While doctors prescribe various methods of birth control, women taking such contraceptives need to be aware of what they are putting inside their bodies.
Studies have shown that the prolonged use of an injectable contraceptive, Depo-Provera, is associated with bone density loss. Depo-Provera works by stopping ovaries from releasing eggs, which results in a thin uterine lining or no lining at all.
One injection of the drug can last up to three weeks. The longer the drug is used the greater the losses are. Unfortunately, it may not be possible to reverse bone density loss completely, even if one discontinues the use of the drug. However, a spokesman for the drug maker claimed bone density loss has been "at least partially reversible" in girls and adult women who have used this birth control method.
Along with lowering bone mass, women being injected with Depo-Provera are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis.
This discovery has motivated the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to place a "black box" warning -- the strongest warning that can be issued -- on the drug's label. In addition, the label will explain how Depo-Provera should be used only as a last resort, when all other methods have failed.
The label currently includes severe cautions of using the drug for women who suffer from:
Despite these risks, the drug's manufacturer, Pfizer, and the FDA continue to claim Depo-Provera is a safe and effective method of birth control.
News & Observer November 18, 2004
After reading that a Pfizer spokesman claimed bone density loss has been "at least partially reversible" when discontinuing the use of Depo-Provera, all I could think was let's just wait and see.
If you are considering taking such drugs (or already are taking them), it is important to know that hormonal birth control solutions, or contraceptives like Depo-Provera, are synthetic hormones and it isn't healthy for a woman to be exposed to them. In fact, prolonged use of such drugs will perpetually increase a woman's risk of developing serious chronic illness.
In fact, I see no medical justification for using birth control pills, or other hormonal methods for that matter.
Besides, the hormones that received the well deserved bad press in 2002 with the Women's Health Initiative Study were SYNTHETIC hormones. The major problem with previous hormone therapy is that it was using synthetic progestins like Provera or horse estrogens like those found in Premarin.
What the FDA, most doctors, and patients do not realize is that bioidentical hormones supplement can actually optimize your body's own natural hormones so they reach an optimal level that corresponds to the reference ranges for healthy young adults. This reference range is far more likely to correspond to optimal health than the ranges typical for the elderly.
As far as Depo-Provera, a previous study found that 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:
For the above reasons, I strongly urge you NOT to rely on any birth control methods. However, there are alternative options to contraception that will not cause these side effects:
Safer Solutions to Contraception
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.
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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