The Pill

When I was around 15 I started getting brutal menstrual cramps... so bad sometimes I was in bed for the days.  My male 80 year old doctor's solution was I needed to be on the pill. My Mother said NO WAY I was too young. I suffered for 2 more years and finally went on the pill when I was 17.  Rather than realize it could be either hormones changing or, something worse, endometriosis, he kept insisting the pill was the pill was the only answer.

The pill helped with the cramps, they weren’t as unbearable. I was no longer taking my drug coctail of extra strength tylenol and midol, but, I would still get them every month, not as bad but still very uncomfortable.

I went off the pill 6 months ago, I've been expecting the cramps from hell with each period, but rather than get them, I actually get no warning at all, no pre-cramps, just hello, I've arrived. I also only get very mild cramps during the first day, barely noticeable. So... had I been more patient and never listened to my doctor, the cramps may have eventually went away.  I honestly think being on the pill was why I was still getting cramps every month

The reason I stopped taking them, oddly enough, was I found out they contain animal hormones and that my Dad’s female side of the family has a history of cervical cancer. Estrogen is a know cause of cancer, so I stopped.

Here is a run down on some stuff you should know.

Birth control pills may contain any of the following ingredients:

Poisonous Ingredient (note they are saying poisonous ingredients)  
Most birth control pills fall under one of the following combinations of estrogen and progestin:
• Ethynodiol diacetate and ethinyl estradiol
• Ethynodiol diacetate and mestranol
• Levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol
• Norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol
• Norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol
• Mestranol and norethindrone
• Mestranol and norethynodrel
• Norgestrel and ethinyl estradiol
Some birth control pills contain progestin only, such as:
• Norethindrone
• Norgestrel
Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Where Found   
• Ethinyl estradiol and ethynodiol diacetate (Demulen)
• Mestranol and ethynodiol diacetate (Ovulen)
• Levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol (Nordette, Tri- Levlen, Triphasil)
• Norethindrone (Micronor, Nor-Q.D.)
• Norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol (Loestrin, Norlestrin)
• Norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol (Brevicon, Ortho-Novum 1/35, Modicon, Ortho-Novum 7/7/7, Ovcon)
• Mestranol and norethindrone (Ortho-Novum 1/50)
• Mestranol and norethynodrel (Enovid)
• Norgestrel (Ovrette)
• Norgestrel and ethinyl estradiol (Lo/Ovral, Ovral)
Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms   
• Excessive vaginal bleeding (2-7 days following the overdose)
• Breast tenderness
• Discoloration of urine
• Rash
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Mental changes

I found this information here http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002599.htm

Not to mention estrogen again but, do you know where that comes from? Pregnant Mare unirine. For those not familiar with the term Mare, it’s a female horse. Have I turned you off the pill yet? No, how about this, all birth control fine print says that one of the side affects of taking birth control is the risk of getting endometrial cancer.

I’m not telling you to stop taking the pill. I don’t want to be responsible for unwanted pregnancy, all I am saying it research what you are taking and make sure you understand the risks. Because of my research and family history I have decided to stop. Make sure you do what is best for you.