AOL File Library: 4,701 to 4,800/aol-file-protocol-4400-4701-to-4800.zip/AOLDLs/Social Issues & Comments/Birth Control Pill, Safe_/CCLQPL.txt

Text File | 2014-12-11 | 31KB | 642 lines

THE BIRTH CONTROL PILL: HOW DOES IT WORK? IS IT SAFE?

Controversy has surrounded "the Pill" ever since it was first marketed in the
United States in 1960. It has been studied medically, sociologically and
morally, and yet much confusion still exists concerning these potent
artificial steroids. The billions of dollars at stake in the marketing of the
Pill and the power of the birth control industry to lobby both lawmakers and
the media can easily divert the average person from the truth. Research has
been published, books have been written, and common sense should make one
cautious.

The following information is presented to raise awareness about the Pill.
Footnotes are marked with asterisks; all footnotes appear at the end of this
document in a section titled REFERENCES.

      ------------------------------------------------------

What is the Birth Control Pill?

The Birth Control Pill is any drug which uses artificial hormones to keep a
woman from getting pregnant or from staying pregnant by interfering with her
normal fertility.

      ------------------------------------------------------

Are all forms of the Pill the same?

No. There are several types of the Pill on the market, but they basically
break down into two groups: combination pills and the progestin-only
"minipill."

The combination type contain two artificial steroids that mimic the effects of
naturally occurring hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Some pills work in a
"monophasic" way, keeping the dosage of hormones the same throughout the pill
cycle. Others work in a biphasic or triphasic manner which alters the dosage
of artificial hormones two or three times respectively through the cycle of
pills, attempting to produce fluctuations similar to what a fertile woman
would undergo naturally.

The progestin-only "minipill" uses only one artificial hormone, progestin,
which is a steroid that has a progestational effect similar to natural
progesterone.

      ------------------------------------------------------

How does the Pill work?

The Pill is designed to interfere with several  normal functions of fertility
in order to make a woman 1) unable to conceive due to temporary sterility or
sperm immobility, and/or 2) unable to carry a pregnancy to term(an early
abortion). This process can be accomplished in various ways.

1. Suppressing Ovulation: When a woman ovulates, hormones released from the
pituitary , a gland located at the base of the brain, stimulate her ovaries to
ripen and release an egg. The combination pill usually interrupts the release
of these pituitary hormones resulting in no egg being released from the ovary,
thus preventing pregnancy from occurring. With no egg available for
fertilization, the woman is chemically sterile. The progestin-only pill,
however, has a  weaker effect. It generally does not suppress ovulation.*1*

2. Inhibiting Implantation: Another important aspect of fertility is the
process by which the lining of the uterus is replenished and maintained. After
an egg is fertilized, it normally implants in this lining (endometrium),
drawing nourishment and sustenance. The progestin component of the combination
pill and the progestin-only minipill cause the inner lining of the uterus to
become thin and shriveled, unable to support implantation of the embryo(newly
fertilized egg).*2*

3. Impeding Sperm Migration: Preceding ovulation, a woman's cervix produces a
watery mucus through which sperm swim to meet the egg. The mucus also provides
nourishment to sustain the life of the sperm cells. This mucus thickens under
the influence of a progestin and so impedes sperm migration.*3*

There are two other factors in a woman's fertility that may be affected by the
Pill.

4. Making changes in the Fallopian Tubes: Progestins lower the efficiency with
which the fallopian tubes propel eggs from the ovaries toward the uterus. This
can cause the embryo not to reach the uterus in time to implant
successfully.*4*

5. Stopping a Pregnancy: After an ovary releases an egg, the woman's cycle is
controlled by a gland that is formed from the now-empty egg sack, the corpus
luteum; this normally functions long enough to give an embryo time to implant
in the uterus and for the placenta to begin to support the pregnancy.

However, hormones from the Pill can cause the corpus luteum to function
inadequately, allowing the lining of the uterus to be shed before the embryo
can successfully implant.*5*

In summary, a woman's natural fertility requires several systems and organs to
coordinate smoothly. The synthetic chemicals in any type of birth control Pill
interfere with this coordination, adversely affecting her normal fertility and
any "accidental" conceptions.

      ------------------------------------------------------

How effective is the Pill?

In theory, the Pill reaches an effectiveness of over 99%, but in practice the
rate is much lower. Between 1.9% and 18.1% of women will experience an
unplanned pregnancy in the first year of using the Pill.*6*

Surprise pregnancies with the Pill are due to a number of factors.
Interactions between the Pill and some other medications interfere with the
proper blood levels of hormones necessary for their birth control effect.
These drug interactions may be significant with the commonly used "low dose"
Pill where slight alterations in hormonal blood levels can result in more
frequent ovulations and hence unplanned pregnancies. Another factor in Pill
pregnancy rates is not following directions, sometimes due to the lack of
motivation, especially in younger women (ages 15-24).

      ------------------------------------------------------

Is ovulation always suppressed?

No. Ovulation occurs in 2% to 10% of cycles of women taking the
Pill.*7,8,9,10,11,12,13*  If 60 million women worldwide are on the low-dose
Pill, there would be 1.2 to 6 million ovulations per cycle. This is known as
breakthrough ovulation, and it is even more frequent with the progestin-only
Pill.*14,15*

      ------------------------------------------------------

What happens when ovulation does occur?

When the Pill fails to prevent ovulation, the other mechanisms come into play.
Thickened cervical mucus may make it more difficult for the sperm to reach the
egg; however, if the egg is fertilized, a new life is created. The hormones
slow the transfer of the new life through the fallopian tube, and the embryo
may become too old to be viable when it does enter the uterus.

If the embryo is still viable when it reaches the uterus, under-development of
the uterine lining caused by the Pill prevents implantation. The embryo dies
and the remains are passed along in the next bleeding episode which,
incidentally, is not a true menstruation even though it is usually perceived
as such.

      ------------------------------------------------------

Does this mean the Pill can cause an early abortion?

Yes. Preventing the newly conceived life in its embryonic stage from being
transported to the uterus and preventing  implantation in the wall of the
uterus are the "abortifacient" properties of the Pill.

Why haven't I heard about this before?

      ------------------------------------------------------

The Pill manufacturers and many in organized medicine are mainly concerned
about the Pill's medical side effects and its effectiveness in preventing
pregnancies and are less concerned  about how the drug achieves its
effectiveness.

Unfortunately, many "otherwise" pro-life physicians and pharmacists find it
hard to admit that these abortifacient properties exist because they would
have to discontinue prescribing and dispensing the Pill if they were to remain
consistent in their respect for life at all its stages of development.

Pro-abortion organizations and their lawyers readily admit the early abortion
potential of the Pill. In February 1992, writing in opposition to a Louisiana
law banning abortion, Ruth Colker, a Tulane Law School professor, wrote,
"Because nearly all birth control devices, except the diaphragm and condom,
operate between the time of conception...and implantation.., the statute would
appear to ban most contraceptives."*16* In 1989, attorney Frank Sussman argued
before the U. S. Supreme Court that ". . . IUDs [and] low dose birth control
pills. . . act as abortifacients."*17*

      ------------------------------------------------------
      ------------------------------------------------------

Is It Safe? What are the common side effects of the Pill?

There is a range of risks from serious or fatal to minor and trivial. The
following is a list of the most common side effects experienced by women
taking the Pill. These effects are dose related and not every woman will
experience them, but the risks still exist.*18,19* The synthetic estrogens of
the combination Pill cause many of these; the progestin causes others and is
the only risk factor in the progestin-only Pill (and the progestin-only
implant, Norplant).

      ------------------------------------------------------

Heart and blood abnormalities

Blood Clots can form, restricting or blocking the flow of blood to critical
organs and other body systems, possibly causing permanent damage. For example,
a blood clot in the heart would cause a heart attack; in the brain it would
cause a stroke or brain hemorrhage; a clot which moved from elsewhere in the
body and lodged in the lung would cause a pulmonary embolism; in the kidneys a
clot would cause a renal artery thrombosis and kidney damage; in the retinal
arteries it would cause temporary or permanent blindness.

Studies continue to indicate approximately a 2-fold increased risk of fatal
heart attacks among users of the current low-dose pill when compared to non-
users.*20* This risk is lower than the risk experienced with the older high
dosage pill, but it continues to be significant. Similarly, the risk of a
fatal brain hemorrhage is increased 1.4 times when comparing users to non-
users. Among women who smoke, there is a 12-fold increase in fatal heart
attacks and a 3.1-fold increase in fatal brain hemorrhage.*21*

High Blood Pressure and alterations in the blood clotting mechanisms may be
seen in women on the Pill.*22*  This may contribute to a 3-11 times increased
risk of developing blood clots in Pill users compared to non-users. The risk
is especially great for women who smoke and/or are over 35 years old.*23*

      ------------------------------------------------------

Cancer

Breast cancer has been repeatedly associated with using the
Pill.*24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31*

Breast cancer has been increasing at an alarming rate in recent years,
especially among young women. "Breast cancer will kill more than 44,000
American women this year alone," a 1991 report noted,*32* predicting 175,000
more new cases, "especially among young women."

Why is there such an increase of breast cancer among younger women? Note first
that women rarely develop breast cancer shortly after they start taking
artificial hormones. It is generally not until ten or more years after usage
was initiated that women develop breast cancer. Then note that in the United
States, since the mid-1970s, it has been common for the Pill to be prescribed
for girls in their teen years. Common sense connects the link between giving
the Pill to young girls in the 1970s and the later increase in breast cancer
15 to 20 years later among women in their late twenties and thirties. This
conclusion was demonstrated in a study which found that Swedish women who took
the Pill in the 1960s incurred a five times greater increase in breast cancer
when compared to non-users.*33*

The increased risk of breast cancer is seen in younger, nulliparous women
(never having borne children), and in long duration groups (greater than five
years) of Pill users. Large tumors and a worse survival rate are associated
with the Pill's use at an early age.

Will the newer formulated low-dose pills decrease the incidence of breast
cancer? A consensus of understanding has not been reached, and another 10 to
20 years of experience with women using this form of the Pill must be gained
before more definite conclusions can be reached.

Breast tenderness, enlargement, lumps, and milk secretions also may occur in
women using the Pill. Doctors are warned not to prescribe the Pill to women
who are "known or suspected" to have breast cancer.*34* It is difficult to say
what aggravating effect the Pill's hormones would have over a truly random
sample of women taking the Pill.

Cervical Cancer and cervical dysplasia increase among women who use the
Pill.*35,36,37,38,39*   How long the Pill has been taken, how many sexual
partners a woman has had, at what age she began having intercourse, whether
she smokes, the hygiene of sexual partners and the transmission of the human
papillomavirus(HPV) are also factors in cervical abnormalities. Because of
these several factors, the  connection of the Pill and cervical cancer may be
clouded over. However, there is no doubt that the promotion of the Pill has
resulted in early intercourse which may be the more direct cause of cervical
cancer.

Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer appear to have a lower incidence in both women
on the Pill and in those who have been previous users of the Pill. Much of
this data comes from studies of women who were using the higher dose
estrogen/progestin Pill. Currently the low dose monophasic and triphasic pills
(less than 50mcg of estrogen) are the only birth control pills available on
the U.S. market. It is not known if a similar protective effect will be
experienced with the currently used Pill. More time is needed to study this
issue, and the slight protective effect is hardly a reason to take the Pill at
the risk of so many other side effects.

It should also be noted that these forms of cancer are rare and primarily
occur among postmenopausal women in their fifties and sixties. Second, these
cancers tend to occur in those women who had long cycles (i.e., with a
prolonged estrogen-dominant phase) or those who have a family history of these
types of cancer. Third, extended breastfeeding amenorrhea offers the same type
of protection against these cancers since the menstrual cycle would be
suppressed and therefore the exposure to estrogen suppressed.

Liver Tumors in younger women (15 to 40 years) have increased as the use of
oral contraceptives has increased. Almost unheard of in this age group before
the use of synthetic hormones became commonplace, liver tumors usually do not
occur until the sixth decade of a woman's life.

A study by the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer found "a
large peak in the 26-to-30-year age group which corresponds with the increased
use of oral contraceptives in this age group."*40* Liver cancer in women on
the Pill is typically associated with those over 30 who have used it more than
four years, but cases of liver cancer in younger women have been
cited.*41,42,43,44*

Other Cancers: Skin cancer (melanoma) has also been found to increase among
women on the Pill. Naturally occurring estrogen is involved with maintaining
healthy skin tissue. It is reasonable to suspect that exposure to the more
potent synthetic estrogen in the Pill increases the risk of this type of
cancer.*45,46,47*

      ------------------------------------------------------

Cycle irregularities

Women who take the Pill have been reported to experience bleeding or spotting
in mid-cycle, changes in menstrual flow, and even loss of menstruation, which
can lead them to wonder if they are pregnant. For some, painful menstruation
(dysmenorrhea) has been reported to worsen, even though many women take these
hormones in an attempt to relieve the problem.*48*

Although some women are given the Pill for irregular cycles, it does nothing
to improve the underlying problem causing the irregularity. Often the
irregularity returns when the Pill is discontinued, sometimes more severely.

      ------------------------------------------------------

Are there other side effects?

Yes. Some side effects are minor while some may be more severe and call for
discontinuing the drug.*49,50,51*

The following adverse effects have been experienced by women on the Pill:

Headaches, migraines, mental depression (even to the point of suicide and/or
suicidal tendencies), a decrease or loss of sexual drive, abdominal cramps,
bloating, weight gain or loss, and water retention; nausea and vomiting(in
about 10% of users); symptoms of PMS, vaginitis and vaginal infections,
changes in vision (temporary or permanent blindness, and an intolerance to
contact lenses); gall bladder disease and either temporary or permanent
infertility, when discontinuing the Pill, in users with previous menstrual
irregularities or who began the drug before full maturity. Several of the
symptoms, such as migraine headaches, contraindicate the use of the Pill
because of life endangering complications.

Consult the Physicians' Desk Reference at your public library or consult your
pharmacist for a more complete list of the Pill's harmful effects.

      ------------------------------------------------------

Is the Pill safer than pregnancy?

No. The health risks of the Pill outweigh by far the risks of pregnancy and
childbirth to a woman's health,*52* and any claim to the contrary is based on
erroneous comparisons between healthy women on the Pill and women who do not
receive normal care during pregnancy.

A precondition for obtaining the Pill is routine medical care and checkups.
For example: if such a woman on the Pill is diagnosed as "precancerous," or if
some other side effect is exhibited, she has the advantage of early detection.
However, many pregnant women do not receive routine medical care. A clearer
picture of the safety of the Pill compared to the safety of pregnancy would be
made if healthy women receiving routine medical care during pregnancy and
delivery were compared with women receiving routine medical care while taking
the Pill.

The mortality statistics of childbirth have continuously declined since the
early part of this century, mostly due to better maternal healthcare.*53*
Most of the high risk pregnancies and deliveries occur to women who have not
sought proper medical attention.*54*  This is most evident in the Third World
where adequate health care is sparse.

Mortality statistics of pregnancy and delivery, usually called maternal
mortality, include the mortality rates due to abortion. Abortion is clearly
used as birth control, preventing the birth of the child; therefore it must be
included with the mortality statistics of birth control methods. In one study,
25% to 50% of the reported maternal mortality was a result of deaths from
abortion.*55*

Fifty percent of woman taking the Pill discontinue it within the first year
because of side effects, the development of benign breast disease, or some
abnormality of the sexual organs. Studies of Pill usage do not include these
women, and the result is an unbalanced picture of only the healthiest of women
who tolerate the Pill.*56* This is compared with the general population of
women who are pregnant.

The fact is that there are 13.8 million women in the U.S. and 60 million women
worldwide who use the Pill (conservative numbers).*57*  And there are 7.9
Pill-related deaths per 100,000 women ages 15-44.*58*

Therefore, one can calculate that there are over 1090 deaths each year in the
U.S. alone simply due to the Pill.

      ------------------------------------------------------

But I've heard there are no side effects with the Pill I use.

All drugs, including all brands of the birth control pill, have potential side
effects. There is no telling in advance how any particular woman will react to
the Pill, but there is a good chance of some type of reaction. It is possible
that a woman will be unaware that there is any connection between the reaction
and the Pill especially if it takes years to manifest itself.

      ------------------------------------------------------

Aren't there any therapeutic benefits from the Pill?

The only "indication," or use for the Pill that is approved by the Food and
Drug Administration is "the prevention of pregnancy in women . . . as a method
of contraception."*59*  Some unapproved uses, considered experimental, include
its use as a "morning after" pill (causing an early abortion), and for relief
from the symptoms of mild endometriosis.*60*

      ------------------------------------------------------

I'm breastfeeding my baby; can I use the Pill?

No. Artificial hormones pass from breast milk to the baby; the Pill also
decreases both the quantity  and protein content of the milk produced.*61*

      ------------------------------------------------------

What is my alternative to using the Pill?

Natural Family Planning (NFP) is safe, healthy and effective and it's also
inexpensive. A woman observes and records changes in her basal body
temperature, the normal flow of cervical mucus, and if she wishes, the
physical changes in the cervix itself. She then crosschecks these signs of
fertility to follow, day by day, the natural course of her fertility cycle. No
drugs, no devices, no surgical procedures, no threat of death, no side
effects, no chemical abortions!

      ------------------------------------------------------

Does NFP really work?

Yes. Married couples can achieve a  99% effectiveness if they learn the
method, correctly interpret the fertility signs, and follow the rules.*62*
One positive  side benefit for couples who are committed to making this method
work is the potential for a healthier marriage -- psychologically, physically
and spiritually.*63,64*

        -- Paul Weckenbrock, R.Ph.

      ------------------------------------------------------

How can I find out more about Natural Family Planning?

Write the national office of The Couple to Couple League, P. O. Box 111184,
Cincinnati, OH 45211, USA; 1-513-661-7612.


REFERENCES

1. Hatcher RA, Guest F, Stewart F, 4 others (1988). Hormonal Overview.
Contraceptive Technology (14th ed) New York:Irvington Publishers 191-192. The
basic information is also contained in the package insert. See reference 14.

2. Mishell D (Dec 1976). Current status of oral contraceptive steroids. Clin
Ob Gyn 19 (4) 746-747.

3. Diczfalusy E (Jan 1968). Mode of action of contraceptive drugs. Am J Ob Gyn
100 (1) 156-157.

4. Bronson RA (Sept 1981). Oral contraception: mechanism of action. Clin Ob
Gyn 24 (3) 873-874.

5. Hatcher RA (1988) 192.

6. Harlap S, Kost K, Forrest JD (1991). Preventing Pregnancy, Protecting
Health. New York: The Alan Guttmacher Institute, 36-37.

7. Ehmann R (Sept 1990). Problems in family planning. Report delivered at the
International Congress of the World Federation of Doctors Who Respect Human
Life. Dresden, Germany.

8. Hatcher RA (1988). 191-192.

9. Killick S, Eyong E, Elstein M (Sept 1987). Ovarian follicular development
in oral contraceptive cycles. Fertil Steril 48 (3), 409-413.

10. Edgren RA, Sturtevant FM (Aug 1976). Potencies of oral contraceptives. Am
J Ob Gyn 125 (8), 1030.

11. We are close to lowest steroid dosage in the Pill (Nov 26-30 1984). News
and Views. Excerpts from the second annual meeting of the Society for the
Advancement of Contraception, Jakarta; edit Korteling W. Organon
International. West Orange, NJ (U.S.).

12. Van der Vange N (1988). Ovarian activity during low dose oral
contraceptives. Contemporary Obstetrics and Gynecology. Edit Chamberlin G.
London: Butterworths, 315-326.

13. Peel J, Potts M (1969). Textbook of Contraceptive Practice. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 99.

14. Ovrette (1993) Physicians' Desk Reference. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics
Co, 2606.

15. Bronson RA (Sept 1981). 869.

16. Colker R (Feb 6 1992). Louisiana abortion is a very real threat to women.
The Dallas Morning News, 23A.

17. Argument by Frank Sussman, Lawyer for Missouri Abortion Clinics (Apr 27
1989). New York Times, National Edition, 15.

18. Oral Contraceptives (Nov 1989 insert). Edit Olin BR. Facts and
Comparisons. St. Louis: Walters Kluwer Co., 107c-108

19. Ortho-Novum (1993). Physicians' Desk Reference, 1723-1730.

20. Thorogood M, Mann J, Murphy M, Vessey M (1991). Is oral contraceptive use
still associated with an increased risk of fatal myocardial infarction?
Report of a case-control study. Br J Ob Gyn  98, 1245-1253.

21. Thorogood M, Vessey M (1990). An epidemiologic survey of cardiovascular
disease in women taking oral contraceptives. Am J Obstet Gynecol 163 (1) pt 2,
274-281.

22. Stampfer MJ, Willett WC, Colditz GA, Speizer FE, Hennekens CH (1990). Past
use of oral contraceptives and cardiovascular disease: A meta-analysis in the
context of the Nurses' Health Study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 163 (1) pt 1, 285-
291.

23. Demulen (1993). Physicians' Desk Reference, 2254.

24. Olsson H, Ranstam J, Baldetorp B and 4 others (1991). Proliferation and
DNA ploidy in malignant breast tumors in relation to early oral contraceptive
use and early abortions. Cancer 67 (5), 1285-1290.

25. U.K. National Case-Control Study Group (1989). Oral contraceptive use and
breast cancer in young women. Lancet 1 (8645), 973-982.

26. Meirik O, Lund E, Adami H and 3 others (1986). Oral contraceptive use and
breast cancer in young women. Lancet 2 (8508), 650-653.

27. Rushton L, Jones D (1992). Oral contraceptive use and breast cancer risk:
a meta-analysis of variations with age at diagnosis, parity and total duration
of oral contraceptive use. Br J Obstet Gynecol 99, 239-246.

28. Miller DR, Rosenberg L, Kaufman DW and 3 others (1989). Breast cancer
before age 45 and oral contraceptive use: New Findings. Am J Epidemiol 129
(2), 269-280.

29. Pike MC, Henderson BF, Krailo MD. Duke A, Roy S (1983). Breast cancer in
young women and use of oral contraceptives. Possible modifying effect of
formulation and age at use. Lancet 2 (8356), 926-930.

30. Stadel BV, Lai S, Schlesselman JJ, Murray P (1988). Oral contraceptives
and premenopausal breast cancer in nulliparous women. Contraception 38 (3),
287-299.

31. Kay CR, Hannaford PC (1988). Breast cancer and the Pill - A further report
from the Royal College of General Practitioners' oral contraception study. Br
J Cancer 58, 675-680.

32. Rather D, Jones P, Moriarity E, Corderi V, Taira L (May 1 1991). Beating
breast cancer. New York: CBS.

33. Olsson H, Borg A, Ferno M, Moller TR, Ranstam J (1991). Early oral
contraceptive use and premenopausal breast cancer - A review of studies
performed in Southern Sweden. Cancer Detect Prev 15 (4), 265-271.

34. Oral Contraceptives (Nov 1989 insert). Facts and Comparisons. 107c.

35. Oral Contraceptives in the 1980s (May-June 1982). Population Reports.
Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University, Series A(6), A-203.

36. Hume K (1985). The pill and cancer. Linacre Quarterly 52 (4), 306-311.

37. Roy S, Bernstein L, Stanczyk FZ (1988). Analysis of oral contraceptive
risks. Female contraception eds: Runnebaum B, Rabe T, Kiesel L. Berlin-
Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag 29-30.

38. Hatcher RA, Stewart F, Trussell J and 4 others (1990). The pill: Combined
oral contraceptives. Contraceptive Tecnhology New York: Irvington Publishers,
243-244.

39. Schlesselman JJ (1989). Cancer of the breast and reproductive tract in
relation to use of oral contraceptives. Contraception 40 (1), 20-25.

40. Hume K (1985). 305-306.

41. Roy S (1988). 30-31.

42. Oral contraceptives in the 1980s (May-June 1982). Population Reports. A-
204.

43. Oral contraceptives (November 1989 insert). Facts and Comparisons. 107e.

44. LaVecchia C, Franceschi S, Bruzzi P, Parazzini F, Boyle P (1990). The
relationship between oral contraception use, cancer and vascular disease. Drug
Safety 5 (6), 436-446.

45. Hatcher RA (1990). 244.

46. Holly EA, Weiss NS, Liff JM (1983). Cutaneous melanoma in relation to
exogenous hormones and reproductive factors. J Natl Cancer Inst 70, 827.

47. Beral V,Evans S,Shaw H,Milton,G (1984). Oral contraceptive use and
malignant melanoma in Australia. Br J Cancer 50, 681-685.

48. Oral Contraceptives (Nov 1989 insert). Facts and Comparisons. 108.

49. Murad F, Haynes RC (1985). Estrogens and progestins. The Pharmacological
Basis of Therapeutics, eds:Gilman AG, Goodman LS, Rall TW, Murad F. New York:
Macmillan, 1435-1436.

50. Ehmann R (1990). 10-15.

51. Hatcher RA (1990). 237-240.

52. Beral V (1979). Reproductive mortality. Br Med J 2, 632-634.

53. Sachs BP, Layde PM, Rubin GL, Rochat RW (1982). Reproductive mortality in
the United States. JAMA 247 (20), 2789-2792.

54. Hatcher RA (1990). 528.

55. Schuitemaker NWE, Gravenhorst JB, Van Geijn HP, Dekker GA, Van Dongen PWJ
(1991). Maternal mortality and its prevention. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod
Biol 42, 531-535.

56. Grant E (1985). The bitter pill. London: Elm Tree Books, 103.

57. Hatcher RA (1990). 228.

58. Harlap S (1991). 98-99.

59. Demulen (1992). Physicians' Desk Reference, 2253.

60. Oral Contraceptives (Nov 1989 insert). Facts and Comparisons. 107c.

61. Oral Contraceptives (Nov 1989 insert). Facts and Comparisons. 107g.

62. Wade ME, McCarthy P, Braunstein GD and 5 others (1981). A randomized
prospective study of the use-effectiveness of two methods of natural family
planning. Am J Obstet Gynecol 141 (4) 368-376.

63. Kippley, J Kippley, S (1991). The Art of Natural Family Planning. (3rd ed,
5th print) Cincinnati: Couple to Couple League 59-74.

64. Tortorici, J (1979). Conception regulation, self-esteem, marital
satisfaction among Catholic couples: Michigan State University study. Int Rev
NFP III(3) 191-205.

c 1993 The Couple to Couple League International, Inc, P.O. Box 111184,
Cincinnati, OH 45211-1184, USA, 1-513-661-7612. CompuServe Address: 73311,256.

The information contained in this document is for private use and may not be
reproduced, published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior
written permission of the Couple to Couple League.

For a free copy of an attractive brochure containing this information,
send a self-addressed stamped business size envelope to: CCL, Box 111184,
Cincinnati, OH 45211.  Request a copy of "The Pill: How does it Work? Is it
Safe?" and mention America Online.