QuestionHi,
I've been on various pills for about 4 years now. Within that time period (a year ago) I was diagnosed with Crohns disease. Even before that, my husband was unhappy with my taking the pill. He's convinced that in 20 or 30 years studies will come out that birth control pills are terrible for women, (much like recent smoking studies..).
Also, he doesn't like that I'm playing around with my body by not getting my period regulary.
Can he be right?
AnswerHi Belle,
Birth Control pills are safer now than they used to be. But, as with anything, there is always a chance they will find health risks associated with it later. And when I say anything, I mean anything. Take 8 glasses of water a day was considered safe and necessary, and now they are saying more than 2 glasses of water is said to be enough, because more than that can cause sodium levels to drop, and can be fatal. So, to put it simple, nowadays, nothing is considered safe nor healthy.
Birth controls biggest known risk is possible infetility, or difficluty in becoming pregnant. Like I said, they are safer than they used to be, and as long as your body is shedding the lining with a period, it is still healthy. Now, they have linked birth control to breast cancer in women with high estrogen rates, 25% more likley to get breast cancer. But on the other hand, it lowers your uterus and cervical cancer rates by 25%. But, none of those studies match with other studies, and noone can say for sure what research it the most reliable. So, you just have to know the risks, and accept its a possibility. But keep in mind, and remind him, nothing is safe, and very few studies are reliable.
Good Luck, and Thanks.
Drea Jean
