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

[Hetta]

The actual article is silly. I skimmed it and read the study instead.

 

[Maynard Keenan]

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.

Boom!

 

[NightHawkeye]

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.

Noting that's just the increased brain cancer risk.

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

Apparently, strokes and death from blood clots caused by birth control pills are even higher.

Women's Health | Blood Clots

Only one in 3000 women per year who are taking birth control pills will develop a blood clot; but for the woman with thrombophilia or a history of thrombosis, the risk becomes substantial.​

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

Unfortunately, your math neglected to consider blood clots and other ill effects from birth control pills.

 

[cow451]

Since the edit function is out to lunch, I will add that gliomas are more common in men than women, which would also support the idea that this survey/study adds much to the picture. So, a man can improve his chances of developing gliomas by having a sex change, if one follows this logic. I had a friend that died from a glioma. I'm pretty certain he had not been on birth control pills.

 

[pgp_protector]

 

[ThatRobGuy]

You have to keep in mind, there's no such thing as a safe drug...every drug from the most powerful statin all the way down to the lowest dose of vitamin C have side effects that will be experienced by X% of people.

Every drug has a benefit:risk ratio...no exceptions.

In a free society, we as the consumers have the right to evaluate those risks and decide whether or not we want to take them for elective purposes.

I take a drug called finasteride. It's not for any medical necessity, it's to make my hair grow back after I started balding 6 years ago (and it works btw, 4 months in, I've got about 50% of my lost hair back and still seeing improvement )

There were several side effects that you run the risk of in taking it, everything from sexual dysfunction, to gynocomastia, to lymph node issues. Luckily, I fell into the 90% of people who experience no side effects from it, however, I was well aware of the fact that there was a 1 in 10 chance that I would experience one of these sides, yet as an adult, I made the decision to try it out anyway. And in a free society, that's ok.

 

[bhsmte]

You have to keep in mind, there's no such thing as a safe drug...every drug from the most powerful statin all the way down to the lowest dose of vitamin C have side effects that will be experienced by X% of people.

Every drug has a benefit:risk ratio...no exceptions.

In a free society, we as the consumers have the right to evaluate those risks and decide whether or not we want to take them for elective purposes.

I take a drug called finasteride. It's not for any medical necessity, it's to make my hair grow back after I started balding 6 years ago (and it works btw, 4 months in, I've got about 50% of my lost hair back and still seeing improvement )

There were several side effects that you run the risk of in taking it, everything from sexual dysfunction, to gynocomastia, to lymph node issues. Luckily, I fell into the 90% of people who experience no side effects from it, however, I was well aware of the fact that there was a 1 in 10 chance that I would experience one of these sides, yet as an adult, I made the decision to try it out anyway. And in a free society, that's ok.

Yes, every drug has side effects and many foods you eat have side effects, as well as alcohol and caffeine.

The good news is, the FDA is pretty stringent in how they test drugs for harmful side effects and if you incur them, it is pretty easy to distinguish and you can try a different drug, which you may tolerate better.

Virtually everything we do has inherent risks. I exercise regularly and at a high level. Every time I get my heart rate up to a high level, I run the increased risk of my heart going into an abnormal rhythm and having a cardiac event. But, the benefits of the exercise, far outweigh the risks, as is the case with properly utilized drugs for certain conditions.

 

[jayem]

Noting that's just the increased brain cancer risk.

That contradicts other studies. A 2013 meta-analysis reviewed 11 case-controlled studies from around the world looking at an estrogen-glioma relationship. These studies involved a total of 4800+ cases and 14,000+ controls--a far larger sample than the Danish study (300+ cases and 2,000+ controls.) This study found just the opposite. The relative risk of glioma was lower in women ever exposed to oral contraceptives when compared to those never exposed. (Scroll down to Figure 2 in the link.) The only factor they found correlated to higher glioma risk is older age of menarche (the first menstrual period.) This is from the discussion:

To our knowledge, this meta-analysis of eleven published case-control studies is the first of its kind to evaluate the association between glioma risk and exogenous and endogenous hormones. The results of our meta-analysis suggest a decreased risk for ever users of OC or HRT compared with never users, whereas older age at menarche was associated with a statistically increased risk of glioma. However, the risk of glioma seemed to not be influenced by menopausal status, parous status, age at menopause, or age at first birth...

Exogenous and Endogenous Hormones in Relation to Glioma in Women: A Meta-analysis of 11 Case-Control Studies

There are limitations to all studies, this one included, which the authors discuss. Even if glioma risk is uncertain, it has been well-established that ever use of OCs signifcantly lowers the risk of ovarian cancer. Which is much more common than brain tumors.

 

[Cearbhall]

Not really a news source, but interesting study.

Birth control pills would be no doubt subject to severe scrutiny if not for the fact that they are the Eucharist to liberal feminism.

Hm. I would dare say that no one is more enraged by this reality than liberal feminists. I think this would greatly surprise the author. No one is pleased that the pill comes with so many risks. The 1972 ecofeminist novel Surfacing by Margaret Atwood deals with this and shows how abortion can be used to shift all of the responsibility and risk to the woman in the same way. It's a huge issue, especially since there's no popular equivalent for men.

While I agree with his concern, I fear that this author is trying to pass judgment on women who use it, though, and is suggesting that this is yet another sign that it's inherently wrong. Rather, he should use his knowledge to raise awareness and motivate pharmaceutical companies to fund the development of safer alternatives so that men and women can continue to make educated sexual decisions and have safe access to a variety of viable options.

There's nothing here that suggests we should "reject" the pill. Advocate for the creation and availability of safer forms of birth control. In the meantime, add this to the information that women receive when they consider their options.

Where is the feminist outrage when you need it?

It exists in droves, buddy, but I doubt you go looking for the sane feminist writings.

 

[Hetta]

There is an incredible amount of truth there. That's why I always want the link to the study and not someone's interpretation of the study.

 

[keith99]

Noting that's just the increased brain cancer risk.

Apparently, strokes and death from blood clots caused by birth control pills are even higher.

Women's Health | Blood Clots

Only one in 3000 women per year who are taking birth control pills will develop a blood clot; but for the woman with thrombophilia or a history of thrombosis, the risk becomes substantial.​

Unfortunately, your math neglected to consider blood clots and other ill effects from birth control pills.

Sorry but blood clots affect 1-2 pregnancies per 1000. 3-6 times higher than your figure.

And of course any complicating factors pretty much work the same with pregnancy and the pills.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Noting that's just the increased brain cancer risk.

Apparently, strokes and death from blood clots caused by birth control pills are even higher.

Women's Health | Blood Clots

Only one in 3000 women per year who are taking birth control pills will develop a blood clot; but for the woman with thrombophilia or a history of thrombosis, the risk becomes substantial.​

Unfortunately, your math neglected to consider blood clots and other ill effects from birth control pills.

Are you recommending that we ban the pill as a form of birth control though? You and I have obviously seen eye to eye on many things as our political views have quite a bit of overlap on certain subjects, but I'm not exactly sure what the angle is on this one.

As I mentioned earlier, it really don't matter what the risk level is. The philosophical question here is "Am I, as a free person, allowed to determine what kind of benefit:risk ratio I want to expose myself to?".

I'd say yes.

 

[imind]

thread fail

 

[NightHawkeye]

Are you recommending that we ban the pill as a form of birth control though? You and I have obviously seen eye to eye on many things as our political views have quite a bit of overlap on certain subjects, but I'm not exactly sure what the angle is on this one.

As I mentioned earlier, it really don't matter what the risk level is. The philosophical question here is "Am I, as a free person, allowed to determine what kind of benefit:risk ratio I want to expose myself to?".

I'd say yes.

Hi, Miniverchivi.

I don't have a hardline position on this one, except that I believe it absolutely imperative to make information on the subject available ... and understandable. Side effects of medications are so often downplayed that people don't begin to appreciate the risks until they are already experiencing the unexpected side effects.

As an example, my oldest daughter decided to get sub-cutaneous birth control implant a year or so ago and disregarded the cautions her mother and I offered about rapid weight gain ... because the physician told her not to worry about it. Sure enough, she ballooned in short order (not from being pregnant) and within a few months needed the implant removed. I could offer more examples but hopefully you get the idea.

Do I believe in the right to choose. Absolutely. And the best choices are made as informed decisions.

 

[keith99]

Hi, Miniverchivi.

I don't have a hardline position on this one, except that I believe it absolutely imperative to make information on the subject available ... and understandable. Side effects of medications are so often downplayed that people don't begin to appreciate the risks until they are already experiencing the unexpected side effects.

As an example, my oldest daughter decided to get sub-cutaneous birth control implant a year or so ago and disregarded the cautions her mother and I offered about rapid weight gain ... because the physician told her not to worry about it. Sure enough, she ballooned in short order (not from being pregnant) and within a few months needed the implant removed. I could offer more examples but hopefully you get the idea.

Do I believe in the right to choose. Absolutely. And the best choices are made as informed decisions.

Ah, this explains an earlier post of yours that had a lot on one condition where the pill is contra-indicated.

Absolutely people should be aware of potential issues and contra-indications.

 

[notalone32]

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.

ditto. due to extreme PCOS id be bedbound if i couldnt take the pill.... severe bleeding, anaemia, PMS, MIgraine, cramps. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a living hell and i thank God the pill allows me to function in a way i couldnt imagine without it

 

[notalone32]

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

yes! i think blaming birth control is absurd

 

[marshlewis]

Ok Im going to come right out and say it. Women enjoying sex really bothers some people. That is what this is about.

 

[mafwons]

Sorry but blood clots affect 1-2 pregnancies per 1000. 3-6 times higher than your figure.

And of course any complicating factors pretty much work the same with pregnancy and the pills.

I hate to point out that the number of years that birth control pills are consumed will generally out number pregnancies, therefore your logic is skewed. Lets say 2 women of ever thousand get blood clots when pregnant, and there are a group of 30,000 wome each getting pregnant 2.5 times in thei lifetime thats 75,000 pregnancies and if our statistic holds true 150 blood clots. On the other hand we have 30,000 women taking the pill for 20 years each, and a rate of 1 out of a thousand getting a blood in any given year we now have 600,000 years of pill consumption with 6,000 women getting blood clots. Now by my math that is 40 times the number of blood clots for the pill. Just sayin.

 

[mafwons]

Ok Im going to come right out and say it. Women enjoying sex really bothers some people. That is what this is about.

Does a birth control pill make sex more enjoyable?