MODE OF ACTION PILL, NORPLAT, PATCH, DEPO-PROVERA



Family planning is a very personal issue among couples. There are several family planning choices offered today. Some of these choices, however, are costly and have many harmful side effects to both men and women, many of which are not discussed with patients. In order to make an informed family planning decision, we feel that you must be aware of how artificial birth control methods work, and the risks you take when using them.
     


In December 2008, fifty years after the invention of the actual birth control pill, the Austrian scientist Carl Djerassi, who along with the Mexican Luis E. Miramontes and Hungarian-Mexican George Rosenkranz invented the progestin 19 norethisterone (the first birth control pill), declared to the Austrian newspaper Der Standard that the creation of the pill turned out to be a demographic catastrophe for the whole world. He also mentioned that he never imagined when beginning working on the pill that this one was going to be used for  the  birth control pill and that the pill would cause the current population imbalance.
 
The birth control pill cause 150 chemical changes in the woman's body.
 
There are two types: the “combination pill” that contains two female hormones , estrogen and progestin, and is taken for  twenty-one days of the month, and the “mini pill”, which contains only progestin and is taken continuously.

Some of the brands of these oral artificial methods of birth control that exist on the market are: Alesse, Apri, Brevicon, Cyclessa, Demulen, Desogen, Estrostep, Levlen, Levlite, Levora, Loestrin, Lo/Ovral, Low-Ogestrel, Micronor, Mircette, Modicon, Necon, Nordette, Norinyl, Nor-QD,  Ogestrel, Ortho-Cept, Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho-Novum, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Ovcon, Ovral, Ovrette, Tri-Levlen, Tri-Norinyl, Triphasil, Trivora, Yasmin,  Zovia.

Its mode of action is through chemical signals sent to the brain, suppresses the ovulation (essential action of the estrogens).
 
Make more thicker the cervical mucus, making it impenetrable for the spermatozoids (essential action of the progestins).
 
Alters the endometrium so the uterus is not receptive to the implantation of the ovum already conceived (new human life), therefore, it can also act as an abortifacient.




  • May cause thromboembolic disorders and other vascular problems, there has  been an increased in the risk of myocardial infarction while using the pill. Myocardial infarction is twice as high risk in women between 18-35 years. The relative risk of a heart attack is estimated 2 per 6 women taking the pill. The mortality rates associated with diseases of the circulatory system have shown a substantial increase in women that smoke and use oral methods of artificial birth control. Smoking and the use of the mini pill increases the risk of a heart attack 12 times.
  • An increased risk of  the following serious adverse reactions has been associated with the use of the pill: pulmonary embolism, cerebral  hemorrhage, cerebral thrombosis, thrombophlebitis and venous thrombosis.
  • Numerous epidemiological studies have been conducted on the incidence of cancer: breast, endometrium, ovaries and cervix in women who use oral artificial methods.
  • Women younger than 45 years who took the pill more than four years have an increased of 72% risk of developing breast cancer. The  oral contraceptive pills are combinations of estrogen and progestin of synthetic  components that promote  the uncontrolled growth of cells in the mammary glands.
  • Women who used the pill for  five years or more have a 90% higher (almost double) of probability to have cervical cancer  than women who never used it, women still have an increased risk of cervical cancer until 10 years after stopped using the pill.
  • The use of oral contraceptives for a period of five years or more seems to increase the risk of cervical cancer among women infected with Human Papilloma Virus.
  • The probabilities of developing cervical cancer almost tripled between women using the pill for 5-9 years and quadrupled among those who used the pill for 10 years or more, compared with the probabilities between women who have never used.
  • Increase in the incidence of hepatic tumors (liver) and hepatic neoplasia, benign hepatic adenomas are associated with the use of the pill. The rupture of these adenomas may cause death death through abdominal internal bleeding. Studies in the United Kingdom have shown a greater risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma in the long term (more than 8 years) in the use of the pill.
  • Eye Injuries: there have been reports of clinical cases of retinal vein thrombosis associated with the use of the pill. Can lead to an inexplicable partial or complete loss of vision, onset of proptosis or diplopia, papilledema or retinal vascular lesions.
  • Gallbladder disease, studies have informed of an increase of relative risk during surgery of the gallbladder using the pill and estrogen.
  • Decrease in glucose tolerance, women with diabetes should be monitored carefully. Women may have persistent   hypertriglyceridaemia while taking the pill.
  • Elevation of blood pressure, women with significantly hypertension should not take the pill. It has been reported an increase in blood pressure in women who take it, studies showed the incidence of increased hypertension with concentrations of progestins, this increase is more likely in older women with a longer time of usage.
  • Residual risk of a heart attack, even after stopping the use in the long-term.
  • Headache or migraine, onset or development of a new pattern that is recurrent and persistent discomfort.
  • Irregularity of bleeding, especially during the first three months use.
  • Ectopic pregnancy and intrauterine pregnancy
  • Adverse reactions have been reported in patients taking the pill: nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal symptoms (bloating and abdominal cramps), amenorrhea, temporary infertility after discontinuation of treatment, change in weight (increase or decrease), change in the erosion and secretion of the cervical mucus flow, allergic reaction (including rash, urticaria and angioedema), mental depression, cataracts, dizziness, hair loss cystitis syndrome, vaginitis, colitis, Budd Chiari syndrome.
  • Mood swings developing a depressive personality.
  • Difficulty to conceive after abandoning the use of the pill.
  • Decrease of the blood levels of essential vitamins.
  • Double risk of ischemic ictus (stroke) using the mini pill.
  • As a result of the chronic elevation of the hormone levels sex binding globulin, the users of the pill may be at risk of  health problems in the long-term, including sexual dysfunction.


The trasdermic contraceptive patch 20cm2 carried by women contains synthetic hormones, estrogen and progestin that are slowly release in the blood stream through the skin.

It is used one patch per week for three consecutive weeks. During the fourth week, the patch is not used. 

The mode of action is similar to the pill and other hormonal contraceptives: it supresses the ovulation, thickens the cervical mucus  flow, alters the endometrium so the uterus is not receptive for the implantation of the ovum already conceived, acting as an abortifacient.

The failure rate is the 0.3% to 8%.


  • Similar effects as the pill.
  • Some reactions commonly reported by 9 to 22% of women who used the patch are: breast symptoms, headache, reaction the application site, nausea, upper respiratory infection, menstrual colic and abdominal pain.
  • The trasdermic contraceptive patch 20cm2 carried by women contains synthetic hormones, estrogen and progestin that are slowly release in the blood stream through the skin.
  • Due to increased of risk of blood clots in the blood its use has reduced.
  • Possible link to breast cancer and reproductive organs
  • Possible vomiting and loss or gain of weight
  • You can increase the risk of: thrombophlebitis, thromboembolic disorders, cerebrovascular disease or coronary disease or heart attack, hypertension, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, diabetes, headache with focal neurological symptoms, breast cancer, neoplasia, undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding, adenomas or carcinomas or liver tumors, gallbladder disease.
  • Other effects that have been notify when using the patch are: gastrointestinal symtoms, change in the menstrual flow, amenorrhea, temporal infertility after the interruption of treatment, edema, migraine, allergies, depression, cataracts, vaginitis, impaired renal function, acne, changes in libido, colitis, Budd-Chiari syndrome.


It is a plastic ring with a flexible, soft and transparent VAGINAL form, made with ethylene-vinyl acetate.

The ring slowly releases ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen) and etonogestrel (a progestin) in the system. Similar to the chemicals being found in birth control pills.

The woman places the ring into the vagina once every 28 days. The ring stays in its place 21 days and is removed for 7 days to allow menstrual bleeding. After 7 days, a new ring is inserted.

Its mode of action is similar to the pill and other combined hormonal artificial methods based in the contraception.


  • Effects similar to the pill
  • Since this is a hormonal complex, there can be some side effects similar to those of the pill
  • Difficulty to sleep, weakness, lack of energy, fatigue or a change in the mood (possible major depression)
  • Headache
  • Cancer of the reproductive organs and breast cancer: women that currently have or have had breast cancer should not use hormonal contraceptives, including the ring, since breast cancer usually is a a tumor sensitive to the synthetic hormones in the vaginal ring.
  • In rare occasions, it produces clots in the blood vessels of the eyes and may cause blindness, double vision or other vision problems.
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Urinary Diseases
  • Swelling (edema) of the fingers or the ankles
  • The hormones of the ring can cause changes in the clotting system of the blood which allows that the blood to clot more easily. Blood clots in the legs can travel to the lungs and cause a sudden blockage of blood to the lungs.
  • Vaginal Discomfort
  • Lipid metabolism and inflammation of the pancreas: there can be elevations of the triglyceridesvin the plasma during the estrogen therapy causing pancreatitis in some cases.
  • Nausea
  • Occasionally, the hormones of  the ring may increase the risk of clots, arrhythmia or stroke and cardiac attacks: increases the risk of cerebrovascular accidents (blockage of the blood flow to the brain) or heart attacks (blockage of blood flow to the heart). Any of these conditions can cause death or severe disability.
  • High blood pressure and heart disease: can worsen the conditions such as hypertension, diabetes,  cholesterol problems and the triglycerides.
  • If the woman smokes, the use of combined hormonal contraceptives, increases the chances of developing and dying of heart or cerebrovascular diseases.
  • Liver tumors might be non-cancerous (benign), but these benign liver tumors can break and cause serious internal bleeding. Is possible that women who use combined hormonal contraceptives have a higher probability of developing liver cancer.
  • Vaginitis


A series of six "bars" or capsules that are surgically implanted under the skin inside the upper arm of the woman.

The contraceptive effect can last five years (however, the rate of continuity is getting lower than 76% after one year and 33% after  five years).

Its mode of action suppresses the ovulation only  50% of the cycles. Like the birth control pill, the progestin causes thickening of the cervical mucous flow, making it difficult for the sperms to enter the uterus. It also affects the normal growth of the endometrium (the food of the baby inside the mothers womb), presenting a hostile environment for the implantation and development of a new life already conceived.  Therefore acts as an abortifacient.

  • Bad temper (moodiness)
  • Cancer in the reproductive organs
  • Clots and blockage of blood vessels in the legs, arms, lungs (can cause respiratory arrest) or eyes, causing severe pain (muscular or skeletal), high blood pressure and heart failure that in a severe case it may cause death.
  • Complications in the insertion and extraction: pain, swelling, ulcers, inflammation of the veins, blisters, bruises 
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, thrombosis and strokes
  • Leukorrhea (whitish vaginal discharge) and inflammation of the cervix and the vagina.
  • May develop ovarian cysts
  • Menstruation irregularity for 9 to 12 months accompanied by dysmenorrhoea (strong and prolonged pain)
  • Nausea
  • Tumors of the liver, the hormones are poorly metabolized
  • Urticaria (hives) and pruritus (itching)
  • Vaginal bleeding 
  • Weight gain



It is a small, flexible rod, about the size of a match, containing progestin that is inserted under the skin, such as the Norplant and does not contains estrogen.

Its effect can last up to three years stopping the ovulation, as well as the birth control pill, the progestin thickens the cervical mucus flow, making difficult the entry of sperm to the uterus. It also affects the normal growth of the endometrium (the nourishment for the baby in the mothers womb), representing a hostile environment for the implantation and development of a new life already conceived. Therefore, it also acts as abortifacient.



  • Acne
  • Anemic changes, nervousness or depression
  • Backache
  • Blood clots (thrombosis) in: legs (Deep Vein Thrombosis), lungs (pulmonary embolism), brain (stroke), heart (heart attack), eyes (blindness).
  • Breast cancer
  • Complications with the insertion and removal: it causes pain, irritation, inflammation or bruised, scars, including a thick scar called keloid and  infection when it breaks difficlting its  extraction.
  • Ectopic pregnancy (when it occurs outside the womb), they can cause severe internal bleeding and even death
  • Gallbladder problems
  • High blood pressure
  • Irregular and unpredictable bleeding
  • Menstruation alterations
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Pain in breasts
  • Rare cancerous  and non cancerous liver tumors
  • Stomach pain
  • Vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina)
  • Viral infections such as colds, sore throats, sinusitis or similar symptoms to the flu



It prevents pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation and causing thickening of the cervical mucus flow, making difficult the entering of the sperm to the uterus. It also affects the normal growth of the endometrium (the baby's food in the mothers womb), presenting a hostile environment to the implantation and development of a new life already conceived. Therefore, acts as an abortive.

Abortive: alters the normal growth of the endometrium and prevents the implantation of the newly conceived baby or suspends the continuity of the pregnancy, after the baby is implanted, due to the absence of a normal endometrium.


  • Anemia
  • Bad odor from the skin
  • Breast cancer
  • Cerebrovascular diseases
  • Changes in weight or overweight
  • Chest pain, pulmonary embolism
  • Chromosomal abnormalities predominantly in women younger than 30 years
  • Danger to the fetus during pregnancy: some women, especially those who are breastfeeding, may be  already pregnant when they receive the first injection and can receive the second injection before knowing that they are pregnant. It is known that drugs of this type are associated with fetal abnormalities, mostly side effects of masculinization in female fetuses.
  • Decline in milk production
  • Depression and inhibition of libido
  • Diabetes
  • Dizziness, fatigue, backaches, leg cramps, nausea, insomnia, leucorrea (vaginal discharge), acne, vaginitis, pelvic pain, hair loss, flaccidity, allergies, swelling, heat
  • Dysmenorrhea (excessive pain with menstruation)
  • Ectopic Pregnancy
  • Facial tremors
  • Fever
  • Fluid retention that can cause: migraines, asthma, epilepsy, cardiac or renal dysfunction
  • Heavy, long and irregular bleeding
  • Infertility
  • Liver dysfunction or disease
  • Long and unpredictable delays in the return of fertility
  • Maculine and female intrauterine genital abnormalities in the fetus during the first trimester of pregnancy
  • Malignant tumors of the breast, mastalgia (breast pain), inflammation and bleeding nipples
  • Osteoporosis
  • Paralysis
  • Possibility of cervical cancer
  • Potential psychological disorders and convulsions
  • Problems with the vision
  • Retinal thrombosis
  • Scleroderma
  • Serious alteration of the menstrual cycle
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Slight deterioration of the tolerance to carbohydrates
  • Tachycardia
  • Thrombophlebitis
  • Uterine hyperplasia
  • Vaginal Cysts
  • Varicose veins, vein thrombosis


Small object that is placed inside of the womb (uterus) of the woman with the purpose of preventing or stopping pregnancy.

There are two types of IUDs available in the United States: IUD Copper T, a plastic and copper device, and the Intrauterine System (IUS), a plastic device that releases hormones.

These artificial methods of birth control (which are placed in the woman uterus through the cervical canal, which may contain traces of metals or hormones to increase its abortifacient effect and only have an efficiency of about  84%) they have a dropout rate of up to 50% among strong and healthy women.

Creates a chronic inflammation of the endometrium or lining of the uterus, which prevents the implantation of a newly conceived human life and produces an abortion.

Abortifacient effects of the IUD: ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortions, congenital defects and septic pregnancy.

The Copper T and the IUS produce a constant  inflammation in the uterus, the same reaction that the body has to a foreign object, like a splinter in the skin.

The inflammation of the reproductive organs causes some cells of the body from the woman to attack and destroy the spermatozoide, the ovum and even the newly conceived embryo.
 
The IUD Copper T also releases this metal continuously in the womb continuously, (the name Copper T is given because of a membrane galvanized coating of copper that covers  the plastic body in the form of "T" that has the device) and the copper spreads on the part of the fallopian tubes more closely  to the womb.
 
The copper may poison directly the ovum or the sperms. If conception, occurs, the copper could also poison the embryo while still in the fallopian tube, thereby causing the destruction of a new human life.
 
The IUS releases hormones that have multiple effects on the femenine reproductive system. In each normal menstrual cycle, the womb builts a tissue and chemical substances that  help with the survival and movement of the spermatozoides and maintains a favorable environment for the implantation (process by which a new embryo joins the womb to obtain nourishment and survive).
 


  • Allergy to copper
  • Anemia
  • Back pain
  • Copper toxicity
  • Ectopic Pregnancy
  • Heavy menstrual bleeding
  • Ovarian Cysts
  • Pelvic inflammatory infection
  • Perforation of the bladder
  • Perforation of the uterus
  • Permanent Sterility
  • Septic Abortion
  • Spontaneous Abortion



The term "emergency contraception" refers to the use of pills or the insertion of devices to try to prevent pregnancy after the sexual act. 

The types of "emergency contraception" includes the use of:
 the pill of the day after or morning after pill
 the introduction of the intrauterine device (IUD) – Copper T
 the use of the abortion drug Danazol or Mifepristone  (RU-486).

Effectiveness of the “emergency contraception”:
 
It is very difficult to measure the effectiveness of the “emergency contraception” because a woman is fertile for only 100 hours of her menstrual cycle, and most of the women do not know if they are in their fertile time or not.

“To date, no study has shown that an increased access to this method (the morning-after pill) reduces the incidence of unwanted pregnancy or abortion ....” 

In General terms, the evidence suggests that the morning-after pill is not effective for prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Does this mean that the so-called emergency contraception is a abortion, which can
cause an abortion?
 
A new human life begins at conception. The "emergency contraception" can cause death of a newly formed human being preventing implantation. Since implantation occurs 5 to 7 days after conception, pills and devices that destroy a new human being by preventing implantation should be called “abortifacient”.

Functioning of  "emergency contraception”:

The Intrauterine Device (IUD) or Copper T affect the endometrium so the uterus is not receptive to the implantation of the ovum already conceived (a Human Life newly conceived), therefore, functions as an abortive.
 
Danazol and Mifepristone (RU-486) is a medicine used to destroy a newly conceived Human Life causing a chemical abortion.
 
When the conception has already happened, then the only way by which the Copper T or pills can be effective is preventing the implantation. With the current technology available , a woman or her doctor can not know at the time that she takes the pills or the IUD is introduced, if she has conceived or not. A pregnancy test can not give this information.

Therefore, everytime that these pills are taken or an IUD - Copper T is inserted after sexual activity, there is the risk that a new human life is destroyed




The phrase "the morning-after pill" is used to describe a set of birth control pills taken after sexual    intercourse, with the purpose to prevent pregnancy.

There are many brands of pills a day after, some contain only the progesterone hormone in a  synthetic form, and others are a combination of estrogen and synthetic progesterone.

Contains the same chemicals (hormones synthetic steroids) that oral birth control methods contain and operates probably the same way in a woman's body.

Can inhibit or delaying the natural release of an ovum from the ovary (ovulation) or prevent the transportation of the spermatozoide or ovum, inhibiting  conception.

Recent investigations, have shown that the hormones used in birth control pills have adverse side effects in the inner layer of the uterus (endometrium). These hormones affect the normal growth of the endometrium, causing a hostile environment for the implantation and development of a new life already conceived.  These chemicals substances also modify certain organic compounds, making it difficult for the embryo to implant and grow.

Therefore, also acts as an abortifacient.

Knowing that the pills used for emergency contraception contain large doses of the same chemicals found in the typical birth control pills, therefore, “emergency contraception” could increase the risk of health problems in the same way as the pill.





Normal Breast Physiology:  The Reasons Oral Contraceptives and Induced Abortion Increase Breast Cancer Risk

A woman gains protection from breast cancer by completing a full term pregnancy.

In the uterus, her offspring produce chemicals that mature 85% of the mother’s breast tissue into cancer resistant breast tissue.

If the pregnancy ends through an induced abortion or a premature birth before 32 weeks, the mother’s breasts’ will have only partially matured, retaining cancer-susceptible breast tissue when the pregnancy is terminated. This increased amount of immature breast tissue will leave the mother with more places for cancer to start, thereby increasing her risk of breast cancer.

Oral contraceptives increase breast cancer risk by their proliferative effect on breast tissue and their direct carcinogenic effects on DNA.

In order to understand the reasons why both abortions  and oral contraceptives cause breast cancer, one must first understand three areas:

Normal breast development and maturation throughout a woman’s life from her conception through the birth of a child.

The “susceptibility window” when a woman is most vulnerable to carcinogens.

The carcinogenic effects of the predominant female sex steroids (estrogen and progesterone) upon the breast.

The abortifacient effects of oral contraceptives



In a press release of July 29, 2005 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) a division of the world health organization (WHO), revealed the little publicized classification of combined estrogen-progestogen oral contraceptives (OCs) as carcinogenic. The IARC placed the contraceptive/abortifacients into its group 1 classification, which is the highest classification of carcinogenicity. This classification is only used “When there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans”

Combined estrogen-progestogen OCs are the most commonly prescribed methods of artificial birth control. “Worldwide, more than 100 million women – about 10% of all women of reproductive age – currently use combined hormonal contraceptives”. Tragically, the WHO is only admitting “late” what was already reported in 2003 by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and other scientific bodies that have found a substantially increased risk of several types of cancer among combined OC users, citing a “significant increase” of the risk of breast cancer, as well as an increase in the risk of cervical and liver cancers. What they failed to report is that millions of women are being given the same carcinogenic chemicals, particularly the poor in Third World countries, through the Depo- Provera injections, implants, patches, Intra-uterine devices, etc. Even though there is immediate danger to the millions of women, who are regularly ingesting or inserting “Carcinogenic chemicals”, the IARC did not recommend the immediate removal of combined estrogen-progestogen oral contraceptives from the market.

Your return to normal cycles will depend on how long you have been using artificial methods of birth control. Following is a possible example of how the body tries to return to fertility after using the birth control pill for less than one year.