The oral contraceptive pill (OCP)
Taking the pill causes deficiencies in a large number of nutrients as it affects vitamin metabolism. This then contributes to all of the minor and major side effects as listed below.
| OCP Decreases | Deficiency causes | Food sources |
|
B1 Thiamine |
Tiredness, weight loss, irritability, loss of appetite, weakness, insomnia, vague aches and pains, depression, lack of initiative, constipation, oversensitivity to noise, circulatory problems |
Wheatgerm, soya beans, eggs, green vegetables |
|
B2 Riboflavin |
Gum, mouth, eye & skin problems, dizziness, depression, dandruff |
Yeast, dairy food, asparagus, spinach, broccoli |
|
B6 Pyridoxine |
Depression, irritability, nervousness, nausea, fluid retention, increased risk of herpes infection, low stress tolerance, lethargy, anxiety, weakness, emotional flare-ups, fatigue, insomnia, mild paranoia, skin eruptions, loss of muscular control, eye problems |
Eggs, brown rice, banana, wheatgerm, salmon, walnuts |
|
B9 Folic Acid |
Anaemia, folic acid should be replaced after coming off the pill and before becoming pregnant to protect the foetus |
Green leafy vegetables, Brewers yeast |
|
B12 Cobalamine |
Anaemia, sore tongue, weight loss, depression |
Egg, fish, soya beans, organically grown |
|
A |
Eyesight changes, increased susceptibility to infections, dry/scaly skin, lack of appetite and vigour, defective teeth and gums, retarded growth |
Dandelion greens, carrot juice, dried apricots, Kale, Collard, Sweet potato, parsley, spinach |
|
C |
Tendency to infections/ lowered immune response, bruising, bleeding gums, fatigue, eye problems, loss of appetite, muscular weakness, anaemia |
Fresh fruit & vegetables |
|
E |
Muscle weakness, hot flushes, blood clots, anaemia, muscle degeneration, low fertility, change in the menstrual cycle. (vit E normalizes oestrogen levels) |
Wheatgerm, eggs, raw seeds and nuts, cold pressed oils - |
|
Zinc |
Tendencies to infection, diabetes, skin infection, lowered fertility. It is involved in over 200 enzyme systems in the body and is crucial for the optimum functioning of the body |
Wheatgerm, eggs, raw seeds and nuts, cold pressed oils - |
|
Selenium |
Increased likelihood of cancer, difficulty absorbing vit E |
Garlic, Brewers yeast |
|
Biotin |
Depression, fatigue, eczema, hair loss, dry hair |
Brewers yeast, eggs, brown rice |
Two different types of the OCP:
Combintion/triphasic/sequential pill
- Contains oestrogen & progesterone
- Acts by:
- Abortion: altering the womb's lining to prevent implantation
- Contraception: making the musous in the cervix hostile to sperm
The facts
Medicine acknowledges that there are many women for whom the OCP in contraindicated. These include women with a personal or family history of:
- Diabetes
- Blood clots
- Heart or kidney disease
- Epilepsy
- Known or suspected cancer of the breast or reproductive organs
- Known or suspected pregnancy
- Unusual vaginal bleeding
- Angina pectoris (pains in the heart)
- Very irregular menstrual cycles or late onset or reproductive organs
- Breast nodules or fibrocystic disease of the breast
- Multiple sclerosis
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol and triglycerides
- Large, swollen, tender varicose veins
- Cigarette smoking
- Obesity
- Migraines or recurrent headache
- Fibroid tumours of the uterus
- Diseases triggered by pregnancy - jaundice, herpes, chlaosma
- Gall-bladder disease or gallstones
- Liver tumours
- Recurrent or active hepatitis
- Depression
- Women who are currently breast feeding
- Those over 35 years old especially if they smoke or suffer from poor circulation
Minor side effects of the OCP:
- Weight gain
- Acne
- Skin discolourations (chloasma)
- Migraines
- Fungal infections and tinea
- Vaginal discharges
- Thrush
- Systemic candida infection
- Venereal warts
- Thrush
- Systemic candida infection
- Venereal warts
- Breakthrough bleeding
- Urinary tract infections
- Nausea
- Varicose veins
- Eye disorders such as double vision, swelling of the optic nerve, contact-lens intolerance, cornmeal inflammation
- Lumpy/tender breast
- Disturbances in liver function
- Allergic reactions - rhinitis, hay fever, asthma, skin rashes
- Decreased immune response
- Fluid retention
- Bloating
- Eczema
- Mouth ulcers
- Cervical erosions
- Hair loss
- Facial and body hair growth
- Psychological and emotional disorders - Often labeled depression, Mood changes, Sexual depression/ loss of libido, in addition suicide is more common among pill users than those using other forms of contraception.
Major side-effects of the OCP
- Temporary or even permanent sterility
- Significantly higher risk of ectopic pregnancy
- Osteoporosis
- Greatly increased chance of suffering a stroke (risk increasing with age & duration of usage)
- Increased risk of blood clots
- Increased risk of gall-bladder disease/gallstones
- Disturbances to blood sugar metabolism - Possibly contributing to diabetes or hypoglyceamia
- Liver tumors (risk increasing with duration of usage) 3-6 fold increase in risk of heart attacks (according to age)
- Increased chance of hardening of the arteries & high blood pressure
- Strong probability of more rapid development of pre-existing cancers & progression to cancer of abnormal cells - Possible link with cancer of the endometrium, cervix ovaries, liver, lungs, significantly higher risk of developing breast cancer
Positive health facts
Many women coming off the pill report a much grater feeling of well-being, both physically & psychologically, although often unrelated to specific conditions & is only realized as the effects of the pill wears off. Please remember that the residue of the pill can take 3-6 months to be eliminated from the system.
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