Ever since it was introduced in the 1960s, the birth control pill has been hailed for its positive impact on women’s sex and sexuality. But it’s only recently we’re starting to consider what hormonal contraception may be doing to women’s bodies.
Dr. Stephanie Palerme, a specialist in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Queen’s, said all hormonal birth control methods work by delivering a combination of the female sex hormones progestin and estrogen to the body.
“Progestin stops monthly ovulation, makes the cervical lining thin and increases the production of mucous, while estrogen stabilizes the cycle,” she said. “The differences between methods and even between different pills lay in the estrogen dosage. A lower dose of estrogen does not decrease the effectiveness of the contraceptive, and also means fewer and less severe side effects.”
Palerme said the future of birth control involves much more choice today than it ever has before.
“Now we have the transdermal patch and vaginal ring, which by the liver in delivering hormones to the body; the copper IUD which does not inhibit ovulation; as well as barrier methods such as condoms, diaphragms and sponges,” she said. “With so many options out there, both natural and chemical, there really is something out there for every woman.”
Tamara Redwood, CompSci ’10, said she started taking birth controll pills when she was in high school. But rather than looking to the Pill for birth control, she uses it as a way to help keep her skin clear.
“It was actually … prescribed by my dermatologist,” she said, adding that the Pill she takes is Cyestra-35, a Pill combining antiandrogens and estrogens to treat acne in women with the added bonus of acting as hormonal birth control.
Redwood said the Pill has helped to both improve her skin and regulate her period, and has had almost no side-effects.
“I used to be really prone to migraine headaches, so for a while at first it started to conflict with that because it makes you more sensitive,” she said, adding that she was sensitive to headaches before starting the Pill and has since stopped getting them.
Because Redwood still gets her prescription for Cyestra-35 through her dermatologist, she said she hasn’t really talked to her family doctor about the potential risks involved in taking hormonal birth control over an extended period of time.
“That’s something that I didn’t really look into when I first started,” she said. “[But] I haven’t had any problems with it.”
Dr. Sonya Nobbe, a naturopathic doctor working in downtown Kingston, said hormonal birth control impacts the body in ways scientists and doctors are only just starting to understand.
“Sex hormones affect everything from stress hormones, to neurotransmitters and blood sugar,” she said. “Changing the production of one of these factors affects them all. Many women don’t understand just how much the Pill can affect their mood until after they’re off it.”
Nobbe said the use of hormonal birth control can also lead to the depletion of B vitamins, iron, magnesium and folic acid.
“A lot of hormonal birth control depletes nutrients by way of using the specific corresponding enzyme pathway in the liver for metabolism on a daily basis,” she said. “The B vitamins especially are cofactors for many of the enzyme pathways. The liver has three main detox pathways that each use hundreds of enzymes to metabolize everything you eat and inhale.
“Being deficient in these nutrients can actually increase PMS symptoms and lead to many other problems down the road,” she said. “When choosing a form of contraception, a woman needs to be aware of how many things she is doing to her body. There are so many other ways to lessen PMS symptoms that don’t include hormonal birth control.”
Nobbe said there is a cyclical problem with birth control.
“Many women go on the Pill to alleviate symptoms associated with menstruation but end up developing new symptoms because of the medication,” she said. “To help their bodies deal with the stress of menstruation and the Pill, a healthy diet high in anti-inflammatory foods such as leafy green vegetables and berries can do wonders.”
She said other options for relieving pre-menstral tension include taking a good quality B vitamin complex, cutting out foods containing processed wheat and sugar for part of the month and drinking a tea made with herbs such as chamomile and ginger to minimize stress and contain sedative properties.
—With files from Angela Hickman
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be ed, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to [email protected].