Since the 1960s, birth control pills or oral contraceptives allowed women the freedom to prevent an unwanted pregnancy as well as treat certain medical problems like heavy menstrual bleeding, and premenstrual syndrome.
Like any pharmaceutical drug, there are some side effects or increased risks especially when women take oral contraceptives. These side effects or risks affect all women, regardless of their race. The oral contraceptive pill that causes the greatest risk is the combination of estrogen and progestin. The first strike against women who consider using oral contraceptives is their age.
Young women have a better chance of benefiting from oral contraceptives. However, women age 35 or older, fall into a high-risk category that would make most medical professionals hesitate before pulling out the prescription pad from their white jacket.
Women over the age of 35 have a greater predisposition to developing blood clots and strokes. In some women, the blood clots form in the legs and lungs, but they can also form in the arms. Blood clots can travel through the deep vein system causing a DVT (deep vein thrombosis). When a DVT happens, it can travel to the heart and lungs causing a potential life-threatening crisis.
Recently, Bayer came under scrutiny for not including the potential risks of blood clots on advertisements for the drug, YAZ. Bayer is one of the largest manufacturers for oral contraceptives. Bayer shelled out over $20 million due to their misleading information. A professor at Rutgers School of Business weighed in on Bayer’s decision to make this information public.
“[Bayer] does not understand the business that it is in, it does not understand the health risks that it is posing to the public or the financial risk that it is creating for its shareholders,” Professor Michael Santoro said.
Research indicates that African-American women are more susceptible to heart disease. By taking oral contraceptives, this can increase the development of blood clots because of the underlying heart disease.
Some reports indicate that the use of oral contraceptives has been linked to an increase in developing breast cancer. However, a recent study conducted by the Women’s Contraceptive and Reproductive Experience (Women’s CARE), challenges those findings. The results of the study concluded, “Findings indicated that present or past use among both Caucasians and African-American women in the age group from 35 to 64 did not significantly increase the risk of breast cancer.”
Sources:
http://theblackcordelias.wordpress.com/2009/09/26birthcontrol-pill-increases-health-risks/
http://www.aachac.org/healthfactsheets/breast_cancer.html
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/research/supported/CARE.cfm