Typically, hormonal birth control methods work by releasing estrogen and progestin into the body, preventing the ovaries from releasing eggs. They also thicken cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to enter the uterus. There are a wide variety of hormonal methods on the market including oral birth control pills, implants (Norplant), hormone shots like Depo-Provera, a vaginal ring called NuvaRing, and a contraceptive hormone patch worn on the skin.

The most important thing to remember about hormonal birth control solutions: These contraceptives are SYNTHETIC hormones and it isn't healthy for a woman to be exposed to them. In fact, their long-term use will invariably increase a woman's risk of developing serious chronic illness.

In my view, there is no medical justification for using birth control pills or other hormonal methods. In addition to increasing serious health risks such as blood clots, birth control pills can also deplete the more important nutrients, including vitamins B2, B6 and B12.

In a previous study on Depo Provera, researchers found women had declines in bone mineral density averaging 3 percent annually. Those taking shots for two years had losses in bone mineral density of roughly 6 percent, compared with a loss of 2.6 percent among women on birth control pills. Comparatively, women using no hormonal contraceptives had, on average, a 2 percent increase in bone density during the same period.

Aside from bone loss, the Depo-Provera shot is associated with a long list of additional side effects, including the following:

What are safer, healthier solutions to contraception?

1. Natural Family Planning: In this method, a woman uses various techniques to determine when she is fertile during the month. By using a backup method during the window of fertility or abstaining altogether, pregnancy can be avoided. Techniques include the ovulation method, the symptothermal method (a combination of the ovulation method and monitoring of body temperature) and monitoring saliva with the Ovu-Tech magnification lens.

2. Barrier methods, including condoms for women and men, the diaphragm, cervical cap and sponge (currently not on the market), work by physically preventing the sperm from reaching the egg.

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