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It's good for you. It's bad for
you. It causes cancer. It prevents
cancer. It makes you more fertile. It
makes you less fertile. You should
get on it. You should get off it.
All the conflicting information
floating around about the Pill is
enough to make you contemplate
abstinence. We recommend a far
less drastic measure: educate your-
self. Gather all the information you
can from reliable sources and,
together with your doctor, make the
decision that's right for you.
Here are a few facts to start you
off. First, the Pill is actually many

uing the Pill. Even so, they usually
become pregnant soon.
Some women wonder if their
bodies need an occasional rest
from the Pill. The simple truth is,
they don't. And switching to a less
effective form of birth control
increases your chances for un-
planned pregnancy. So much for
giving your body a "rest'

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pills. Since its introduction in 1960, You've also probably heard that
it's evolved from one high dosage there are risks associated with tak-
product into many much lower in ing the Pill. That is a fact. And you
dosage. From 150 mcgs. of estrogen should know what those risks are.
in 1960, down to 35 or less today. For example, if you are taking the
Yet, it's still the most effective form Pill you should not smoke.
of birth control available to you Especially if you are over 35. W hen
other than sterilization. Cigarette smoking is known
What about the Pill and cancer? to increase the risk of serious the
The Center for Disease Control has and possibly life- threatening
recently reported that women who adverse effects on the heart
took the Pill-even for 15 years- and blood vessels from Pill tonic
ran no higher risk of breast cancer use. What's more, women "
than women who didn't. with certain conditions or
The CDC also reported that ovar- medical histories should not
ian and uterine cancer are substan- use the Pill.
tially less common among women Even if you're already on
who use oral contraceptives. In the Pill, you should see your Pill
addition, Pill users are less likely to doctor at least once a year.
develop benign breast disease, pel- Decisions about birth con- the
vic inflammatory disease (tubal trol aren't easy and shouldn't
infections) and ovarian cysts. be taken lightly. Moreover, h
One of the Pill's greatest areas of they should be based on h
misconception is conception. Does information from first-rate
the Pill make you less fertile? Stud- sources, not secondhand
ies indicate that if you were fertile advice. If you're a Pill user, 21 tA
before you took the Pill, taking it read the patient information
should not affect your ability to regularly. Learn everything you can
have children later. However, some about what you're taking.
women may experience a short per- Whether you're considering get-
iod of readjustment after discontin- ting off the Pill or getting on it, the
better informed you are, the better
you'll feel about your decision.
And that's the truth.
A message from the Association of
Reproductive Health Professionals
through an educational grant from
Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation.

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