Hormonal Birth Control Doesn ’ t Deserve Its Bad Reputation

Almost two-thirds of U.S. women of reproductive age use some kind of contraception, according to the latest federal data. And millions of them use methods that contain hormones, including birth control pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), rings, implants, injections, and patches. Although the specifics vary from method to method, hormonal birth control generally works by halting ovulation and/or changing conditions in the uterus or cervix to prevent pregnancy. And it works well: efficacy rates approach 100% when these methods are used correctly. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] But hormonal birth control has a bad reputation. Many women are worried about how hormones like estrogen and progestin may affect their short- and long-term health, to the point that some are quitting birth control and choosing “natural” methods (which are often less effective) instead. A 2022 KFF survey found that about a third of reproductive-age women not currently using contraception avoid it because of concerns about side effects. “They’re wonderful products, yet we maintain a cultural belief that somehow hormones are bad,” says Dr. Jeffrey Jensen, director of the Women’s Health Research Unit at Oregon Health and Science University. “That’s, in my opinion, simply not true.” (Jensen has received consulting fees from pharmaceutical companies that make contraceptive products.) Here’s what the research says about horm...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Evergreen Explainer healthscienceclimate Source Type: news