Power of the Pill

If anyone had a copy of TheSun newspaper today, turn to page 20. Interesting article on The Pill. Power of the Pill by S. Indra Sathiabalan

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Inherent risks involved
- Long-term risk
Previously, the risk of embolism was always present due to high oestrogen levels. But levels of estrogens in the Pill are now lower, so the risk of embolism is also much lower.

- Short-term risk
Progestin used to cause side-effects like water retention, weight gain, mood changes and so on. But not anymore. "Nowadays we have a pill that contains progestin called Drospirenone. It reduces the chances of weight gain" says Associate Professor Dr Jamiyah Hassan (a consultant at the Obstetrics & Gynaecology department of University Malaya Medical Center) This also reduce the painful effects of PMS (Pre-menstrual syndrome)

Other Benefits
Oral contraceptives or birth control pills have other benefits as well. "The long-term benefits are many. It reduces the risk of ovarian cancer by 50%. When we (referring to women la of course) ovulate, we produce eggs, it raptures on the surface of the ovary. This cause trauma and it has been postulated as one of the possible cause of cancer of the ovaries."

"When you go on the Pill, you don't produce eggs. Because there is no trauma of the surface, it protects you from ovarian cancer"

Dr Jamiyah also adds that the risk of uterine cancer and benign breast diseases is also much less. "It also reduces the risk of anaemia. Some patients bleed a lot. When you go on the Pill, you bleed much less. It also reduces pain and congestion."

Doctors can recommend the Pill not for only family planning but also for woman with irregular menstrual cycles. This is provided the patient does not desire to get pregnant at the moment.

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I didn't know the Pill was also used for woman with irregular menstrual cycles. Then again there are so many things that I don't know and don't understand about my own body. I did my usual Google search again and came across some very informative articles.

Oral Contraceptive Pills and Teens: A Guide for Parents is a link containing similar but more in-depth information to the article I posted above.

What You Need To Know About Menstruation is a more in-depth of the Form 3 Science Chapter 1 I have learn in secondary school, which I personally think it's useless to be taught so late in our growing years. I believe even the most innocent of students would already know females = ovum and male = sperm. I think we should be taught about Testicular\Ovary Cancer, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), other sexually transmitted disease (STDs), the hardship of raising a child, and definitely not hiding the (cons of) abortion topic.

I came across info on the Depo-provera jab. This was something I got to know from Suki in my first year of college, and did more research on it later on when I did my final year project on the 'abortion' topic. I think the jab should be a better contraceptive compared to the Pill for women who aren't afraid of the needles. Then again I might be wrong. Enlighten me ladies. For your information, the Pill and the Depo-Provera jab is legal in Malaysia. Both are non-abortive method, though some abortive methods of contraceptives are legal as well.

Most of the links I have linked here are from http://www.coolnurse.com/ which I think is a good site for people who really want to get some (and even the most simple) questions answered. Now if you will excuse me, I have some reading (of really interesting articles) to do.