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What About Birth Control?
Perhaps you would like to have (more) children some day, but not right away. Or perhaps you have serious reasons to avoid having (more) children. You will be facing a very important decision regarding family planning.
As your doctor, I feel it is my job to provide information that will help you make a wise choice that is best for you medically, emotionally, and spiritually. I take this responsibility very seriously.
Certainly, there are many artificial methods of birth control available. You may have experience with some already. Although I am qualified to prescribe birth control, I made a decision several years ago to stop prescribing or recommending these artificial methods. There are several reasons why, and I’d like to share some of them with you. (more…)
Perceiving the Contraception Connection
This homily (slightly abridged) was given on January 17, 1999 at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, Providence RI
Reading — John 1: 29-34
As he stood on one of the banks of the Jordan River that day, he was surrounded by many people: people from Jerusalem, people from the countryside of Judea — they came to him in huge numbers. Of course, that was not unusual. In fact, Scripture indicates that it was always that way for John the Baptist. He truly was a charismatic personality, a man who could draw a crowd and then hold them spellbound by his teaching and preaching—because he spoke the truth with such clarity and conviction. We’re told that even some of those who hated him, like King Herod, were “captivated by his words.” (more…)
Oral contraceptive pills and long-term metabolic risk
A recent study published in the journal Nutrients found that some types of oral contraceptives may impair the sugar metabolism in healthy women.
The study included 21 healthy and non-obese women between the ages 18-40. The women were using combined monophasic OCP for more than three months. The OCPs contained ethinylestradiol (EE) and the progestin component varied in the androgenic characteristics, some androgenic and others antiandrogenic.
The authors of the study reported markers of blood sugar (glucose, insulin and C-peptide). The markers were evaluated in participants of the study before 60 g glucose drink (fasting) and for 4 hours after drinking the sugar. The measurements were done during the “active” pill phase and once during the “inactive” (hormone-free) pill phase.
Although the fasting blood sugar levels were not affected in androgenic pill users, glucose, insulin, and C peptide responses to an oral glucose bolus were ~100% ~50%, ~44% greater. This intolerance to the sugar was noticeable during the active pill phase compared to the hormonal free or inactive pill phase.
The authors of the study concluded that that androgenic component of the combined oral contraceptive pills formulations may impair glucose tolerance and increase insulin resistance. This rising incidence of these adverse effects on glucose tolerance and insulin resistance contribute to detrimental of metabolic health and is linked to an increased prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases in women. Young women need to be informed of the metabolic risk associated to the use of combined hormonal contraceptives.
Fertility awareness methods and fertility appreciation can help young women to monitor health biomarkers of hormonal and metabolic activity and are healthier and safer alternatives to oral contraceptive pills.
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