American Fitness Professionals & Associates

By: Mark Occhipinti M.S., Ph.D., N.D.c.

There is an abundance of conflicting information on birth control pills that women have to decipher in order to make intelligent decisions about their use. The pharmaceutical companies have inserts that read like a miniature medical text listing the side-effects and contra-indications for usage in selected populations. Many times physicians (OB/GYN) who prescribe oral contraceptives do not fully examine the patient’s background to determine whether or not the individual has any health problems that would preclude the use of these products. My sister almost sustained permanent damage to her heart that would have been life-threatening because her then doctor failed to notice a relatively common (among women) mitral valve prolapse.

Other women that I have interviewed have suffered from blood clots and hypertension and had to discontinue usage of the Pill. It is true that the Pill has changed considerably since the 1960’s when a single pill could contain as much as 150 mcgs. Of the hormone estrogen. Today, the levels have been lowered to 35 mcgs. or less. It is also true that oral contraceptives are still the most effective form of birth control available other than sterilization. This medication is also used extensively in the treatment of endometriosis, as the action of estrogen and progesterone thin the walls of the uterus which is lined by endometrial tissue.

Background StudiesIn one study, 1,079 women were counseled: 87% (938) reported that they had used birth control pills at some time, and 66% = 712 reported negative side effects. Migraine headaches, moodiness and breast tenderness were the major symptoms. (1) Another study found that in women who never previously experienced migraine, the headaches were now present and intensified with the Pill’s continues use.(2)In one study, 1,079 women were counseled: 87% (938) reported that they had used birth control pills at some time, and 66% = 712 reported negative side effects. Migraine headaches, moodiness and breast tenderness were the major symptoms.

(1) Another study found that in women who never previously experienced migraine, the headaches were now present and intensified with the Pill’s continues use.

(2)Dr. Vicki Hufnagel believes that using progesterone therapy may protect other organs from cancer. Long-term progesterone use reduces the risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women. Furthermore, she has found that estrogen administration can slow down osteoporosis dramatically by promoting the formation of new bone mass.(3) In one study, 1,079 women were counseled: 87% (938) reported that they had used birth control pills at some time, and 66% = 712 reported negative side effects. Migraine headaches, moodiness and breast tenderness were the major symptoms.

In one study, 1,079 women were counseled: 87% (938) reported that they had used birth control pills at some time, and 66% = 712 reported negative side effects. Migraine headaches, moodiness and breast tenderness were the major symptoms.(1) Another study found that in women who never previously experienced migraine, the headaches were now present and intensified with the Pill’s continues use.

(2)Dr. Vicki Hufnagel believes that using progesterone therapy may protect other organs from cancer.

Long-term progesterone use reduces the risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women. Furthermore, she has found that estrogen administration can slow down osteoporosis dramatically by promoting the formation of new bone mass.(3)In addition, weight-bearing activity such as walking, are an integral part of treatment. Megaloblastic (an abnormally large number of immature red blood cells caused by folic acid and B-12 deficiency) changes have been reported in smears of cervical epithelial cells obtained from women who use oral contraceptives on a regular basis: these changes disappeared following administration of folic acid ( a member of the B-complex family of vitamins) supplementation. (4)

The New England Journal of Medicine studied 119,061 women between the ages of 30-55 beginning in 1976 and followed them for the next eight years. These women used oral contraceptives regularly and had no history of cardiovascular disease or stroke.
This study found no evidence to suggest an increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease among past users of contraceptives even with prolonged previous use. (5) It has been found, however, that current use of birth control pills increase the risk of myocardial infarction, especially among older women and smokers ( both cigarettes and marijuana). (6) Current users have higher blood pressure and unfavorable lipid profiles (cholesterol, triglycerides) as a result of lack of exercise and poor dietary habits.(7) The direct association between cancer, myocardial infarction and premature death coupled with smoking and using oral contraceptives is staggering.(8)

Smoking and Cancer of the OvaryAlthough discussing the risks of smoking is a story unto itself, and we receive regular warnings from the Surgeon General, the relationship to cancer and the use of oral contraceptives bears recent results of several studies. It is known that smoking causes not only carcinogenesis(e.g., cancer of the lungs and trachea) but also cancer in distant organs such as the urinary bladder, the cervix uteri and the penis. Nicotine and nitrosamines have been detected in urine, and nicotine has been found in cervical mucus at levels 40 to 50 times those in the blood. Nicotine can be metabolized into a tobacco specific nitrosamine that is potent known carcinogen which is increased dramatically when coupled with oral contraceptives.(9)Although discussing the risks of smoking is a story unto itself, and we receive regular warnings from the Surgeon General, the relationship to cancer and the use of oral contraceptives bears recent results of several studies. It is known that smoking causes not only carcinogenesis(e.g., cancer of the lungs and trachea) but also cancer in distant organs such as the urinary bladder, the cervix uteri and the penis. Nicotine and nitrosamines have been detected in urine, and nicotine has been found in cervical mucus at levels 40 to 50 times those in the blood. Nicotine can be metabolized into a tobacco specific nitrosamine that is potent known carcinogen which is increased dramatically when coupled with oral contraceptives.(9)CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: What Oral Contraceptives Are and How They WorkOral contraceptives are of two types. The most common, often called the Pill, is a combination of estrogen and progesterone, the two kinds of female hormones. The amount of estrogen/progesterone varies with estrogen being the more important because of its effectiveness and the dangers that are associated with its use. These synthetic hormones act primarily through the mechanism of gonadotrophin suppression due to the activity of the ingredients.Although discussing the risks of smoking is a story unto itself, and we receive regular warnings from the Surgeon General, the relationship to cancer and the use of oral contraceptives bears recent results of several studies. It is known that smoking causes not only carcinogenesis(e.g., cancer of the lungs and trachea) but also cancer in distant organs such as the urinary bladder, the cervix uteri and the penis. Nicotine and nitrosamines have been detected in urine, and nicotine has been found in cervical mucus at levels 40 to 50 times those in the blood. Nicotine can be metabolized into a tobacco specific nitrosamine that is potent known carcinogen which is increased dramatically when coupled with oral contraceptives.(9)CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: What Oral Contraceptives Are and How They WorkOral contraceptives are of two types. The most common, often called the Pill, is a combination of estrogen and progesterone, the two kinds of female hormones. The amount of estrogen/progesterone varies with estrogen being the more important because of its effectiveness and the dangers that are associated with its use. These synthetic hormones act primarily through the mechanism of gonadotrophin suppression due to the activity of the ingredients.Oral contraceptives are of two types. The most common, often called the Pill, is a combination of estrogen and progesterone, the two kinds of female hormones. The amount of estrogen/progesterone varies with estrogen being the more important because of its effectiveness and the dangers that are associated with its use. These synthetic hormones act primarily through the mechanism of gonadotrophin suppression due to the activity of the ingredients.Although the primary mechanism of action is inhibition of ovulation, alterations in the genital tract including changes in the cervical mucus ( increasing the difficulty of sperm penetration) and the endometrium (which reduces the likelihood of implantation) also contribute to its effectiveness. (10)

Although discussing the risks of smoking is a story unto itself, and we receive regular warnings from the Surgeon General, the relationship to cancer and the use of oral contraceptives bears recent results of several studies. It is known that smoking causes not only carcinogenesis(e.g., cancer of the lungs and trachea) but also cancer in distant organs such as the urinary bladder, the cervix uteri and the penis. Nicotine and nitrosamines have been detected in urine, and nicotine has been found in cervical mucus at levels 40 to 50 times those in the blood. Nicotine can be metabolized into a tobacco specific nitrosamine that is potent known carcinogen which is increased dramatically when coupled with oral contraceptives.(9)CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: What Oral Contraceptives Are and How They WorkOral contraceptives are of two types. The most common, often called the Pill, is a combination of estrogen and progesterone, the two kinds of female hormones. The amount of estrogen/progesterone varies with estrogen being the more important because of its effectiveness and the dangers that are associated with its use. These synthetic hormones act primarily through the mechanism of gonadotrophin suppression due to the activity of the ingredients.Oral contraceptives are of two types. The most common, often called the Pill, is a combination of estrogen and progesterone, the two kinds of female hormones. The amount of estrogen/progesterone varies with estrogen being the more important because of its effectiveness and the dangers that are associated with its use. These synthetic hormones act primarily through the mechanism of gonadotrophin suppression due to the activity of the ingredients.Although the primary mechanism of action is inhibition of ovulation, alterations in the genital tract including changes in the cervical mucus ( increasing the difficulty of sperm penetration) and the endometrium (which reduces the likelihood of implantation) also contribute to its effectiveness. (10)The second type of oral contraceptive, often called the “mini-pill”, contains only progesterone. It works in part by preventing release of an egg from the ovary but also by keeping sperm from reaching the egg. The “mini-pill” is less effective than the combination pill and causes irregular bleeding or cessation of bleeding entirely.

Side -Effects of Oral Contraceptives1. Circulatory disorders (blood-clotting, heart attack and stroke due to hemorrhage)
2. Formation of Tumors ( Cancerous ). Dangers to a developing child if oral contraceptives are used        in or immediately preceding pregnancy.1. Circulatory disorders (blood-clotting, heart attack and stroke due to hemorrhage)2. Formation of Tumors ( Cancerous ). Dangers to a developing child if oral contraceptives are used        in or immediately preceding pregnancy.Gall Bladder disease
Nausea and vomiting
Weight gain associated with water weight
Hypertension
Migraine
Asthma
Epilepsy
Kidney disease
Increased body hair
Cataracts
Loss of sex drive1. Circulatory disorders (blood-clotting, heart attack and stroke due to hemorrhage)2. Formation of Tumors ( Cancerous ). Dangers to a developing child if oral contraceptives are used        in or immediately preceding pregnancy.The list can continue, but I believe you have a general idea. Also, oral contraceptives cannot prevent a woman from becoming infected with the AIDS virus, or other STD’s. Women who use oral contraceptive therapy long-term also suffer multiple vitamin losses which lead to deficiencies and can increase the likelihood of susceptibility to various physical disorders. Couple with this the fact that the average American woman does not even take in the minimum daily requirements that have been established by the RDA .
These numbers were tabulated from more than 21,000 women across the United States from various socioeconomic and educational backgrounds conducted by the USDA Food Consumption Survey in 1987. Several reports from the National Institute of Health cite poor dietary habits, lack of proper exercise and birth control pill usage without additional vitamin/mineral supplementation as the major causes of osteoporosis among women.

1. Circulatory disorders (blood-clotting, heart attack and stroke due to hemorrhage)2. Formation of Tumors ( Cancerous ). Dangers to a developing child if oral contraceptives are used        in or immediately preceding pregnancy.The list can continue, but I believe you have a general idea. Also, oral contraceptives cannot prevent a woman from becoming infected with the AIDS virus, or other STD’s. Women who use oral contraceptive therapy long-term also suffer multiple vitamin losses which lead to deficiencies and can increase the likelihood of susceptibility to various physical disorders. Couple with this the fact that the average American woman does not even take in the minimum daily requirements that have been established by the RDA .These numbers were tabulated from more than 21,000 women across the United States from various socioeconomic and educational backgrounds conducted by the USDA Food Consumption Survey in 1987. Several reports from the National Institute of Health cite poor dietary habits, lack of proper exercise and birth control pill usage without additional vitamin/mineral supplementation as the major causes of osteoporosis among women.Women Who Should Not Use Oral ContraceptivesThere are certain conditions that are absolute contraindications for using this form of birth control and should be discussed with your physician thoroughly.
These include:
Clots in the legs or lungs (past or present)
Stroke, heart attack or angina pectoris.
Known cancer of breast or sex organs.
Suspected or known pregnancy.There are certain conditions that are absolute contraindications for using this form of birth control and should be discussed with your physician thoroughly.These include:Conditions that require a doctors prescription when using oral contraceptives, but that many women use anyway. Your doctor should monitor extremely closely:There are certain conditions that are absolute contraindications for using this form of birth control and should be discussed with your physician thoroughly.These include:Conditions that require a doctors prescription when using oral contraceptives, but that many women use anyway. Your doctor should monitor extremely closely:High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol
Diabetes
Heart or kidney disease
Gallbladder disease
Epilepsy
Cigarette smoking
Mental depression
Tumors of the breast or uterus.

There are certain conditions that are absolute contraindications for using this form of birth control and should be discussed with your physician thoroughly.These include:Conditions that require a doctors prescription when using oral contraceptives, but that many women use anyway. Your doctor should monitor extremely closely:High blood pressureHigh blood cholesterolDiabetesHeart or kidney diseaseGallbladder diseaseEpilepsyCigarette smokingMental depressionTumors of the breast or uterus.Directions and Preventive MaintenanceEven though the drive of this article seems negative towards the use of oral contraceptives, that was not the intention. It is important to be informed and educated, as it is our responsibility to know potential dangers and reduce risks wherever possible.Even though the drive of this article seems negative towards the use of oral contraceptives, that was not the intention. It is important to be informed and educated, as it is our responsibility to know potential dangers and reduce risks wherever possible.There are several supplements that can assist in a protective manner against the risks of cancer. These include: Please consult your physician prior to beginning any new supplementation program.Even though the drive of this article seems negative towards the use of oral contraceptives, that was not the intention.

Even though the drive of this article seems negative towards the use of oral contraceptives, that was not the intention.  

It is important to be informed and educated, as it is our responsibility to know potential dangers and reduce risks wherever possible.There are several supplements that can assist in a protective manner against the risks of cancer. These include: Please consult your physician prior to beginning any new supplementation program.

1.) Vitamin C 500 mgs. 2-3 times daily
2.) B Complex (B-100’s) mgs. Ea.
3.) Magnesium 250 mgs. 2 times daily.
4.) Essential Fatty Acids (Omega 3 & Omega 6 Fatty Acids)