Birth control pill linked to 50% higher brain cancer risk ... one more bad effect

[NightHawkeye]

Birth Control Pills: Men Get Free Sex, Women Could Get Cancer | TheBlaze.com

According to the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (I have a monthly subscription — got it in a package deal along with Highlights Magazine) women who took chemical birth control at any point in their lives show a 50 percent higher likelihood of developing a certain type of brain tumor. The researchers concluded that the results, though startling, shouldn’t be viewed as a reason to discontinue using the pill.

They’re right. Just those results, alone in a vacuum, would only probably be a good reason to never take an oral contraceptive. But put it in a blender and mix it with all of the other negative aspects of the pill, and you end up with one horrific smoothie. Speaking of smoothies, in a country where health food is all the rage, trans-fats are banned, cigarettes are all but banned, and sugary sodas are next on the chopping block, birth control pills would be no doubt subject to severe scrutiny if not for the fact that they are the Eucharist to liberal feminism.
...
So, in the spirit of unity, I’d like to provide five reasons why everyone should hate the pill:

1) A steady diet of potentially harmful chemicals.
...
2) Diseasing a woman’s body.
...
3) Cancer and blood clots.
...
4) Confusion and divorce.
...
5) Commodification.​

 

[graceandpeace]

The article is inflammatory, & the source is not one I trust.

Like any medication, there are benefits & risks involved with birth control pills. Whether the benefit outweighs the risk is something that should be sorted out between a doctor or provider & the patient, if necessary.

 

[NightHawkeye]

The article is inflammatory ...

Inflammatory? Not really.

Opinionated? Certainly.

& the source is not one I trust.

Best news source on the planet.

Like any medication, there are benefits & risks involved with birth control pills. Whether the benefit outweighs the risk is something that should be sorted out between a doctor or provider & the patient, if necessary.

True enough.

The article highlights the documented consequences known to be associated with birth control pill use.

 

[KitKatMatt]

Compared to the horrible life I'd live without the pill that is already certain, I'm willing to take the risks.

Severe blood loss, anemia, nausea lasting weeks and occasionally months at a time, and other things that severely impacted my life and my ability to work are not worth stopping my birth control for.

 

[kellhus]

Does anyone have a link to an actual research study?

 

[Cute Tink]

Women don't just take the birth control pill to have a lot of sex.

 

[Glass*Soul]

Does anyone have a link to an actual research study?

Here you go:

Hormonal contraceptive use and risk of glioma among younger women a nationwide case-control study - Andersen - British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology - Wiley Online Library

 

[Vylo]

As bad as that is, and certainly we should be looking for more effective and safer birth control, the benefits still massively outweigh the costs for most women.

 

[Hetta]

In this Danish registry-based study, we found that ever use of hormonal contraceptives was associated with a moderately increased risk of glioma among younger women.

All medications have side-effects. Every single one of them. When it comes down to risk, the majority of women would prefer to take this moderate risk, than take the much higher risk of having a child every single year for their entire fertile life. Bearing in mind that every single pregnancy carries a risk of serious illness and/or death for both mother and child. As does childbirth.

Given the choice, I chose the pill for about 20 years and depo shots for the rest of my fertile life, in between having our family of course. I have no regrets.

 

[Glass*Soul]

Interestingly, pregnancy increases tumor growth rate in glioma patients.

Ya can't win for losing.

 

[bhsmte]

All medications have side-effects. Every single one of them. When it comes down to risk, the majority of women would prefer to take this moderate risk, than take the much higher risk of having a child every single year for their entire fertile life. Bearing in mind that every single pregnancy carries a risk of serious illness and/or death for both mother and child. As does childbirth.

Indeed.

Every time you take an aspirin, you increase your risk of a brain hemorrhage.

 

[graceandpeace]

Inflammatory? Not really.

Opinionated? Certainly.

Best news source on the planet.

True enough.

The article highlights the documented consequences known to be associated with birth control pill use.

For me as a Christian & a woman, I did find many of the remarks inflammatory. But there is no need for me to debate that. Again, there are benefits & risks to BC use that are better left to discussion with a professional, rather than the Walsh blog.

 

[Paradoxum]

How much this matters depends on how big the risk was before. A tiny risk increased by 50% is still a tiny risk.

Speaking of smoothies, in a country where health food is all the rage, trans-fats are banned, cigarettes are all but banned, and sugary sodas are next on the chopping block, birth control pills would be no doubt subject to severe scrutin if not for the fact that

Well cigarettes are legal, as they should be.

they are the Eucharist to liberal feminism.

Better than cannibalism.

So, in the spirit of unity, I’d like to provide five reasons why everyone should hate the pill:

1) A steady diet of potentially harmful chemicals.

And you could die in a car crash. Something being risky isn't a reason to hate it. Some people go to the north pole and could die. But if they accept the risks, that's up to them.

...
2) Diseasing a woman’s body.
...
3) Cancer and blood clots.

Well, these are similar to the first. You have to consider risks, and make your own choice.

...
4) Confusion and divorce.

What?

...
5) Commodification

What?

 

[KitKatMatt]

If someone is divorcing over birth control, there are probably deeper issues to be addressed...

 

[keith99]

The study claimed 5 cases per 100,000 for the general population. Note that this was including both those who had taken Pills and not.

The actual increase then works out to about 2-3 per 100,000.

Deaths due to maternity in the U.S. were 18.5 per 100,000 live births in 2013.

Maternal death - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There may be better Birth Control solutions, but pill vrs nothing the risk/reward math is pretty clear.

 

[bhsmte]

If someone is divorcing over birth control, there are probably deeper issues to be addressed...

Highly likely.

 

[Hetta]

Well that was quickly debunked.

 

[loveofourlord]

it's just classic cherry picking, "I don't like X so lets find out bad things about X, ignoring bad thigns for not X." reminds me of studies often used to show that homosexuals are at higher risk for certain STD's therefore it's bad, ignoring that the other 70% of STD"s are more prevelent in heterosexuals, but would never use that to argue against straight sex.

 

[keith99]

it's just classic cherry picking, "I don't like X so lets find out bad things about X, ignoring bad thigns for not X." reminds me of studies often used to show that homosexuals are at higher risk for certain STD's therefore it's bad, ignoring that the other 70% of STD"s are more prevelent in heterosexuals, but would never use that to argue against straight sex.

Speaking of STDs. I'd bet the risk from not using a condom is at least 10 and probably more like 100-1000 times greater than the increased risk of cancer.

 

[stellalunaCW]

Matt Walsh is a misogynist, not a gynecologist. Also everything he posts comes with pop-ups and malware, so I recommend being careful what you click on.

Like some of the other women here, my quality of life would be greatly decreased without the pill. I've actually read the entire leaflet that comes with the medication and spoken at length with my doctor about using hormonal birth control. It is definitely worth the risk.