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- $Unique_ID{BRK00203}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{What's New About New Oral Contraceptives?}
- $Subject{contraception birth control hormone hormones medication
- medications Genitourinary lifestyle lifestyles Oral Contraceptives pill
- estrogen progesterone preventing pregnancy oral contraceptive low-dose
- triphasic pills estrogen-progesterone dosages uterine ovarian breast cancer
- neoplasms carcinoma cancers neoplasm carcinomas contraceptions}
- $Volume{J-23,R-22}
- $Log{
- Types of Birth Control*0002001.scf
- Locations of Female Contraceptives*0002002.scf
- Extra Protection During Fertile Phase*0002003.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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-
- What's New About New Oral Contraceptives?
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- QUESTION: With IUD's no longer a happy choice, I am trying to decide about
- methods for birth control. What's new about new oral contraceptives?
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-
- ANSWER: When the pill was first introduced in 1960, it contained rather high
- amounts of estrogen and progesterone, which created certain undesirable side
- effects in some of the women taking them. After years of testing and
- research, however, it became apparent that such high doses were not necessary
- for preventing pregnancy. As a result, new low-dose oral contraceptives have
- been formulated and these new pills can protect against pregnancy with minimal
- side effects. The newest low-dose contraceptives on the market are
- "triphasic" pills which use three different estrogen-progesterone dosages that
- match the body's changing needs during the month. The pills have a different
- color for each phase, giving the lowest possible dose of hormones that will be
- effective at each given point in the cycle.
- Because oral contraceptives were known to cause bad side effects in the
- past, it is worth mentioning that it is now known that the pill actually
- offers additional benefits. Recent studies have determined that oral
- contraceptive use decreases the risk for both uterine and ovarian cancer, and
- there is conclusive evidence that there is no association between the pill and
- breast cancer. Furthermore, women taking the pill frequently have lighter
- flows and less trouble with cramps. Therefore, women who have been skeptical
- about taking the pill in the past can feel assured that the new pill is a safe
- and viable form of birth control.
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- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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-