Still too scared to start the pill

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2004
Still too scared to start the pill
5
Mon, 05-24-2004 - 11:51pm
The polymenorrhea is getting worse but I have an appointment with a new gyn on Wednesday. I started my period (again) today after only a week off. But I still can't bring myself to start the OTC lo. Where can I learn about how it affects future fertility and how big the cancer risk is and how to know if you are having any serious side effects? Hyper-education may be the only way to get myself to do this :)

Thanks and sorry for the paranoia :)


CL for Acne

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 3:03am
Hi ariane05, welcome back!

There are risks in anything we do. The risk of cancer or loss of fertility due to hormonal contraceptives is very, very small if you are young healthy and a non-smoker.

You could begin your research by reading about how the pill works http://www.ivillagehealth.com/library/nwh/content/0,,215912_269246,00.html?arrivalSA=1&cobrandRef=0&arrival_freqCap=1&pba=adid=8285484 and the full prescribing information for OTC-Lo at http://www.thepill.com/prescribing/prescribing.html

Then, you can search the medical literature on Medline http://www4.infotrieve.com/newmedline/search.asp by entering the search terms you are interested in. I hope that helps.

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 8:28am
1. The pill doesn't affect future fertility--millions of women have been using the pill as birth control for decades (since the 1960's) and as yet there is no evidence that women are unable to have future children because of it. And if it did affect future fertility, it'd be awfully hard to get pregnant on the pill, wouldn't it? ;)

2. The health risks to healthy women who don't smoke, while they do exist, are pretty rare. You'd know if you were having a blood clot (considered by most to be the most significant risk)--they cause heat and pain and swelling if they're in the leg, which is the most common place as far as I know. I think I've read somewhere that if you're under 35, you're more likely to get a blood clot from pregnancy than from the pill, but the risk of blood clots increases with age and especially in women who smoke. The estrogen in the pill is what's thought to cause blood clots, and OTC Lo is one of the lowest-estrogen pills we have.

3. The pill helps to prevent ovarian and endometrial cancers, at least so far as the studies go, because women are bleeding at regular intervals and not ovulating. Supposedly women on the pill are at greater risk for cervical cancer, but it's not clear as to whether that's because the pill makes women more likely to get cancer or if it's because women on the pill often stop using condoms (some strains of HPV, transmitted via sex, do cause cervical cancer). And it seems like every year there's a different study either proving or disproving a link between breast cancer and the pill. Ask your doctor about that one, check into whether you've got a family history of breast cancer, and then see if you're still worried.

Jill's right--every time you leave the house you're at risk for something. You just have to figure out what level of risk is appropriate for you and whether taking the pill or repeated bleeding episodes are more risky.

Good luck!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2004
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 10:17am
Thank you both for your patience! I already feel better, and I will look at those articles. At least with my period problems I won't have to wait long for my next period :)


CL for Acne

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 5:14pm
I don't know if this will help ease your fear, but to put things in perspective, you are 10 times more likely to die from NOT using any birth control than you are from using the pill (this information is in the OTC-Lo prescribing information which may have come with your pills). You can also go to www.thepill.com for more information. Good luck.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-25-2004
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 6:58pm
do a scearch for birth control on the net. look into depo prevera (the shot). i love it. don't be so worried. millions of women all over on the pill or depo. you are not alone.