Expert: Diane Cheryl - 7/17/2007

Question
hi, my friend (shes 14) said that she might start going on birth control in the next month but she hasn't had sex or really had a boyfriend:( and shes not planing to have any kind of sex until shes like 18 years old. and i was wondering why she is thinking about this and what kind of advantages would she get from it? and maybe should i go on it?

Answer
Hello Sara,
Thanks for your question. I'm not a medical doctor but have much experience in this subject. I don't recommend that your friend or you go on birth control for no reason. Ask her what her purpose is. Some doctors recommend birth control pills for regulating monthly periods or for skin problems. I don't recommend that. In my opinion, hormonal birth control is not healthy. Please read this article below and email me at DCHERYL51@yahoo.com if you want more advice or just to talk.

Diane Cheryl <<article following>>
I want to warn you on some of the risks of the
> > pill.
> >  <Progestins and the estrogen in the pill are
> > artificial hormones that
> >  make your body believe that it is pregnant month
> > after month. All the
> >  vital organs in your body are affected by the
> > constant use of the pill.
> >  It contains powerful steroids and artificial
> > hormones.
> >  This constant presence of powerful steroids is
> not
> > healthy, and there
> >  are side effects when using the pill. Here are
> the
> > ways the pill can
> >  work.
> >  1. It can prevent ovulation (releasing an egg
> from
> > the ovary)
> >     2. It can cause the mucus in the cervix to
> > change so that if sperm
> >  reach the cervix, they are not allowed to enter,
> > and
> >     3. It can irritate the lining of the uterus so
> > that if the first two
> >  actions fail, and you do become pregnant, your
> body
> > will reject the
> >  fetus (baby) and he or she will die.
> >  It's called a chemical abortion.
> >  
> >  Here are some of the side effects of the pill:
> >  -bacterial infections (because the pill weakens
> the
> > immune system.)
> >  -more susceptible to the AIDS virus (HIV) because
> > the pill weakens the
> >  immune system
> >  -pelvic inflammatory disease-an infection of the
> > fallopian tubes that
> >  can cause sickness or sterility
> >  -infertility-unable to ever bear children
> >  -ectopic pregnancy
> >  -shrinking of the womb (endometrial atrophy)
> >  -mood swings and depression
> >  -breast cancer
> >  -blood clots
> >  -birth defects in children conceived while women
> > are on the pill
> >  -tender breasts
> >  -stroke
> >  -cervical cancer
> >  -weight gain >
> >  
> >  
>
> > > >