To think the Pill isn't the great invention it's made out to be?

[CailinDana]

Interesting article here about the side effects of the Pill.

I've never taken it because I believe taking artificial hormones every day for years on end must have some quite serious negative impact on your health. How could it not? I've heard the argument that in previous generations women would have been constantly pregnant and that the Pill is just mimicking that state. Now given how horrendous pregnancy makes me feel, I don't see how mimicking that state can be a good thing, and at the same time I think the fact that bfing tends to reduce the risk of pregnancy, mums in the past would have had at least a year between pregnancies, perhaps more if they bfed for longer.

I am fully aware of the great benefits that the Pill brings with it. I just think that it's often sold as a perfectly safe drug when in fact it seems that many women suffer quite badly when they're on it. I do wonder also if in years to come some of the fertility problems that seem to be so common these days (which are not age related) will be linked to the Pill.

AIBU to think we should push for more research into the effects of the Pill, and more honest reporting of its negative aspects?

I never had many problems with the pill but the Depo injection gave me lots of problems - the main one being that doctors/nurses kept saying it was me not that that made me feel and look so awful so I was blaming myself for things that weren't me.

Still a drug though promoted in a similar way I guess.

omg i have more issues with hormonal contraception such as the implant,depo injection or the mirena coil.

I haven't actually tried any of those, but they do seem to be to be much more intrusive - long term, and with a lot more side effects

At least with a pill you have control of whether you take it or not.

Bring on the male pill/

That's a terrible article imo. She chose her brand of pill based on a magazine article? I don't think I'll follow my example by choosing my contraception based on a magazine article.

I've never felt 'pushed' to be on the pill and have always had terrific care in this area of my health. That's possibly because I've always (until this house move) used a family planning clinic rather than the GP service to access my contraception. Absolutely faultless care for 25 years.

I think you are making quite sweeping generalisations based on your individual experience Cailin. I first took the Pill in the 1980s, and it was a given even then that there were side-effects to be considered. It has never been a secret that it might not suit everyone, and that you should be on the lookout for side-effects. It was also normal to try several brands before settling on one which suited you personally.

"I have been put under a lot of pressure from the GP down through the years to go on the Pill and they seem almost annoyed when I say I'd rather not."
The fault lies with your GP rather than the invention of the Pill. I have used the Pill in the past and the (several) GPs who prescribed it for me all stressed side-effects. When I decided to stop using it, I discussed it with my current GP and we talked through alternatives. I have NEVER felt even slightly pressured.

"I think the fact that bfing tends to reduce the risk of pregnancy, mums in the past would have had at least a year between pregnancies, perhaps more if they bfed for longer."
Going by the families of my four grandparents (basing this on my individual experience ), It was quite common to give birth more or less annually. And I can only presume all four mothers were breastfeeding as all were working class so would not have been in a position to employ a wetnurse.

I only skimmed a bit of the article you linked to, but was struck by this -
"I was taking the brand Yasmin, which I had requested from my doctor after reading in magazines about its amazing skin-clearing and weight-loss side effects. My sisters and many of my friends were also taking it. Yasmin was marketed aggressively in the US, and news of its supposed benefits spread quickly to young women in the UK."
Hmm. Maybe if the author had treated it as a contraception, rather than a cosmetic procedure, I'd have more respect for her opinions on the Pill.

you can report any side effects here

I haven't been on the pill in years due to side effects. Nothing particularly serious, but enough for me to decide continued use wa not for me.

I think the pill was an amazing invention - absolutely amazing, and freed up women in an incredibly meaningful way.

But... I definitely do think it's a double-edged sword... And not just in terms of what it does to individual women's bodies.

I think it enabled men to basically absolve themselves of responsibility for contraception. To wriggle out of using condoms for reasons known only to thrm. To whine when they suddenly find themselves fathers when they didn't want to be. And I also think it has allowed STIs to absolutely sky-rocket to unimaginable proportions...

The feeling of a man ejaculating inside, is without compare to some women.

The women who don't like the mess, or who hate the idea of the pill, tend to flame those women for it.

But trust me, for some, that feeling of warmth and closeness is worth it.

HellsBellsMelons the 'side effects' you listed on the pill were exactly the same as mine - all positive and none negative. I was on it for almost all my 20's, it was fantastic.

I'm not allowed to take it any more because my GP won't prescribe it for the 35's - and I miss it.

Copper IUD for me, I had a Mirena coil removed as I had problems with the hormones, even at the supposedly low doses of the coil. I came off the pill for similar reasons, but was seduced into trying a Mirena because of the supposedly low doses. And in over 25 years I have only been pregnant twice, both times planned. The lack of periods while on the pill/mirena did not outweigh the side effects.

I think that the pill has been the single most important invention for women. Giving us the ability to stay child-free is an amazing thing, especially for women in developing countries.

Every female with a brain knows that the pill can have side-effects, and that those side-effects vary from female to female
Yes thats fair enough. I consider myself to have a brain. I do bother to read up about side effects.

I do think the side effects are often unreported and are pooh-poohed by many drs.
This with bells on. My complaint was the side effects I had were on the box. But do I think the description was anywhere near what I had? I did make the connection for a very long time because it was so poorly worded.

'Mood swings' is not a particularly good description of having a constant and continual unexplained anger about everything, that you can not control.

But after making the connection - thanks to the internet - and telling my doctor, I was promptly told it was common for this pill.

That said, I think the pill is a brilliant invention, but one that research is very distorted about due to the nature of how pharmaceutical companies deal. No more or no less than is with the case for a lot of other drugs out there.

The invention is good; the research is flawed, biased and needs a massive overhaul.

OMG SabrinaMulholland - I've just come off of it too.
But that's because I'm mid 40's and not mid 30's!! That seems mad.
If I didn't smoke (although in the process of quitting! - down to 1 a day!) I could have it until I was 50+!
You could try family planning as they are more experienced (????)