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Would You Consider Taking an Experi- mental Drug?

Birth control pills can be said to be ann experimental method of birth control. Although it was approved by the FDA (The Food and Drug Administration) in 1960 it was done so with inadequate testing or studies.

The pill caused a great amount of excitement among many people. The medical and scientific communities saw it asa large step forward, women were excited because it seemed so much better than the existing birth control methods. But was/is it really better? The birth control pill comes with many side effects and many regulations as to who the pill is safe for. The birth control pill can contribute to death. Ifyou don’t have regular check-ups with a doctor, ifit was prescribed without an adequate examination, orifyou ignore signs if complications, you could be gambling with your life.

Heart attacks and strokes: There is a higher risk of death due to circulatory disease among women who are or have taken the pill. The chances of death increases the longer you take the pill and persists if you have taken the pill for 5 years or longer (even after you’ ve stopped taking it).

High blood pressure: Women on the pill can develop hypertension and this puts them at a greater risk for heart attacks and strokes. Women who have high blood pressure or a family history of it are encour- aged to use other forms of birth control.

Cancer: There may be connections between the pill and certain forms of cancer. Ifa woman has cervical dysplasia (abnormal cells in the cervix) the pill might cause it to become cancerous, there is a disagreement between researchers about whether or not there isa connection between skin cancer and the pill and breast cancer and the pill. In these cases what is not known can hurt oreven kill you!

SS

s Women

Children: There have been reports of birth defects among babies whose mothers took the pill while pregnant. Jaundice may occur in babies born to women who took the pill before becoming pregnant and the effects ona child if he/she has accidentally swallowed birth control pills is unknown.

Headaches: Migraine headaches may be a warning sign of an impending stroke. Migrans result from problems in the circulation of blood to the brain.

Diabetes: In some women the pill can cause or bring ’

about diabetes.

Depression: Aprox. 1 in4 women suffer from depres-

sion anxiousness, or irritableness while on the pill. 4

pill with less progestin or vitamin B6 supplement ma 7

help.

Vaginitis or Vaginal Discharge: Because the pill

causes changes in the vaginal environmentincreases ~

conditions for infections to take place.

Skin problems: The pill may be associated with dif-

ferent skin problems like eczema, hives or rashes and ©

in some rare cases chloasma (changes in skin pigmen- tation). A progestin pill can increase oily skin and a ©

estrogenic pill may decrease acne.

Urinary tract infection: Some reports show that women whoare taking the pill tend to have more infections of the bladder and urethra.

Liver and Gallbladder disease: The pill had been : associated with gallbladder disease and liver tumours. | Jaundice can be an early symptom and so atthe first © sign of Jaundice stop taking your pill.

Epilepsy and Asthma: The pill can cause epilepsy but” it can also aggravate already existing epilepsyand asthma. A lower dosage of estrogen pills and close

medical supervison isa good idea.

UPEI X-P RESS

March 5, 1992