Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Since these symptoms seem to be hitting you in waves like that—have you thought about maybe talking to someone about it? 🙂
I’m not sure if you're in school or anything, but most colleges have some kind of counseling center on campus... or you could just hit up your family doctor to get a referral. Maybe you just need to vent about what's bothering you, or maybe it's something more physical, like getting some blood work done or checking your thyroid levels... or even just switching up your birth control pill...

A brief note for any women currently using, or considering, hormonal contraceptives, based on data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC):

http://www.who.int/reproductivehealt..._statement.pdf

and

http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classi...GroupOrder.pdf

To be clear: contraceptive pills (those containing estrogen or an estrogen/progestogen combination) are classified as Group 1 carcinogens for humans. While there is evidence suggesting they may simultaneously reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers, the IARC does not factor potential benefits into its determination of carcinogenic substances. It remains up to you and your physician to weigh those risks against the benefits. However, seeing these pills placed in the same category as asbestos was quite striking. 🤔

* The IARC categorizes agents, mixtures, and exposures into five distinct groups:

Group 1: Carcinogenic to humans.
Group 2A: Probably carcinogenic to humans.
Group 2B: Possibly carcinogenic to humans.
Group 3: Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans.
Group 4: Probably not carcinogenic to humans.

Additional links for those interested:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o..._1_carcinogens

http://gerardnadal.com/2012/02/15/wo...rcinogenicity/

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[URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Agency_for_Research_on_Cancer';]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Agency_for_Research_on_Cancer

It’s great to be asking questions, honestly—but maybe try digging into some more recent literature too. A lot has shifted in the field over the last decade... 🍿
I mean, yeah, I think most people realize that pills come with risks (and it really depends on the specific study and what you're looking at), so it's basically up to the individual to weigh the pros and cons before deciding if they want to go that route or not... 🙂

neonstag63 said:It’s great to be asking questions, honestly—but maybe try digging into some more recent literature too. A lot has shifted in the field over the last decade... 🍿
I mean, yeah, I think most people realize that pills come with risks (and it really depends on the specific study and what you're looking at), so it's basically up to the individual to weigh the pros and cons before deciding if they want to go that route or not... 🙂

Once something has been classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organization, it is highly unlikely that such a finding will be easily overturned. Unfortunately, all subsequent research from that point until today—conducted by various other organizations—has failed to refute it. You are welcome to verify this yourselves. In fact, an increasing number of studies continue to confirm these findings. To avoid being overly pedantic, the specific data regarding contraceptive pills was once again validated in 2012. (Refer to the second PDF, page 2, under the "estrogen" section for the year). If that qualifies as "recent" enough for the WHO, then it certainly suffices for my purposes.

Refined sugar is harmful. Birth control pills are carcinogenic. This isn't a matter of shifting scientific debate; it is a fact confirmed by the coordinating body of international public health. We aren't talking about some anecdotal "study" sponsored by Big Pharma based on a sample size of 1,000 people.

I also believe everyone understands that they are not exactly healthy options (they have side effects, certainly, but cancer is not quite the same thing as anxiety or a drop in libido) . However, has any woman here, or anywhere else, had a gynecologist tell her that birth control pills are proven carcinogens for humans—not "likely" or "possibly" carcinogenic, but proven to be carcinogenic—and that there is a legitimate risk of developing breast cancer from consuming them?

I am not attempting to impose my own opinion, of course; it is entirely up to each individual to make their own choice. But I have observed that many gynecologists tend to omit critical information like this. How can one properly weigh the scales and reach an informed decision if the weights are only placed on one side?

The objective of my post is not to promote anything, but rather to present data that neither I nor the women in my immediate circle have heard mentioned—let alone emphasized—by any physician, despite its life-altering importance.

Damn 😠 it’s depressing seeing my pills end up in the same pile as those they mentioned (Yasmin). Does anyone know if there's actual data comparing breast cancer rates between people on OC versus those who aren't?

Wait, you’re actually serious about a Diane?

Jessica Long48 said:Once something has been classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organization, it is highly unlikely that such a finding will be easily overturned. Unfortunately, all subsequent research from that point until today—conducted by various other organizations—has failed to refute it. You are welcome to verify this yourselves. In fact, an increasing number of studies continue to confirm these findings. To avoid being overly pedantic, the specific data regarding contraceptive pills was once again validated in 2012. (Refer to the second PDF, page 2, under the "estrogen" section for the year). If that qualifies as "recent" enough for the WHO, then it certainly suffices for my purposes.

Refined sugar is harmful. Birth control pills are carcinogenic. This isn't a matter of shifting scientific debate; it is a fact confirmed by the coordinating body of international public health. We aren't talking about some anecdotal "study" sponsored by Big Pharma based on a sample size of 1,000 people.

I also believe everyone understands that they are not exactly healthy options (they have side effects, certainly, but cancer is not quite the same thing as anxiety or a drop in libido) . However, has any woman here, or anywhere else, had a gynecologist tell her that birth control pills are proven carcinogens for humans—not "likely" or "possibly" carcinogenic, but proven to be carcinogenic—and that there is a legitimate risk of developing breast cancer from consuming them?

I am not attempting to impose my own opinion, of course; it is entirely up to each individual to make their own choice. But I have observed that many gynecologists tend to omit critical information like this. How can one properly weigh the scales and reach an informed decision if the weights are only placed on one side?

The objective of my post is not to promote anything, but rather to present data that neither I nor the women in my immediate circle have heard mentioned—let alone emphasized—by any physician, despite its life-altering importance.

I think you might have missed my point a little—I didn't say they weren't carcinogenic (if you look back, I said they were harmful, which is why I used that term in response to your post), but obviously, not every single study shows the exact same results.

As for gynecologists... I don't know if they're telling girls about the risks, but most of the info is right there in the instruction leaflets anyway, so women can check for themselves how much risk they're taking and decide if it's worth it. I just hope most people are capable enough to do their own digging and figure out if the trade-off is acceptable. 🤷

Edit—I'm doing a bit of digging right now and, given the sheer volume of research, it's hard to boil everything down, but it's not all bad news 😳ptimist: 😬 because some studies actually show that birth control can lower the risk of certain types of cancer. So, I guess it's just about weighing the pros and cons to see what's better.

Matthew Adams4 said:Damn 😠 it’s depressing seeing my pills end up in the same pile as those they mentioned (Yasmin). Does anyone know if there's actual data comparing breast cancer rates between people on OC versus those who aren't?

Did you check the fine print on the packaging? Mine are for low hormone levels and the instructions say: Out of every 10,000 women who have never taken Adex or other oral contraceptives, roughly
16 will develop breast cancer by age 35. For 10,000 women who used Adex or other oral contraceptives for five years during their early twenties, about 17-18 will develop breast cancer by age 35. Out of 10,000 women who have never used Adex or other oral contraceptives, approximately 100 will develop breast cancer by age 45. For 10,000 women who used Adex or other oral contraceptives for five years in their early thirties, about 110 will develop breast cancer by age 45.
Breast cancer risk increases if:
* someone in your immediate family (mother, sister, or grandmother) had breast cancer
* you are overweight.

It says breast cancer is diagnosed more often in women taking combined oral contraceptives, but they aren't sure if the pill actually causes it.

I guess I’m reading this as them being potentially carcinogenic—not saying they definitely cause it, but like... besides just the hormone levels and all that, there are probably other factors making breast cancer more common in women who use OC.

neonstag63 said:Since these symptoms seem to be hitting you in waves like that—have you thought about maybe talking to someone about it? 🙂
I’m not sure if you're in school or anything, but most colleges have some kind of counseling center on campus... or you could just hit up your family doctor to get a referral. Maybe you just need to vent about what's bothering you, or maybe it's something more physical, like getting some blood work done or checking your thyroid levels... or even just switching up your birth control pill...

Honestly, I don't have much faith in doctors or the whole medical establishment; I've had enough experiences with them in the past where I walked away feeling like I hadn't gained anything useful from the encounter. Right now, I’m just leaning on my boyfriend, who is incredibly level-headed and has been there for me 100%. I started by tweaking my diet and adding some supplements—specifically brewer's yeast—and ramping up my physical activity, so we'll see if that moves the needle. If not, then I'll deal with a doctor. Also, I stopped taking birth control exactly a week ago, so I'm waiting to see if that makes a difference since I was on them for three years straight.🙂
By the way, the real kicker is that I don't even know what the actual issue is. It's not like I'm dealing with any specific anxieties or anything; it's just this sudden, sharp pain that hits me out of nowhere and then it's over.

It’s actually pretty wild—the moment I stopped taking birth control about a week ago, my libido just shot through the roof, which is quite the plot twist considering I’m currently feeling super depressed. It’s one of those ridiculous, deeply frustrating contradictions where everything feels completely out of sync, but hey, there it is.

I totally hear you. 🙂
It’s honestly such a relief that you’ve got your guy by your side—having someone you can actually lean on makes everything feel a little less heavy. And hey, getting active again? That is a killer idea... it really does help pull you out of those depressive slumps. 👍 We all go through those seasons where life just decides to kick us while we're down—some people hit it harder than others—so I'm really pulling for you to feel better soon. And if things don't turn around quickly, I'm sure a pro could help get you back on track pretty easily. 🙂

P.S. Love that about your libido! 🎉

Last month, I was taking my birth control at 9 PM. This month, I want to switch it up and take it at 9 AM. Am I still fully protected?

Let's go

Jessica Long48 said:Once something has been classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organization, it is highly unlikely that such a finding will be easily overturned. Unfortunately, all subsequent research from that point until today—conducted by various other organizations—has failed to refute it. You are welcome to verify this yourselves. In fact, an increasing number of studies continue to confirm these findings. To avoid being overly pedantic, the specific data regarding contraceptive pills was once again validated in 2012. (Refer to the second PDF, page 2, under the "estrogen" section for the year). If that qualifies as "recent" enough for the WHO, then it certainly suffices for my purposes.

Refined sugar is harmful. Birth control pills are carcinogenic. This isn't a matter of shifting scientific debate; it is a fact confirmed by the coordinating body of international public health. We aren't talking about some anecdotal "study" sponsored by Big Pharma based on a sample size of 1,000 people.

I also believe everyone understands that they are not exactly healthy options (they have side effects, certainly, but cancer is not quite the same thing as anxiety or a drop in libido) . However, has any woman here, or anywhere else, had a gynecologist tell her that birth control pills are proven carcinogens for humans—not "likely" or "possibly" carcinogenic, but proven to be carcinogenic—and that there is a legitimate risk of developing breast cancer from consuming them?

I am not attempting to impose my own opinion, of course; it is entirely up to each individual to make their own choice. But I have observed that many gynecologists tend to omit critical information like this. How can one properly weigh the scales and reach an informed decision if the weights are only placed on one side?

The objective of my post is not to promote anything, but rather to present data that neither I nor the women in my immediate circle have heard mentioned—let alone emphasized—by any physician, despite its life-altering importance.

Look, plenty of us here take the pill because we have to for medical reasons, not just for contraception purposes.
If I were just looking for birth control, I definitely wouldn't be taking them since there are plenty of other ways to prevent pregnancy.
I'm in a medical situation where I'll need to stay on them until I'm ready to get pregnant. My doctor even thinks I should stay on them through surgery because, according to him, the fallout from stopping would be way worse than just continuing. And frankly, I'm not thrilled about the idea that the only benefit I'm getting is protection against blood clots, just like any other patient.
I'm still stuck weighing the options: do I keep taking them and pray I'm not one of those 7 women out of 10,000 who ends up with a DVT, or do I risk getting those killer cysts and ovarian endometriosis again, which could end up leaving me unable to have kids?

I can share my experience. I was on Qlaire, and at first, it actually helped with my migraines—they cleared up after three months. But then, heart palpitations started. They kept getting more intense until, about a year and a half in, they became so bad I had to stop taking them entirely. Once I quit, those migraines came roaring back. Also, they never really regulated my cycle properly; I dealt with constant spotting for the whole eighteen months, though I'm not sure if it was getting better or worse over time.

I honestly don't know if I've caused permanent damage to my heart. It’s possible it was just a coincidence, and nobody can say for certain, but I have my doubts since things improved once I stopped the Qlaire. My vision isn't blacking out anymore, but the arrhythmia is still very much there, and I need more testing. My cardiologist thinks it could definitely be linked to the birth control. Of course, it's easy to be smart about it after the fact.

I originally started taking them to fix my spotting issues, but they didn't help with that at all. On the plus side, they did prevent polyps from forming due to hormonal imbalances, which was a win. However, I also noticed my gums starting to recede, even though I've never had dental issues before. Apparently, that can be tied to birth control pills, I guess, but it was definitely a huge downside for me.

In my opinion, you shouldn't take them unless there's a serious medical necessity, like polyp prevention or something similar. For anything else, just use condoms or track your fertile days. Honestly, it's just not worth the risk!

There are honestly so many different types of pills out there that I think waiting 18 months just to find something that actually works is totally unnecessary.
I got lucky because the first ones they gave me actually did the trick, and we’ve been best buds for 8 years now.

Sophia Rodriguez12 said:I can share my experience. I was on Qlaire, and at first, it actually helped with my migraines—they cleared up after three months. But then, heart palpitations started. They kept getting more intense until, about a year and a half in, they became so bad I had to stop taking them entirely. Once I quit, those migraines came roaring back. Also, they never really regulated my cycle properly; I dealt with constant spotting for the whole eighteen months, though I'm not sure if it was getting better or worse over time.

I honestly don't know if I've caused permanent damage to my heart. It’s possible it was just a coincidence, and nobody can say for certain, but I have my doubts since things improved once I stopped the Qlaire. My vision isn't blacking out anymore, but the arrhythmia is still very much there, and I need more testing. My cardiologist thinks it could definitely be linked to the birth control. Of course, it's easy to be smart about it after the fact.

I originally started taking them to fix my spotting issues, but they didn't help with that at all. On the plus side, they did prevent polyps from forming due to hormonal imbalances, which was a win. However, I also noticed my gums starting to recede, even though I've never had dental issues before. Apparently, that can be tied to birth control pills, I guess, but it was definitely a huge downside for me.

In my opinion, you shouldn't take them unless there's a serious medical necessity, like polyp prevention or something similar. For anything else, just use condoms or track your fertile days. Honestly, it's just not worth the risk!

Can you describe that gum recession a bit more? Like, did your gums start bleeding constantly, or did it feel like you had cracks in them? And does it hurt when you brush?

So I’ve been on Adexa for about a year and a half now and everything was totally fine until recently, but my last period was just super weird, like mostly brown with just these tiny little hints of red here and there and it was way lighter than usual... My cycle is normally around 28 to 29 days, so this one showed up on August 22nd after my last one on July 24th, which means the timing was perfect and it lasted just as long as always, it was just that strange brownish color and really weak...

I’ve seriously never had anything like this happen before so I was just wondering if anyone else has dealt with something similar or if maybe someone knows what might be going on... Thanks so much!

They always seem so weak to me, like half-baked and totally lacking any real soul.