Any medical issues against artificial contraceptives?

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Example of medical issues against artificial contraceptives:

The World Health Organization has classified oral contraceptives as an A-1 level carcinogen, which puts it on the cancer-causing level as asbestos and cigarettes.

http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/OtherCarcinogens/GeneralInformationaboutCarcinogens/known-and-probable-human-carcinogens

Would you care to share other examples of medical issues?

 

[Ryan_m_b]

Reposting my response from the original thread...

The World Health Organization has classified oral contraceptives as an A-1 level carcinogen, which puts it on the cancer-causing level as asbestos and cigarettes.

http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/OtherCarcinogens/GeneralInformationaboutCarcinogens/known-and-probable-human-carcinogens

That list says nothing about how carcinogenic these substances actually are so your assertion that it's on the level with asbestos is incorrect. If you read the paragraphs before the list you'll see:

The lists themselves say nothing about how likely it is that an agent will cause cancer. Carcinogens do not cause cancer at all times, under all circumstances. Some may only be carcinogenic if a person is exposed in a certain way (for example, swallowing it as opposed to touching it). Some may only cause cancer in people who have a certain genetic makeup. Some of these agents may lead to cancer after only a very small exposure, while others might require intense exposure over many years. Again, you should refer to the agencies' reports for specifics.

Even if a substance or exposure is known or suspected to cause cancer, this does not necessarily mean that it can or should be avoided at all costs. For example, exposure to ionizing radiation is known to cause cancer, with increased risks even at low levels of exposure. Yet there is no way to completely prevent exposure to natural sources of radiation such as cosmic radiation from the sun or radon in soil. These lists also include many commonly used medicines, particularly some hormones and drugs used to treat cancer. For example, tamoxifen increases the risk of certain kinds of uterine cancer but can be very useful in treating some breast cancers, which may be more important for some women. If you have questions about a medicine that appears on one of these lists, be sure to ask your doctor.

Looking at the list below can tell you whether or not something may increase your risk of cancer, but it is important to try to get an idea of how much it might increase your risk. It is also important to know what your risk is to begin with. Many factors can enter into this, including your age, gender, family history, and lifestyle factors (tobacco and alcohol use, weight, diet, physical activity level, etc.). As noted above, the type and extent of exposure to a substance may also play a role. You should consider the actual amount of increased risk when deciding if you should limit or avoid an exposure.

This is why alcoholic beverages and gamma radiation are on the same list. Furthermore if you read what it says about the combined pill there is more information than you present, significantly that there is evidence that the combined pill lowers cancer rates in the endometrium and ovary. Regardless though the actual risk should be considered so that an informative cost/benefit analysis can be made, otherwise we just get into a tabloid press habit of instantly becoming fearful or against something that is carcinogenic regardless of the severity or benefits. For more information here is a fact sheet
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/oral-contraceptives

EDIT: Just to reiterate; any discussion of the medical considerations of something needs to involve a cost/benefit analysis. Looking at only the cost gives an incomplete picture that at best leaves one uninformed as to how to proceed and at worse misinforms with severe negative consequences.

 

[Evo]

Checkbox, specifically which type of contraceptive are you inquiring about? The number of types (various pill formulations, injections, implants, patches, IUD's, condoms, spermacides...) covers an area too broad to discuss with any meaning.

Why don't you make an effort to look up the specific type you are confused about, then if you still do not understand what the side effects are, you can ask for clarification on that specific brand of contraceptive.

 

[checkbox]

Checkbox, specifically which type of contraceptive are you inquiring about? The number of types (various pill formulations, injections, implants, patches, IUD's, condoms, spermacides...) covers an area too broad to discuss with any meaning.

Why don't you make an effort to look up the specific type you are confused about, then if you still do not understand what the side effects are, you can ask for clarification on that specific brand of contraceptive.

The oral contraceptives e.g. pills.

Clarification - Can we discuss environmental impact of the pill here apart from health impact?

 

[Ryan_m_b]

There are literally thousands of papers that have been published on the subject of the combined pill alone (roughly 1/10 are free if you don't have access to journals). For an introduction and further links why don't you read through the wiki page.

Whilst there are risks associated with the pill literally millions of women use it worldwide and have done for over 50 years. If there were any drastic long-term medical effects (akin to smoking for example) they would have been apparent.

 

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There are literally thousands of papers that have been published on the subject of the combined pill alone (roughly 1/10 are free if you don't have access to journals). For an introduction and further links why don't you read through the wiki page.

Whilst there are risks associated with the pill literally millions of women use it worldwide and have done for over 50 years. If there were any drastic long-term medical effects (akin to smoking for example) they would have been apparent.

I think Wiki page is useful as a starting point for orientation on a subject, but not really considered a source to be cited in a research paper.

Also, I came across a couple of links and it says otherwise.

Mod note: inappropriate links removed.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

I think Wiki page is useful as a starting point for orientation on a subject, but not really considered a source to be cited in a research paper.

I wasn't suggesting it as one, I suggested the pubmed link for that. Are you writing a research paper?

Also, I came across a couple of links and it says otherwise.

Firstly your first link was just a report on the second link.
Secondly both of those were extremely bias sources, they were pro-life sites!
Thirdly they have published a retraction/update regarding their position in acknowledgment of the fact that no medical authority changed its position.
Finally they provide no data or citations to back up their claims that contraceptives are unsafe and claims that they are safe are lies.

 

[Evo]

The oral contraceptives e.g. pills.

All of the pills are formulated differently. Specifically which brand & dosage? What side effect of that particular brand are you not understanding?

 

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Are you writing a research paper?

Yes, I am.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

Yes, I am.

Right. This site does not exist to do your research for you, if you have specific questions about something you have read but do not understand then feel free to bring it up but asking us to give you the answers to what you are looking for is not ok. Furthermore if this is homework then it must be posted in the homework and coursework forums.

 

[Evo]

Yes, I am.

Then the pubmed link is what you want to use. Are you in school? Your school librarian will be able to help you locate the proper peer reviewed journals. You don't want to be getting opinions off a forum if you are doing research.