you knew about your inherited thrombophilia, you know what would have been a greater risk to you for forming clots than BCP? Pregnancy.

What a condescending and unnecessary response. Ugly.

But notably not untrue.

I’m the PP who posted about my blood clotting disorder. The PPs post about pregnancy suggests she has quite a dim understanding of causality. I’m not really convinced she is the best spokesperson for hormonal birth control, truth be told.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.ceu.ox.ac.uk/news/any-type-of-hormonal-contraceptive-may-increase-risk-of-breast-cancer#:~:text=An%20analysis%20of%20data%20by,higher%20risk%20of%20breast%20cancer.

I like to see what the researchers say across the pond where Big Pharma doesn’t dictate research and sales.

In short: all hormonal contraceptives increase your risk of breast cancer.

Educate yourself and evaluate whether condoms and the calendar might be a better approach.

I benefited from BC pills for 20+ years and had minimal side effects. Now mid-50s with estrogen+ breast cancer, I do wonder about the connection. Most of the people in my estrogen+ breast cancer group have the same background/questions (no family history of breast cancer, long term BCP users)….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.ceu.ox.ac.uk/news/any-type-of-hormonal-contraceptive-may-increase-risk-of-breast-cancer#:~:text=An%20analysis%20of%20data%20by,higher%20risk%20of%20breast%20cancer.

I like to see what the researchers say across the pond where Big Pharma doesn’t dictate research and sales.

In short: all hormonal contraceptives increase your risk of breast cancer.

Educate yourself and evaluate whether condoms and the calendar might be a better approach.

Did you read the conclusions published by the authors of the study in the very link?

Kirstin Pirie, statistical programmer at Oxford Population Health, and one of the lead authors, said ‘The findings suggest that current or recent use of all types of progestogen-only contraceptives is associated with a slight increase in breast cancer risk, similar to that associated with use of combined oral contraceptives. Given that a person’s underlying risk of developing breast cancer increases with advancing age, the absolute excess risk of breast cancer associated with either type of oral contraceptive will be smaller in women who use it at younger ages. These excess risks must, however, be viewed in the context of the well-established benefits of contraceptive use in women's reproductive years.’

Senior Health Information Manager at Cancer Research UK, Claire Knight, said ‘Combined and progestogen-only hormonal contraception can increase the risk of breast cancer, but the risk is small. Women who are most likely to be using contraception are under the age of 50, where the risk of breast cancer is even lower. For anyone looking to lower their cancer risk, not smoking, eating a healthy balanced diet, drinking less alcohol, and keeping a healthy weight will have the most impact. There are lots of possible benefits to using contraception, as well as other risks not related to cancer. That’s why deciding to take them is a personal choice and should be done after speaking to your doctor so you can make a decision that is right for you.’

Are you going to pay attention to that, since you linked to it?

Increased risk whether big or small is still increased risk.

#noduh

I’m not interested in increasing my risk.

Right. so you cherry pick the title while praising the authors for not being under the sway of Big Pharma or whatever, ignore their stated conclusions, and assume you understand their research better than they do. Got it.

Well, it's good that you linked it, because at least other posters can read the actual study and make their own decisions, so there's that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might have been you when I was young. That’s before I learned I have a genetic blood clotting disorder and my mom almost died of a blood clot, and the hematologists warned me that I could never use hormonal BC again. One of them, a woman, told me she was angry about how many young women with clots she saw.

These aren’t risk-free. And it is not some conservative conspiracy to say that.

DP. I'm glad you found out, and I'm glad you have alternative options.

But before you knew about your inherited thrombophilia, you know what would have been a greater risk to you for forming clots than BCP? Pregnancy.

What a condescending and unnecessary response. Ugly.

But notably not untrue.

I’m the PP who posted about my blood clotting disorder. The PPs post about pregnancy suggests she has quite a dim understanding of causality. I’m not really convinced she is the best spokesperson for hormonal birth control, truth be told.

Pregnancy is a higher risk factor for blood clots than OCP. That is just medical facts. If you don't know that, then I'm afraid you have a rather dim understanding of how this works -- and why are you offering advice?

To put the risk of developing a blood clot from a birth control pill into perspective: The risk of blood clots is higher when using any birth control pills than not using them, but still remains lower than the risk of developing blood clots in pregnancy and in the postpartum period.

FDA Drug Safety Communication: Updated information about the risk of blood clots in women taking birth control pills containing drospirenone
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-communication-updated-information-about-risk-blood-clots-women-taking-birth-control

People use contraceptives for a number of reasons, including to regulate their periods, to help balance their moods, to reduce acne and to eliminate menstrual cramps. Of course, most people who take CHC do so to stop them getting pregnant - and pregnancy itself entails a far higher blood clot risk than that associated with combined hormonal contraceptives.

Does the contraceptive pill increase your risk of blood clots?
https://patient.info/news-and-features/does-the-contraceptive-pill-increase-your-risk-of-blood-clots

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.ceu.ox.ac.uk/news/any-type-of-hormonal-contraceptive-may-increase-risk-of-breast-cancer#:~:text=An%20analysis%20of%20data%20by,higher%20risk%20of%20breast%20cancer.

I like to see what the researchers say across the pond where Big Pharma doesn’t dictate research and sales.

In short: all hormonal contraceptives increase your risk of breast cancer.

Educate yourself and evaluate whether condoms and the calendar might be a better approach.

I benefited from BC pills for 20+ years and had minimal side effects. Now mid-50s with estrogen+ breast cancer, I do wonder about the connection. Most of the people in my estrogen+ breast cancer group have the same background/questions (no family history of breast cancer, long term BCP users)….

One of the confounding issues is that alcohol use (even at a relatively low level) is just about the highest risk factor for breast cancer.

Compared to women who don't drink at all, women who have three alcoholic drinks per week have a 15% higher risk of breast cancer. Experts estimate that the risk of breast cancer goes up another 10% for each additional drink women regularly have each day.

https://www.breastcancer.org/risk/risk-factors/drinking-alcohol

Family history is certainly puts you at risk, but most women with breast cancer have no family history link. It arises de novo for them. However, drinkinglikely has some role in many women with breast cancer. Most people don't talk about that, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might have been you when I was young. That’s before I learned I have a genetic blood clotting disorder and my mom almost died of a blood clot, and the hematologists warned me that I could never use hormonal BC again. One of them, a woman, told me she was angry about how many young women with clots she saw.

These aren’t risk-free. And it is not some conservative conspiracy to say that.

DP. I'm glad you found out, and I'm glad you have alternative options.

But before you knew about your inherited thrombophilia, you know what would have been a greater risk to you for forming clots than BCP? Pregnancy.

What a condescending and unnecessary response. Ugly.

But notably not untrue.

I’m the PP who posted about my blood clotting disorder. The PPs post about pregnancy suggests she has quite a dim understanding of causality. I’m not really convinced she is the best spokesperson for hormonal birth control, truth be told.

Pregnancy is a higher risk factor for blood clots than OCP. That is just medical facts. If you don't know that, then I'm afraid you have a rather dim understanding of how this works -- and why are you offering advice?

To put the risk of developing a blood clot from a birth control pill into perspective: The risk of blood clots is higher when using any birth control pills than not using them, but still remains lower than the risk of developing blood clots in pregnancy and in the postpartum period.

FDA Drug Safety Communication: Updated information about the risk of blood clots in women taking birth control pills containing drospirenone
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-communication-updated-information-about-risk-blood-clots-women-taking-birth-control

People use contraceptives for a number of reasons, including to regulate their periods, to help balance their moods, to reduce acne and to eliminate menstrual cramps. Of course, most people who take CHC do so to stop them getting pregnant - and pregnancy itself entails a far higher blood clot risk than that associated with combined hormonal contraceptives.

Does the contraceptive pill increase your risk of blood clots?
https://patient.info/news-and-features/does-the-contraceptive-pill-increase-your-risk-of-blood-clots

It's not like the only choice is using birth control pills or getting pregnancy and continuing a full term pregnancy. There are other methods for birth control and women can be advised about all of the advantages and disadvantages. I think the pill caused depression and headaches for me, but it was also the only thing that helped with acne in my 20's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.ceu.ox.ac.uk/news/any-type-of-hormonal-contraceptive-may-increase-risk-of-breast-cancer#:~:text=An%20analysis%20of%20data%20by,higher%20risk%20of%20breast%20cancer.

I like to see what the researchers say across the pond where Big Pharma doesn’t dictate research and sales.

In short: all hormonal contraceptives increase your risk of breast cancer.

Educate yourself and evaluate whether condoms and the calendar might be a better approach.

Did you read the conclusions published by the authors of the study in the very link?

Kirstin Pirie, statistical programmer at Oxford Population Health, and one of the lead authors, said ‘The findings suggest that current or recent use of all types of progestogen-only contraceptives is associated with a slight increase in breast cancer risk, similar to that associated with use of combined oral contraceptives. Given that a person’s underlying risk of developing breast cancer increases with advancing age, the absolute excess risk of breast cancer associated with either type of oral contraceptive will be smaller in women who use it at younger ages. These excess risks must, however, be viewed in the context of the well-established benefits of contraceptive use in women's reproductive years.’

Senior Health Information Manager at Cancer Research UK, Claire Knight, said ‘Combined and progestogen-only hormonal contraception can increase the risk of breast cancer, but the risk is small. Women who are most likely to be using contraception are under the age of 50, where the risk of breast cancer is even lower. For anyone looking to lower their cancer risk, not smoking, eating a healthy balanced diet, drinking less alcohol, and keeping a healthy weight will have the most impact. There are lots of possible benefits to using contraception, as well as other risks not related to cancer. That’s why deciding to take them is a personal choice and should be done after speaking to your doctor so you can make a decision that is right for you.’

Are you going to pay attention to that, since you linked to it?

Increased risk whether big or small is still increased risk.

#noduh

I’m not interested in increasing my risk.

Right. so you cherry pick the title while praising the authors for not being under the sway of Big Pharma or whatever, ignore their stated conclusions, and assume you understand their research better than they do. Got it.

Well, it's good that you linked it, because at least other posters can read the actual study and make their own decisions, so there's that.

Google the research over the last 5 years that indicates increased breast cancer risk linked to hormonal birth control. Lots of items come up. It’s a thing.

And feel free to explain where in the linked research it says there is no/zero increased risk.

[Anonymous]

Look, I'm all for realistic discussion of the risks of hormonal birth control. And they are there!

But it's not realistic discussion unless you acknowledge that pregnancy itself carries more risks of cause (not correlation, but causality) blood clots than birth control pills do. So, of course you can choose other methods to avoid that, but it's better to be on hormonal control than get pregnant, if those options are limited.

These are the weighings of risk and benefit that lead to doctors being willing to prescribed hormonal contraception. OdGyns know that avoiding pregnancy for most of these issues is actually more important.

And hormonal contraception does increase the risk of breast cancer. Not a lot, but it does. Alcohol use (even at 3 standard drinks a week) increases it a lot more. If you have a family history, that's a really high risk, but most women don't. It's much, much more common to develop breast cancer without a family history than with one.

And yes, you can decrease your risk by avoiding hormonal contraception -- but if that's important to you, avoiding alcohol should be even more important to you. If you don't consider the increased risk with alcohol to be relevant, then you need to know that the risk from hormonal contraception is even less than that.

Just as we should not be silencing discussion about the risks of hormonal contraception, we ALSO should not be silencing the discussion that puts them into perspective.

[Anonymous]

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/oral-contraceptives-fact-sheet

From cancer.gov: there is an increased risk of breast cancer.

I never used oral BC and I don’t drink. Those are two things I can control…and not have to second guess myself down the road if I develop bc.

Ditto for exercise and not being obese. And not smoking.