Another birth control death

[snopes]

Comment: I just received this email and would like to know if it is true
or not.

---------------------

Recently this past week, my cousin Nicole Dishuk (age 31...newly grad
student with a doctorant degree about to start her new career as a
Doctor...) was flown into a nearby hospital, (She lives in Penn.) because
she passed out.

They found a blood clot in her neck, and immediately took her by
helicopter to the ER to operate. by the time they removed the right half
of her skull to relieve the pressure on her brain, the clot had spread to
her brain causing severe damge.

Since last Wednesday night, she was battling.. they induced her into a
coma to stop the blood flow, They operated 3 times..Finally, they said
there was nothing left that they could do.. they found multiple clots in
the left side of her brain.. the swelling wouldn't stop, and she was on
life support..She died at 4:30 yesterday. She leaves behind a husband, and
a 2 yr old Brandon and a 4yr old Justin.. The CAUSE of DEATH - they found
was a birth control she was taking that allows you to only have your
period 3 X's a year...

They said it interrupts life's menstrual cycle, and although
it is FDA approved... shouldn't be - So to the women in my address book- I
ask you to boycott this product & deal with you period once a month so you
can live the rest of the months that your life has in store for you.

*Please send this to every woman you know - you may save someone's life... Remember, you have a CYCLE for a reason!

Sincerely,
Jennifer Roselli

[Mouse]

Y'know if this birth control was so deadly, it might be helpful to actually name the product in question.

Mouse the "A certain kind of soft drink has been found to be lethal..." Louse

[justusfour]

Originally Posted by Mouse

Y'know if this birth control was so deadly, it might be helpful to actually name the product in question.

Mouse the "A certain kind of soft drink has been found to be lethal..." Louse

Technically I think most oral contraceptives, the patch, and the ring can cause blood clots, especially if the woman smokes or is already predisposed to blood clots.

ETA: I think side effects like that are caused by the estrogen in the products, not from not having a cycle every month.

If they want to do comparisons surely they need to list it against all the women who died during childbirth.

[me, no really]

Originally Posted by justusfour

Technically I think most oral contraceptives, the patch, and the ring can cause blood clots, especially if the woman smokes or is already predisposed to blood clots.

ETA: I think side effects like that are caused by the estrogen in the products, not from not having a cycle every month.

It is listed as a possible side effect in any birth control inserts I have read. I personally knew one woman who definitely and one who probably died as a result of stroke caused by hormonal birth control. It is also a possible side effect of pregnancy IIRC. This is the first time I have heard the risk linked to not menstruating though. I can see how the link could be made in someone who hasn't given it any thought though: "well, she didn't have periods so she had too much blood, so she got a clot and died". From what I understand this is not how the body works though - evan a little bit.

me

[Nana M]

Unless things have changed, the only reason there is a lining to shed during menstruation is because the body prepares the uterus for pregnancy and if that doesn't happen, the uterine lining is sloughed off. Birth control supposedly mimics pregnancy, so no lining, no egg to fertalize, no period. The period you do get on some birth control is mostly for psychological reasons, not because it is neccessary for your health. If you took the pills each day, you would never have a period.

The clots are, unfortunately, due to the estrogen used for birth control. That's the reason for the 'mini-pills'. They are less risky.

[landmammal]

I think they're referring to Seasonale, which you take for 3 months straight, then a week off, so you'd get your period ~4 times a year. It's the exact same as another brand of BC (don't recall which one); it's just packaged differently.

I don't think it's riskier than any other oral contraceptive. Blood clots are a known risk of hormonal BC, but as my package insert kindly points out, oral contraceptives are safer than pregnancy/childbirth except for smokers over the age of 35.

[Ana Ng]

ETA: Okay, like 12 people posted since I opened the thread. Sorry.

Originally Posted by Mouse

Y'know if this birth control was so deadly, it might be helpful to actually name the product in question.

Mouse the "A certain kind of soft drink has been found to be lethal..." Louse

The pill specifically marketed with fewer inactive pills for fewer periods is Seasonale. However, this has been done "off label" for years. There was no particular new pill created for this purpose.

The FDA didn't have to approve it because it was the same old pill. And the pill *can* kill you, but this isn't news. And it isn't common.

We have another death....must ban all birth control. Of course, no one ever died in childbirth....

[J's Mommy]

I know a woman who had a stroke attributed to birth control pills when she was in her early thirties. Of course, she smoked, drank, and did just about everything you aren't supposed to do while taking the pill. If used correctly, the pill is unlikely to cause any problem. I took them for years, and they were great.

[FloridaGirl]

Clots don't spread. They may travel, but they don't "spread."

[sneeze042]

My cousin from Norway was on birth control, and she got what resembled a gluten allergy, which turned out to be due to the birth control. I don't know what BC she was on, but she had a lot of problems from it.

[Aud 1]

I know someone too who had a clot related to BCP she lost her sight. Of course she might have had a better outcome had the hospital not assumed she was drug seeking at first.

And if someone doesn't have a cycle what's the reason then.

[Canuckistan]

Here appears to be Nicole Dishuk McKeon's obituary. She apparently died of a stroke.

Here's a version of the OP that doesn't appear to credit Jennifer Roselli.

[justusfour]

Originally Posted by Aud 1

I know someone too who had a clot related to BCP she lost her sight. Of course she might have had a better outcome had the hospital not assumed she was drug seeking at first.

And if someone doesn't have a cycle what's the reason then.

The estrogen in the pills (and patches and rings) is what causes blood clots. Not having a cycle every month has nothing to do with developing blood clots.

[Nana M]

Originally Posted by Aud 1

I know someone too who had a clot related to BCP she lost her sight. Of course she might have had a better outcome had the hospital not assumed she was drug seeking at first.

And if someone doesn't have a cycle what's the reason then.

I'm not sure I'm interpreting your question correctly, but you cycle so you can get pregnant. If you don't want to get pregnant, why cycle? If there is no egg, there's no lining and no 'blood buildup'. You don't NEED a period unless the whole egg, lining, shedding happens.

[geminilee]

Originally Posted by J's Mommy

I know a woman who had a stroke attributed to birth control pills when she was in her early thirties. Of course, she smoked, drank, and did just about everything you aren't supposed to do while taking the pill. If used correctly, the pill is unlikely to cause any problem. I took them for years, and they were great.

Actually, the pill can cause clots in people predisposed, as was mentioned earlier. It can happen even if you do not smoke. And I think drinking would actually lower your risk of clots, as it thins the blood.
I had blood clots in my leg when I was 16, because of an autoimmune disorder that was exacerbated by the hormones in the pill. Any sort of hormones can trigger clots, it has nothing to do with the lack of periods.

[Lady Neeva]

This is another case where I'd (mildly) like to find the author of something and hit them upside the head with a cluebyfour.

This particular cluebyfour consists of pointing out that there are some women who no longer have periods/cycles and they aren't dead from blood clots caused by that. Like women who've gone through menopause, or had a hysterectomy as a result of trauma stuff like that.

Yes, hormonal birth control can cause clots, strokes and other assorted problems... it's one reason I wouldn't feel comfortable taking them myself. Fortunately, if I were to wake up pregnant one morning I have a good husband so I can afford to do that. Otherwise I'd have to fall back on celibacy lol.

[DawnStorm]

Several years ago, I had a DVT caused by taking The Pill. Doesn't make The Pill bad, it just meant that I could no longer take it. So much for trying to control my cycle!

Dawn--YMMV--Storm

[snopes]

For many women, a birth control pill that eliminates monthly menstruation might seem a welcome milestone.

But others view their periods as fundamental symbols of fertility and health, researchers have found. Rather than loathing their periods, women evidently carry on complex love-hate relationships with them.

This ambivalence is one reason that a decision expected by the Food and Drug Administration has engendered controversy. The agency is expected to approve the first contraceptive pill that is designed to eliminate periods as long as a woman takes it. Doctors say they know of no extra risk to the new regimen, but some women are uneasy about the idea

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/...e/20period.php