for thinking the contraceptive pill is Not A Good Thing from a longterm health perspective

[SchrodingersSexKitten]

Background, I am a woo-hater, cannot stand astrology, crystal healing, homeopathy etc etc and like to think I make decisions for the health of my family and me on scientific evidence, not "feelings".

And yet, and yet...I just feel that being on the contraceptive pill is not a good idea.

"Pumping" your body with hormones to suppress ovulation...bleeding once a month to make you feel like your body still functions normally, when it is a fake period....side effects....

Recently was speaking to the doctor and was asked about birth control; I said I didn't want to take the pill as I wanted to have another baby soon(ish) and I thought it took the body a while to get back to normal after taking the pill for ages. The doctor laughed and said it only takes one month and it is a myth that long term pill-taking has an effect on fertility and ability to conceive.

Is doc right? Evidence, please!
And AIBU to "feel" like it's a bad idea?

Yes the doctor is right.

Have you not used contraception before?

I feel it's a bad idea purely because of the increased risk of breast cancer with long term use of the pill.

I chose to have an IUD fitted, but that is because I'm not having any more children.

If it's not for you then fair enough, BUT

I used it for a few years, but don't want to now I am older and risk of side effects are increased. However, for many women it is perfect, especially if they have irregular cycles like I did pre-children.

It does increase fertility - many are the women who get pregnant as soon as they stop taking it. It was developed as a means of correcting menstrual/fertility problems.

Yabu to 'feel' it is a bad thing, but yanbu to not wnat to take it when there are so many other options.

I never felt better than when dh had the snip and i finally cam e off the pill

The pill made me into a fat lunatic, I won't go near hormonal contraceptives.

Imagine what the world would be like if adult men were encouraged to take regular doses of testosterone for he convenience of women.

I got pregnant both times in the first month after coming off the pill. I know loads of people that got pregnant in the first month after coming off. I have been on it since age 17 and am now 26. First time I got pregnant in the first 2 weeks after taking it then the second time 3 weeks.

Oh, I loved the pill.

I was skinny lunatic without it, normal with!

It doesn't suit everyone, obviously, but it was great for me and my 18-21 day cycle which was hellish. ANd my constant bleeding. ANd passing out from pain of periods. As I say, child bearing sorted that, but as a younger woman it was fantastic to be rid of those symptoms by taking the pill.

I am only allowed the mini pill now - after having pre cancerous cells, but got a note with my repeat prescription from Dr asking to see me next time to 'discuss contraception' - think i might just send DH for the snip, the alternatives i dont want to consider. An implant? euch no way, a coil, no thanks, my sister fell pregnant with one in and the idea is not my cuppa char.

abstinence!!!! that is the way forward.

YANBU I don't like it either, it just can't be good to be full of fake hormones and whilst its not the same thing, a friend took the equivalent of HRT in her twenties to get her periods going again after anorexia and developed breast cancer in her late twenties - it was not in her family so had to be linked to taking these fake hormones.

Utterly with you on this one

I can't see that regularly taking synthetic hormones into your body can ever be a good thing.

Copper coil works just as well

I was told you are most likely to conceive shortly after coming off the pill.

The 'normal' state for a woman - the way we evolved - is to spend most of her time either pregnant or breastfeeding. (and then usually die early). Ovulating once a month for decades is unnatural.

Because I have PCOS, oestrogen pill is a Good Thing for me.

We're all different, you will hear anecdotes both ways

Took me 2 years after coming off long term usage of the pill to get pregnant. It also used to cause me the vilest migraines, I hadn't realised that was the case until I came off and they went away (with the exception of the one I get when I ovulate), before that it was 2 or 3 a month (the sort where you are throwing up/have visual disturbances/totally unable to operate), gained a bunch of weight on the pill as well.

Never again. Between DS and this baby we used condoms, after this baby it is condoms until we can get DH booked in for a vasectomy.

I took the MAP once, I went crazy, absolutely apeshit crazy, I had to get DH to take DS away from me because I was scared I was going to hurt him. Never again for that either, if a condom ever fails again, we have the baby.

YANBU.

It took months for my body to return to normal after coming off the pill. When I went to see my GP 6 months after coming off and no sign of a period...she said it could take up to a year for body to return to normal after coming off it and they didnt worry about it before then. It was pure luck that I came off it a year before we were planning ttc.

And I was not the only one. Friends have had their bodies totally messed up by it.

I wouldn't go near the pill again. Once we have 110% ruled out any more DC's, DH is off to have the snip, until then condoms will do the job for us. Oh that and 2 kids under 2 1/2 years..chance would be a fine thing.

So ovulating every month for years is unnatural but taking synthetic hormones is what? Natural?

It does increase your risk of breast cancer (it goes back to normal 10 years after you stopped taking it) but it also protects against ovarian and uterine cancers.

Think you have to choose what suits you best. I'm only allowed the mini-pill as I suffer from migraine but I'd be happy to take it if I could.

The leaflet in my pill says that the research on breast cancer is not without controversy, as it's possible that the higher incidence is due to improved detection as women on the pill are often monitored more closely.

I took the OCP from age 17-31.I really liked it. Came off fell PG with no problems, after birth of 2nd child had Mirena coil fitted again , no problems

However since having the coil removed, I have had very odd cycles, short cycle, totally irregular etc.

I saw a gynae, well actually 2. It seems my problems have nothing to to with the pill, My own hormones would always have given me these odd cycles, but they were masked by the pill/coil and therefore I lived with the illusion(a nice one at that) that my body worked normally.

I think without in depth investigation many people who started taking the pill at a young age, appear to have problems with periods/fertility when stopping. But this is due to not noticing the problems during the years on the pill.

I did not know what cycle I had as was a late starter and only had had 2 periods when I went on the pill

the pill is amazing for me.
yeah there are side effects but all contraception has them.
i feel sorry for people who it doesnt work for, i urge people to keep trying though, my friend has finally, after 4 goes, found the right one for her and she's happy as larry.

i think more people should be told about this rather than just been given ONE type of pill and then shoved over to IUD's etc. there's so many different types. please dont listen to the horror stories, make your own judgement!
otherwise NOONE would ever give birth.

i dont get the 'pumping your body full of synthetic hormones' argument.
you could argue that with all medicine tbh.
you could argue that with anti-depressants. which alter your mind state, not just your body. im all for pills if they make our lives easier.
having said that I get a wee bit annoyed at people who constantly pop paracetamol. my mother is now immune because she took so many for minor headaches etc.
and if i wasn't on the pill i'd be on strong painkillers for period pain, rather make it easy.

when i hear that the pill DEFINATELY gives you cancer, i'll stop.

yanbu

Loved the pill, took it for years (10+) AND took it continuously (with the occasional break) so that I never had a period.

Got pregnant three times the first month of coming off it. Now use a Mirena as can't take it while breastfeeding. Will stick with the Mirena because of the possiblity of the pill failing if I forget to take it ( I really don't want any more children) but the coil has taken months to settle down (eg, constant bleeding, spotting etc).

Yes, the ups the risk of some cancers but it also lowers the risk of others. It definitely doesn't work for everyone but I would recommend trying different brands as they do vary widely in their side-effects.

I shall not be going back on the pill after I have my baby as I am concerned about the long term risks of breast cancer. Its a shame because I feel fantastic on the pill, it totally transformed my life and I don't feel even a fraction as good when I am not on it.

Loved the pill, took it for years (10+) AND took it continuously (with the occasional break) so that I never had a period.

Got pregnant three times the first month of coming off it. Now use a Mirena as can't take it while breastfeeding. Will stick with the Mirena because of the possiblity of the pill failing if I forget to take it ( I really don't want any more children) but the coil has taken months to settle down (eg, constant bleeding, spotting etc).

Yes, the pill upps the risk of some cancers but it also lowers the risk of others. It definitely doesn't work for everyone but I would recommend trying different brands as they do vary widely in their side-effects.