4 ms·

Of course, it also lowers sex drive[1], while causing weight gain, cancer[3], and heart problems[4]. For historical reasons IUDs are uncommon in the US. This

by Lazare 15y ago

Of course, it also lowers sex drive[1], while causing weight gain, cancer[3], and heart problems[4]. For historical reasons IUDs are uncommon in the US. This is unfortunate. They aren't perfect, but they are relatively cheap, extremely reliable, and remarkably safe. Depending on the type, they also have few or no side effects. Worth considering... [1]: This one arguably isn't a health benefit, but in many ways it's huge. With a few exceptions, humans are sexual beings, and frequency of sexual encounters correlates highly to a range of positive health outcomes, happiness, avoidance of depression, and strong long-lasting relationships. [2]: This one confuses people, because it also prevents cancer. Best evidence is that it has a fairly strong protective effect on ovarian cancer, but causes breast and cervical cancer. The net effect on total cancer rates is still unknown; it's certainly not a clear cut benefit though, and it may be a clear net negative. (As always, these sort of epidemiology numbers are a real headache to parse. Comparing a big effect on a rare event to a small effect on a common event is very tricky. Still, anything that boosts breast cancer rates is kind of scary.) [3]: This one is clearcut. Hormone based birth control causes a range of heart issues, from heart attacks via clots, to cardiovascular diease. We're still trying to figure out how big this factor is, but it's already clear that if you have any risk factors (ie, you're overweight, or have a family history of heart disease) you should NOT be on combined oral contraceptives, and any hormone based birth control is very iffy.

dfc 15y ago
This is news to me. I have never heard/read anything that casts hormonal birth control in such a negative light. Do you have any pointers to more information? It has always been my understanding that hormone based birth control was a huge win for women's health...
- oodalolly 15y ago
  There are thousands of forums with women discussing all the negative side effects of birth control. Off the top of my head, you can visit http://iud-divas.livejournal.com/ http://iud-divas.livejournal.com/, which is women who are considering/have IUDs, and many of them report the negative (often severely so) effects of previous hormonal birth control usage. Otherwise you can visit bedsider.org, which talks about side effects for all birth control methods. The pill is an incredible win for women's health. Unfortunately, not all women can use it effectively, safely, or comfortably.
  - dfc 15y ago
    I was looking for clinical data, peer reviewed research. But thank you I will look at these...
- Lazare 15y ago
  Which bits? The impact on sex drive is fairly well known, I think. Google turns up a bunch of references[1][2]. The impact on weight is apparently cloudy; birth control pills almost universally list that as a side effect on the packaging, but studies have failed to turn up a reliable link. (Silly me; never trust drug company materials, even if they seem to be casting the drug in a negative light.) I understand there's some evidence that birth control may cause depression, but I don't know that there's a definitive answer. (Google mostly just turns up anecdotes from people convinced that their depression is caused by their birth control; not really helpful.) The argument over which way the cancer risk goes on balance is all over the net; there's a decent roundup on Wikipedia[3]. If you dig into it a bit, it's still pretty unclear, mostly because there haven't been a lot of studies. The heart stuff is, compared to cancer, much more solid. Again, the internet is full of stuff about this. I don't know of any comprehensive roundups, but google will turn up a TON of stuff. [1]: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=116056 http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11... [2]: http://www.epigee.org/guide/pill_sex.html http://www.epigee.org/guide/pill_sex.html [3]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormonal_contraception#Effects_on_rates_of_cancers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormonal_contraception#Effects_...
  - electromagnetic 15y ago
    Anecdotally the hormonal IUD's seem to have more of an effect on sex drive than the old fashioned pill. Me and the wife found that out after a clinic doctor gave her a prescription for it saying it reduces the risk of cancer (true, but unanimously agreed that it isn't worth it). It must be noted that the anecdotal 'warnings' IE weight gain, depression, etc. may be a result of the well known drop in sex drive. Because, you know, sex has this mystical property that releases pleasure chemicals that reduce depression. Depression having the obvious side effect of weight gain. Also the impact on the hormone cycle anecdotally causes cravings. The pill itself might not have side effects of weight gain, but I'd bet it's side effects do.
- divia 15y ago
  Read Sex, Lies, and Menopause: http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Lies-Menopause-Shocking-Replacement/dp/0060542330 http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Lies-Menopause-Shocking-Replacemen... The book references tons of studies.
enduser 15y ago
I have known several women with non-hormonal IUDs, and they all have reported the side-effect of mild-to-extreme aggravation of menstrual cramping. When the body is trying to clear out, it just doesn't like having a foreign agent that won't budge. No silver bullet.
- jes5199 15y ago
  well, non-hormonal IUDs function by stimulating the uterus to produce hormones (prostaglandins) - So they can actually have more significant side-effects than hormonal IUDs.
- schiffern 15y ago
  >No silver bullet. My partner and I use Implanon, which has no associated cancer or heart risk. See my post: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3774010 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3774010 It's not perfect, but the side-effects are small and it's the most effective form of birth control besides true abstinence (as opposed to "virginity pledges," et al). Works for three years, nothing to remember, no risk of uterine perforation like IUDs, and none of the nasty estrogen side-effects.
  - mahyarm 15y ago
    Implanon is hormonal birth control, how does it avoid the general problems of hormonal birth control?
    - mjdwitt 15y ago
      Looks like schiffern answered that an hour ago: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3774010 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3774010
      - gcb 15y ago
        In a very uninformative, and only regarding cancer. Most issues with hormones is that they do all sort of stuff on yourbody. not only one controlled thing
schiffern 15y ago
All hormonal contraceptives are not created equal. Cancer and heart problems are side-effects of estrogen or combination (estrogen + progestin) hormonal contraceptives. Progestin-only contraceptives (which include Implanon, Jadelle, and Mirena) have never been shown to cause cancer or heart problems. As always, don't look for medical advice from HN. (dfc was obviously referring to contraceptive treatments for debilitating menstrual pain and irregularity)
- electromagnetic 15y ago
  It should be noted that estrogen doesn't cause the cancer. The cancer exists and actually feeds on estrogen. A woman's body is likely to find and destroy the defective cells before it's too late, but when you're taking hormones to overpower your body, you also have the risk of feeding the cancerous cells.

by Lazare 15y ago

dfc 15y ago

This is news to me. I have never heard/read anything that casts hormonal birth control in such a negative light. Do you have any pointers to more information? It has always been my understanding that hormone based birth control was a huge win for women's health...

oodalolly 15y ago
There are thousands of forums with women discussing all the negative side effects of birth control. Off the top of my head, you can visit http://iud-divas.livejournal.com/ http://iud-divas.livejournal.com/, which is women who are considering/have IUDs, and many of them report the negative (often severely so) effects of previous hormonal birth control usage. Otherwise you can visit bedsider.org, which talks about side effects for all birth control methods. The pill is an incredible win for women's health. Unfortunately, not all women can use it effectively, safely, or comfortably.
- dfc 15y ago
  I was looking for clinical data, peer reviewed research. But thank you I will look at these...
Lazare 15y ago
Which bits? The impact on sex drive is fairly well known, I think. Google turns up a bunch of references[1][2]. The impact on weight is apparently cloudy; birth control pills almost universally list that as a side effect on the packaging, but studies have failed to turn up a reliable link. (Silly me; never trust drug company materials, even if they seem to be casting the drug in a negative light.) I understand there's some evidence that birth control may cause depression, but I don't know that there's a definitive answer. (Google mostly just turns up anecdotes from people convinced that their depression is caused by their birth control; not really helpful.) The argument over which way the cancer risk goes on balance is all over the net; there's a decent roundup on Wikipedia[3]. If you dig into it a bit, it's still pretty unclear, mostly because there haven't been a lot of studies. The heart stuff is, compared to cancer, much more solid. Again, the internet is full of stuff about this. I don't know of any comprehensive roundups, but google will turn up a TON of stuff. [1]: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=116056 http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11... [2]: http://www.epigee.org/guide/pill_sex.html http://www.epigee.org/guide/pill_sex.html [3]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormonal_contraception#Effects_on_rates_of_cancers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormonal_contraception#Effects_...
- electromagnetic 15y ago
  Anecdotally the hormonal IUD's seem to have more of an effect on sex drive than the old fashioned pill. Me and the wife found that out after a clinic doctor gave her a prescription for it saying it reduces the risk of cancer (true, but unanimously agreed that it isn't worth it). It must be noted that the anecdotal 'warnings' IE weight gain, depression, etc. may be a result of the well known drop in sex drive. Because, you know, sex has this mystical property that releases pleasure chemicals that reduce depression. Depression having the obvious side effect of weight gain. Also the impact on the hormone cycle anecdotally causes cravings. The pill itself might not have side effects of weight gain, but I'd bet it's side effects do.
divia 15y ago
Read Sex, Lies, and Menopause: http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Lies-Menopause-Shocking-Replacement/dp/0060542330 http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Lies-Menopause-Shocking-Replacemen... The book references tons of studies.

enduser 15y ago

I have known several women with non-hormonal IUDs, and they all have reported the side-effect of mild-to-extreme aggravation of menstrual cramping. When the body is trying to clear out, it just doesn't like having a foreign agent that won't budge. No silver bullet.

jes5199 15y ago
well, non-hormonal IUDs function by stimulating the uterus to produce hormones (prostaglandins) - So they can actually have more significant side-effects than hormonal IUDs.
schiffern 15y ago
>No silver bullet. My partner and I use Implanon, which has no associated cancer or heart risk. See my post: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3774010 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3774010 It's not perfect, but the side-effects are small and it's the most effective form of birth control besides true abstinence (as opposed to "virginity pledges," et al). Works for three years, nothing to remember, no risk of uterine perforation like IUDs, and none of the nasty estrogen side-effects.
- mahyarm 15y ago
  Implanon is hormonal birth control, how does it avoid the general problems of hormonal birth control?
  - mjdwitt 15y ago
    Looks like schiffern answered that an hour ago: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3774010 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3774010
    - gcb 15y ago
      In a very uninformative, and only regarding cancer. Most issues with hormones is that they do all sort of stuff on yourbody. not only one controlled thing

schiffern 15y ago

All hormonal contraceptives are not created equal. Cancer and heart problems are side-effects of estrogen or combination (estrogen + progestin) hormonal contraceptives. Progestin-only contraceptives (which include Implanon, Jadelle, and Mirena) have never been shown to cause cancer or heart problems. As always, don't look for medical advice from HN. (dfc was obviously referring to contraceptive treatments for debilitating menstrual pain and irregularity)

electromagnetic 15y ago
It should be noted that estrogen doesn't cause the cancer. The cancer exists and actually feeds on estrogen. A woman's body is likely to find and destroy the defective cells before it's too late, but when you're taking hormones to overpower your body, you also have the risk of feeding the cancerous cells.