What Women Must Know About Oral Contraceptives that Promise to Rid You of Your Monthly Misery By: Angela Darko, M.D. There comes a time in a woman’s life when she has to make the decision to use, and choose from the many choices of oral contraceptives. One size, however, does not fit all and you may have to consult your gynecologists and maybe even try out a few before you find one that really works for you. There are currently many choices out there. Some that have peaked many women’s interests are the new FDA approved, oral contraceptives sold on the advantage that a woman would stop having her period altogether. These oral contraceptives are similar to other oral contraceptives on the market with low dose estrogen/progesterone combinations with cyclic 21 days on and 7 days off. The only difference is that they do not have the placebo pill or pill free interval that allows a woman to have her period. How does all this really work? In your normal cycle a part of the brain, the pituitary gland, produces a hormone (follicular stimulating hormone, FSH) which stimulates the ovary to produce estrogen. Estrogen stimulates the pituitary gland to cause it to produce lutenizing hormone (LH) and together they cause maturation and release of an egg from the ovary. The egg attaches to the uterine surface (endometrium) and produces its own chemicals like estrogen and progesterone. This allows maturation and thickening of the endometrium to prepare for pregnancy. If there are no sperms present, no fertilization takes place and the progesterone levels decrease, the endometrium dies and sheds or sloughs off its surface layer and you have a period. If there is sperm and perchance it meets with the egg, fertilization occurs and the progesterone levels increase to sustain the developing pregnancy. Oral contraceptives alter a woman’s normal cycle to prevent pregnancy but she can still have a period. They are synthetic estrogens and progesterone that act like your hormones. Normally, progesterone and estrogen are released in a pustule flow - in short bursts at a time not continuously. To fool your body, synthetic estrogens and progestrones are taken in a continuous fashion so they shut down production of LH and FSH for a number of days then stop for a few days to allow you to have a period. These new “no period” contraceptives, however, prevent pregnancy and menstruation. Disrupting Nature and Weighing the Facts: Women’s bodies were made to cycle every month except during pregnancy and breast feeding when we get a little bit of a break from our old faithful girlfriend, our period. I will admit that for me, the break was awesome: having no periods, pre-menstrual moodiness, tiredness and cramps. So doing away with your period forever may sound like a great idea right? But, not so fast. Remember menopause? The other female issue your mother, grandmother and aunties complain about? Menopause is the absence of periods forever, but it does not sound so great. So as a wise woman examine the facts. Contraceptives that promise a woman the absence of her period, according to the FDA and manufacturer label, have the same side effects as any other oral contraceptive. It has similar minor side effects such as nausea, breast tenderness, fluid retention, and depression. But, it also has major side effects such as atherosclerosis, blood and heart attacks, breast cancer, and cervical cancer. According to the FDA, the safety and efficacy of these oral contraceptives were tested in women over two one-year clinical studies with 2,400 women. It sounds like a good birth control device. However, as with any medication, nobody knows the long term effects until several years later. As a woman and mother, my worries about such a drug are not only the known side effects but also how such drugs can alter or shut down your period for so long that infertility may become a problem. Also if and when you become pregnant while taking this medicine you might not detect it early or as easily because lack of your period is a great way to know you are pregnant before you think of buying a pregnancy test. On the other hand there are times when a woman needs continuous oral contraceptives for other medical reasons like endometriosis. As with all medicines, it is better to wait for more studies to see and assess the long-term impact, before joining the crowd in a zealous effort to banish your period away forever. About the Author |
