Friday, October 26, 2007

Blog house-keeping and the pill..

Just a few things...



1. The new blog is being worked on right now, and I have already started posting on there (even though noone's reading it yet). It should be ready by mid-end Nov or so.



If you'd like to read it don't forget to give me your EMAIL ADDRESS! I can't invite you without an email address.



Also, although I can invite you no-matter what your email address is, you can only log-in to the blog if you have a G-MAIL address.



(sorry, I know it's a pain!)





2. Some of you may remember that a while ago I posted about the use of the oral contraceptive pill for non-contraceptive purposes (acne, painful periods, heavy periods etc).
Although I am very happy to answer medical questions, I am still only a final year medical student, and so I don't think it is right for me to be giving advise about medications & treatments, and so have decided to take that post down because I am getting a lot of treatment-related questions.



The bottom line is...



From a medical point of view, the pill does work to treat a variety of medical conditioms (acne, heavy periods, period pain etc), and not just contraceptive purposes.
BUT, I would say..
- try to seek alternative medical treatment because often the pill just masks the underlying problem, and doesn't cure it, and alternative do exist for many conditions.

- don't forget the health side-effects of the pill (including increasing the risk of break & cervical cancer)

(the oral contraceptive pill has been classed as a TYPE 1 CARCINOGEN by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Hardly anyone knows that, but it's a fact. see here.)


Also, according to the teachings of the Catholic Church, a woman who is taking the oral contraceptive pill must not be sexually active while she is on it, EVEN IF she is on it for a non-contraceptive reason (e.g. acne etc).

The reason being is that the pill is an abortifacient, and so its use is not justifed in the sexually active.


If you have any medical questions I would suggest getting in touch with a local Catholic Gynaecologist.



If you live in America HERE is where you can find all the practicing Catholic doctors in your state



(If you live in England I know Dr's in London & Liverpool who could help)




(and for Seeker....thank you for your comment; one alternative to the pill for PCOS is a drug called metformin. Lots of women with PCOS find it very helpful. This might be interesting for you to read.)

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