Download Significance to Optimal Health

Dr. Strangepills, or How I
Learned to Stop Worrying and
Love the Barrier Contraceptive
• Geoff Bell
• Andrew Bragg
• Christopher Brannon
• Lauren Postma
• Jason Richards
Cervical Cancer
• A number of studies have reported a strong
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association between cervical cancer and longterm use of oral contraception (OC).
The risk is highest (up to four times the risk of
nonusers) in women infected with human
papillomavirus (HPV) who have taken OCs for
ten years or more.
Women who are not infected with HPV have no
significantly higher risk.
The reasons for this risk from OC use are not
entirely clear.
HPV is bad, mmm kay
• Although OC use may increase the risk of
cervical cancer, human papillomavirus
(HPV) is recognized as the major cause of
this disease. Approximately 14 types of
HPV have been identified as having the
potential to cause cancer, and HPVs have
been found in 99 percent of cervical
cancer biopsy specimens worldwide.
Significance to Optimal
Health
Certain types of female
contraception increase estrogen
levels which has been linked with
increasing chance of cancer.
What if not addressed?
 It has been suggested that oral
contraceptives have hormones that might
facilitate the entry of the Human
Papillomavirus into the genetic makeup of
the cervical cells.
 HPV is recognized as the major cause of
cervical cancer.
Women who use OC’s
 Women who use oral contraceptives are
less likely to use other contraceptives such
as condoms or diaphragms which in turn
lessens the protection against STDs,
including HPV.
Impact?
 If this problem is not addressed there will
be more cases of cervical cancer and also
more cases of HPV.
Possible Solutions
 for women to maintain hormone balance and
heal their cervix, they should use natural
progesterone cream supplementation.
 Use an aloe vera or acidophilus douche before
bed (avoid commercial douches).
 Take a good quality multiple vitamin. This
supplement contains the required amount of
folic acid necessary to help you with cervical
problems.
More solutions…
 Take vitamin A, 10,000 IU, orally daily and
topically on the cervix. (Have fun with that)
 The basis of the natural treatment program is
this - the womens clinic has found that the
majority of women will find permanent relief
from symptoms through an approach that
combines medical-grade nutritional
supplements, omega-3 supplements, over-thecounter bioidentical progesterone and some
dietary and lifestyle changes.
And then…there were
more possible solutions
 IUDs
 Condoms
 Abstinence (heh)
And the (possible)
winner is..
• Oral contraceptives aka the pill are
usually used by women who are in
monogamous relationships due to
the fact that it doesn’t protect
against STDs. In keeping with the
fact that we are looking for a
solution similar to the clients needs I
chose the IUD as the best possible
solution.
IUDs!
• An Intrauterine Device (IUD) is a
small object that is inserted through
the cervix and placed in the uterus
to prevent pregnancy.
• IUDs are 99.2-99.9% effective as
birth control.
• IUD’s can be removed by a doctor at
any time, Copper IUD needs to be
changed only every 10 years;
progesterone IUD needs changed
yearly
• The copper IUD is about 99%, and the progesterone
IUD is about 97%, effective for preventing
pregnancy, and it starts working right away. It has
a low risk for side effects, and doesn’t take away
from the enjoyment of sex for the user or her
partner. It requires no attention except for monthly
checks for the string at the time of each menstrual
period. Fertility returns immediately upon removal
in most cases. Also it’s more convenient, because
there is no need to remember to take a pill
everyday, and it can be used while breast-feeding.
Summary
(What have we learned today?)
Cancer of the cervix uteri is the third most
frequent cancer in women worldwide.
 A woman who currently takes oral
contraceptives runs a higher risk of
developing cancer of the cervix, compared
to a woman who has never taken oral
contraceptives
 Women using OC for 5 years + have three
fold increase in risk

There will be a quiz after the
presentation.
Raised risk goes back to normal levels ten
years after the woman stops using OC
 The longer a woman has been taking oral
contraceptives the higher is her risk of
developing invasive cervical cancer
 Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
strongly linked to the cause of
cervical cancer by OC’s – considered
necessary cause of cervical cancer
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Final Thoughts
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Women need to use other types of contraceptives as
well in order to reduce risk of HPV
HPVs are a group of more than 70 types of viruses,
some of which are known risk factors for cervical cancer.
Compared to non-OC users, women who use OCs may
be less likely to use barrier methods of contraception
(such as condoms)”
Women need to be mindful of what they are taking and
how long they are taking OC’s
Women need to keep a close eye! Yearly Pap tests
will monitor cervix for possible cellular changes.
Sources
• http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/oral-contraceptives#4
• http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/HPV
• http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_What_are_the_
risk_factors_for_cervical_cancer_8.asp
• http://www.oralcontraceptives.com/about_types.asp
• http://www.oralcontraceptives.com/about_benefits.asp
• http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/cervical-cancer-signs.html
• http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/iudinfo.htm
• http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/contraceptive/31
9.html
• http://www.mjbovo.com/Contracept/IUD.htm