Re: Birth Control Pill
 

Huh?? U sure tat is a feature n not side effect...:eek: :D

Re: Birth Control Pill
 

tat i dunno liao......

must ask Dr Tan Ah Kow......

Re: Birth Control Pill
 

We aint woman after all. How would we know if we dont ask?
This tread is started for any fellow samster that mite wan to find out more on unneccessary pregnancy. But i truely hope that you could give in some advice if you do know something about tis. Be it advantage or disadvantage. Everybit of the information is a benefit to us here.

Thanks. :)

Re: Birth Control Pill
 

You've heard about "the Pill." You know it can prevent pregnancy when used correctly. But before you begin to take any prescription medication, you should know all you can about how it works, how it affects your body, what it can and cannot do for you, and what you should expect when taking it.

Birth control pills, or oral contraceptives (OCs), are commonly referred to as "the Pill." Among reversible birth control methods, the Pill is considered one of the most effective. A woman naturally produces two different hormones that regulate her ovulation and menstruation: estrogen and progesterone. Birth control pills contain synthetic hormones that are similar to these naturally occurring hormones. Combination pills contain an estrogen and a progestin and work in two ways:
The body is "tricked" into thinking it is pregnant. This prevents the release of an egg, or ovulation. Without an egg to be fertilized, a woman cannot become pregnant
The cervical mucus is thickened, making it difficult for sperm to travel toward the egg and fertilize it in case an egg is released

Today's combination pills
The most recently developed combination birth control pills are referred to as "low dose," meaning that they have 0.035 mg of estrogen or less. Through the years, research has shown that the higher amounts of this hormone used in older birth control pills are not necessary to prevent pregnancy. As a result, the doses have gotten lower, but contraceptive effectiveness has stayed the same. With "perfect use," meaning that the pills are taken exactly as directed, low-dose combination pills are more than 99% effective. This means that fewer than one out of 100 women will become pregnant when they take the combination pill in a way that is consistent and correct. It is important to remember, though, that the Pill does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV and AIDS. Only condoms provide some protection against STDs, although there is a risk even with condom use.

Since most low-dose combination pills have the same estrogen, called ethinyl estradiol, the main difference from one brand to another is the progestin.

What are the risks involved with taking any oral contraceptive (OCs)? OCs can be associated with an increased risk of several serious adverse events, and do not protect against HIV infection or other STDs. Women, particularly those 35 and over, are strongly advised not to smoke due to the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects

Re: Birth Control Pill
 

Benefits of the Pill

Taking combination pills can result in many health benefits beyond protection against pregnancy*:
Milder, more regular periods
Using a combination pill helps with irregular periods. Your periods will probably be lighter and shorter. Because you lose less blood overall during periods when on a combination pill, you are less likely to develop iron-deficiency anemia. And, if you suffer from menstrual cramps, you will probably find that you have less pain during your period when taking a combination pill.

Reduced risk of ovarian cysts
Monthly ovulation can put you at risk for development of benign (noncancerous) ovarian cysts. These may need to be surgically removed if they grow larger, rupture, or hemorrhage. Taking a combination pill prevents ovulation, decreasing your chances of developing these kinds of cysts.

Reduced risk of ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is one that develops outside the uterus, most often in the fallopian tubes (called a tubal pregnancy), and it can be a life-threatening condition. When you use a combination pill, you reduce your risk of ectopic pregnancy.

Reduced risk of benign breast cysts or lumps
Using a combination pill makes you less likely to develop benign cysts or lumps in your breast, and the risk decreases the longer you use the Pill.

Reduced risk of endometrial cancer
The endometrium is the lining of the uterus, and it's where endometrial cancer can occur. Combination pills help to protect you from this kind of cancer. And, the longer you use them, the more protected you are. What's more, protection continues to increase for many years after you stop using the Pill.

Reduced risk of ovarian cancer
Combination pills help to protect you from cancer of the ovaries, and the longer you use them, the more protected you are. After one to two years of use, your risk is somewhat reduced. After you have used combination pills for ten years, you are significantly less likely to get ovarian cancer. What's more, you are protected for many years after you stop using the Pill.

*These noncontraceptive health benefits related to the use of combination birth control pills are supported by studies that mostly used oral contraceptive formulations containing high doses of estrogen. However, the same benefits are believed to be associated with birth control pills containing low doses of estrogen.

Re: Birth Control Pill
 

General Safety Information

Birth control pills have been available in the US since 1960. Since then, they have been tested and improved time and again. Today's birth control pills are safer than the original Pill of the '60s because they contain much lower hormone doses. However, there are cautions one should take even with today's advances in the Pill.

You should not take the Pill if you:
Are already pregnant or think you might be
Know or think you have cancer of the breast, uterus, or cervix
Have had a heart attack or stroke
Have a history of blood clots in your legs, lungs, or eyes
Have a history of blood clots in the deep veins of your legs
Have had liver tumors (cancerous or noncancerous)
Have active liver disease
Get chest pain or angina
Have vaginal bleeding other than from your regular period
Have had jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) during pregnancy or when you took the Pill before
Have heart disease
Have severe blood pressure
Have diabetes

Women who use the Pill should not smoke
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious adverse effects on the heart and blood vessels as a result of using a birth control pill. This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes a day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age.

Birth control pills and other medications
Your healthcare professional should be made aware of any medication you are using, especially if it has been prescribed by a healthcare professional with a different specialty.

The Pill can cause side effects
Not all women experience them, and most of these symptoms disappear within the first few months of use, as the body adjusts to the Pill. Some of these include:
Headaches
Nausea
Bloating
Bleeding between periods
Breast tenderness

Symptoms that persist should be brought to the attention of your healthcare professional.

While the Pill does pose some health risks, it has also been shown to provide health benefits besides the prevention of pregnancy.

Re: Birth Control Pill
 

Wow...A very beneficial information. Thanks for providing this piece of info.

Re: Birth Control Pill
 

Yes you are right. Also helps in skin complexion. :)

Re: Birth Control Pill
 

totally agree with xfire.

Pills mess the hormone balance, and create crazy results on some people.

Like mess up the periods and such. Irregular, delayed, or non-existant.

Not always, but possible.

My 2 cents.

Roger

Re: Birth Control Pill
 

I was told by a China Gal that , they have this pill, which is developed in China that she needs to take only 2 times a month-that is to say every 2 weeks. Not every day like what I know. Is this fact or fiction??

Anybody knows whether this is true?

Re: Birth Control Pill
 

China medicine, eat liao maybe liver damaged or worst still, kick the bucket.. :D