The Pill, A Blessing or a Curse? by Sherrill Sellman/ How to Take Estrogen / Progesterone, The Soy Issue

[Guest guest]

The Pill?

A Blessing or a Curse?

http://www.mindfully.org/Health/The-Pill-Blessing-Curse.htm

Sherrill Sellman / Total Health Jun01

Sherrill Sellman is the director of HormoneWise Digest - Vol. 6 - June -

2001

 

The year 2000 celebrated the 40th anniversary of “the Pill.” Much hoopla was

made of this newsworthy event by the media. But should women really be

rejoicing? For the past 40 years about 468 million women in the U.S. have

chosen some version of the pill as their preferred method of contraception.

This “medical miracle” has enlisted almost 90 per cent of Western women of

reproductive age at some time in their lives.

 

Choices now include the combined and the low-dose pill made with estrogen

and synthetic progesterone. Other choices include a progestin mini-pill, a

progestin injection known as Depo-Provera (effective for three months) or

the progestin implant, Norplant, which lasts for five years.

 

Initially women were prescribed contraceptive drugs for short-term use to

help space their pregnancies. Now however, these drugs are readily used to

“regulate” a girl’s period, eliminate acne, treat endometriosis, control

painful periods, suppress lactation, reduce PMS and manage of perimenopause.

 

There are women today who take birth control pills from puberty to

menopause, at which time they start on hormone replacement therapy. The

complex physiological processes of their reproductive lives have been

literally controlled and determined by powerful foreign chemicals. There is

really nothing natural about taking the pill. What happens to millions of

women when their bodies, instead of being in tune with the delicate balance

and flow of natural hormones are instead being controlled by some of the

most potent drugs found in the pharmaceutical pharmacopoeia? The action of

the pill actually castrates a woman by stopping her natural reproductive

cycle, which all too frequently creates permanent damage to her ovaries,

leaving her infertile. Fabio Bertarelli, Swiss billionaire who owns Serano

Laboratories which manufactures 70 percent of the world’s fertility drugs,

told The Wall Street Journal in 1993: “Our usual customers are women over 30

who have been taking birth-control pills since they were teenagers or in

their early 20s.”

 

All contraception formulas increase the risk of coronary artery disease,

breast cancer, cervical cancer, skin cancers, immune dysfunction, liver

toxicity, strokes, blood clots, osteoporosis, high blood pressure and

ectopic pregnancies. The side effects include nausea, vomiting,

migraine-type headaches, breast tenderness, allergies, weight increases,

changes in sex drive, depression, head hair loss, facial hair growth and

increased incidence of vaginitis. Also, women with a history of epilepsy,

migraine, asthma or heart disease may find that their symptoms worsen. Many

of these effects may persist long after the discontinuation of the pill.

Pill-users have an increased risk of two painful types of inflammatory bowel

disease: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. In addition, the pill

causes serious nutritional deficiencies of vitamins B1, B2, B6, folic acid,

B12, vitamins C, E, K, zinc and magnesium. Other levels of minerals and

vitamins are also altered.

 

Even more alarming is the fact that the earlier a woman uses the pill the

greater the risk of developing breast cancer and also having a worse

prognosis. One disturbing study showed that the pill caused chromosomal

aberrations in the breast tissue of young female users. This research was

further backed up with a study showing that there was a 100 percent

increased risk of breast cancer which extended from 10 years of pill use

down to just three months of use of the pill. So it is of no surprise that

women as young as 17 and 19 years old are now being diagnosed with breast

cancer.

 

Progestins make their own mischief, raising “bad” cholesterol and blood

pressure, distorting sugar metabolism, compromising the immune system and

creating undesirable masculinizing effects. Thus it is no wonder that

Depo-Provera should be of great concern to women. It was reported that women

who used it before the age of 25 increase their relative risk of breast

cancer by 50 percent and for women using it for six or more years, their

risk was raised significantly to 320 percent.

 

The pill affects many aspects of a woman’s experience in some unexpected

ways. For instance there is significant evidence that birth control pills

reduce hormones that are vital to the way women communicate sexually with

men. Certain volatile fatty acids, known copulins, are secreted in the

vagina and stimulate male sexual interest and behavior. Women who take birth

control pills, however, do not secrete copulins.

 

The great cycles and rhythms of nature are among the most fundamental

realities of physical life. A woman’s body and psyche are intimately woven

into the eternal cycles of life. We are just beginning to realize the price

we have paid for being part of a culture that chooses to eliminate these

natural cycles and instead have them commandeered by drug therapies which

are not the same identical hormones made by the body and do not mimic the

highly sensitive and intricately timed hormonal fluctuations. Certainly the

long-term effects of the pill in whatever form it comes is still to be fully

determined, not to mention the effect it may have on future generations. Is

it worth the price that women must pay in terms of their physical, emotional

and mental health for this form of contraception? Most women will ask what

are the natural alternatives to the pill? The answer to that question

requires a woman to make a deeper commitment to the understanding of the

workings of her body and her natural cycles. It’s learning about the various

indications of fertile and non-fertile times. Owning one’s fertility means

to have an intimate relationship with one’s own body. It requires taking

responsibility for sexual intercourse. It also requires the ability to

communicate with an understanding and receptive partner. It is certainly a

totally different approach from the way most women address the issue of

contraception and for that matter sexual relationships. As women move into a

greater acceptance and expression of their innate power, so too must they

once again regain authority over their reproductive cycles. If a woman’s

choice is to remain on the pill, it is imperative that she take nutritional

supplements that help address the pill-induced vitamin and mineral

deficiencies. Health food stores carry formulas specifically for women who

use the pill. It is also recommended to come off the pill after two years so

that natural fertility cycles can be restored. It is also advised to seek

consultation with qualified natural practitioners who can assess not only

nutritional needs but also correct the functional imbalances. The pill can

interfere with the healthy functioning of the liver, pancreas, digestive

system, ovaries, immunity and vascular systems.

 

There are, in fact, many natural birth control tools that offer a woman

effective and safe contraceptive freedom. Natural fertility awareness

programs and books teach the many indicators of a woman’s fertile times.

Through a combination of monitoring and charting temperature, mucus and even

astrological influence of lunar cycles, a woman can be finely attuned to

ovulation. During those fertile times, she can choose from a variety of

barrier methods such as the condom, diaphragm, cervical cap or a spermicidal

sponge. In addition, there are natural fertility techniques which

incorporate various methods to monitor fertile and non-fertile times rather

than overriding or manipulating them. One of the best is Ovu-Tech, a device

the size of a lipstick tube that has a small microscopic lens at one end and

a light at the other. If you are just about to become fertile or if you are

fertile, you will easily see a beautiful crystalline ferning pattern under

the microscope when applying saliva to the lens. This is an easy and

convenient way to monitor hormonal changes and enhance awareness of your

menstrual cycle. If you track your cycles and fertility on a calendar, there

will be a keen awareness of where you are in your monthly cycle. Whether you

are trying to conceive, avoiding conception or charting your cycles, the

Ovu-Tech is an inexpensive and reusable tool for fertility awareness. The

Ovu-Tech should always be used in conjunction with charting temperature,

cervical changes and mucus secretions. Maintaining choice and control over

one’s reproductive freedom is the right of every woman. Perhaps however, it

is time for women to rethink the entire pill issue. The change that is

needed to stop the exploitation of women’s health will require

 

Sherrill Sellman is the author of the best selling book Hormone Heresy: What

Women Must Know About Their Hormones, a passionate women’s health educator

and an international lecturer and seminar leader. She can be contacted at:

www.ssellman.com, e-mail: golight or P. O. Box 690416, Tulsa,

Oklahoma 74169, phone

 

Side Effects of the Pill

 

Minor

 

 

Allergic reactions: hay fever, asthma, skin rashes

Breakthrough bleeding

Decreased immune system function

Disturbances in liver function

Eye disorders: double vision, swelling of optic nerve, contact lens

intolerance and corneal inflammation

Facial and body hair growth

Fluid retention and bloating

Fungal infections and tinea

Hair loss

Loss of libido

Lumpy or tender breasts

Migraines

Nausea

Psychological and emotional disorders, depression, mood changes

Secretions from the breast

Skin discoloration

Increased incidence of suicide

Weight gain

Systemic candida infection

Urinary tract infection

Venereal warts

Vaginal discharges

Varicose veins

Major

 

Disturbance to blood sugar metabolism

Increased risk of a stroke and blood clots

Increased chance of hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure

Increased risk of gall bladder disease (gall stones)

Liver tumors

Increased risk of endometrial, cervical, ovarian, liver and lung cancer

Increased risk of ectopic pregnancy

Strong probability of more rapid

For information contact: http://www.ssellman.com or Email:

golight

 

 

http://www.nice2people.com/sellman/hormone-heresy4.htm

Part 4: How to Take Estrogen / Progesterone, The Soy Issue

 

Exploring the Hormone Heresy: An Interview with Women's Health Advocate

Sherrill Sellman

 

by Mary J. Shomon

 

Mary Shomon: Some practitioners believe that women with hypothyroidism can

benefit from natural progesterone treatment, that it helps improve thyroid

function. Can you explain this further?

 

Sherrill Sellman: Due to the increasing sophistication of saliva testing,

what is becoming apparent is that estrogen excess, not deficiency is the

real cause of the vast majority of women's hormonal complaints. Also, a

sluggish thyroid will worsen estrogen dominant symptoms and vice versa.

 

The use of natural progesterone has been shown to be most helpful to women

with mild symptoms of clinical hypothyroidism.

 

Women who are estrogen dominant have poor thyroid efficiency. Without

getting too technical, it is known that estrogen increases thyroxine-binding

globulin - the transport system for both T3 and T4. Globulin-bound thyroid

is inactive. The more thyroid hormones are globulin-bound, the less of the

active form is available. Adequate amounts of natural progesterone reduce

estrogen dominance and consequently, increase the biologically active form

of thyroid hormones. For many women, using natural progesterone along with

committing to a healthy diet, using nutritional support, reducing stress and

adding exercise is most effective.

 

It is also most helpful to include a cleansing program to detoxify the

tissues thus diminishing resistance to whatever circulating thyroid hormone

is present.

 

Mary Shomon: What do you think the best way is to get progesterone? What

about the over-the-counter progesterone treatments, such as the creams? Are

they as effective as compounded natural progesterone by prescription?

 

Sherrill Sellman: A good quality natural progesterone cream is as effective

as a compounded one. I, personally, like to use a natural progesterone cream

that has organic ingredients. It is recommended to use a cream that has

about 480 mg per ounce. When it is applied twice daily, morning and night,

it is the appropriate physiological dose.

 

Mary Shomon: Should a woman be tested for progesterone levels before

starting any form of supplementation? Basically, what I'm asking is, is

there any danger to a woman who self-prescribes and takes progesterone,

i.e., using the over- the-counter cream, without confirming that she has a

verifiable progesterone deficiency?

 

Sherrill Sellman: The symptoms of estrogen excess are quite identifiable. A

saliva test is not always necessary. Progesterone cream is quite safe. While

it is recommended to use 1/8 -1/4 tsp. twice daily, each women must really

adjust the dose to her body's needs and sensitivity. Some women only need a

very small amount while other may initially start off with a little higher

dose.

 

However, a saliva test is most helpful to get an overview of the entire

steroid hormone profile. Many steroid hormones can be measured besides

progesterone such as estradiol, estrone and estriol, DHEA, cortisol,

melatonin and testosterone. Saliva tests are now most effective for

measuring thyroid hormone levels. It would certainly be helpful to measure

these hormones yearly as well as establishing a baseline. In the case of

severe hormonal imbalance, it may also be prudent to measure hormones

several times a year to asses your treatments effectiveness. It is most

important that all the steroid hormones are in balance.

 

Mary Shomon: You typically don't recommend estrogen supplementation for most

women, unless they have a demonstrated deficiency in estrogen. Can you talk

a bit about why you think women should avoid conjugated estrogens, like

Premarin, and instead ask for estriol?

 

Sherrill Sellman: We often hear the term " natural estrogens " when it comes

to supplementation and think that they are a better choice than the

synthetic ones, such as Premarin. What is really necessary to understand is

that if a woman is truly estrogen dominant, any form of estrogen, whether

from conjugated horse urine or plant sources, is inappropriate and will only

increase the toxic and potentially harmful effects of estrogen dominance. I

always emphasis the importance of getting a saliva test to check if

estrogen/progesterone ratio is truly out of balance before ever considering

the use of any estrogen. Unfortunately, blood serum testing, the gold

standard of the medical profession, is notoriously inaccurate, leading to

false readings of estrogen deficiency. The WHO now recognizes saliva tests

as the most valid form of hormone testing.

 

There are several issues that surround the use of Premarin. First of all,

Premarin is made from PREgnant MARres UrINe. There are approximately 45,000

mares in Canada and the US who spend 7 months out of their 11 month

pregnancy in confined stalls with catheters attached for collecting their

urine. They generally are dehydrated (for a more concentrated urine) and

under great stress and duress. Premarin mare foals are sold when just a

couple of months old to slaughterhouses. There is quite a big business in

Premarin foals. That is the moral issue.

 

The other issue involves the ingredients of Premarin. There are 10 kinds of

estrogens found in Premarin. Only two are identical to human female

estrogen. The other 8 are horse estrogens, obviously, not natural to a

woman's body. Premarin's carcinogenicity is stated in the package insert.

Horse estrogens put the liver at risk of developing cancer. There is no

reason to ever take Premarin.

 

If a woman is truly estrogen deficient, then estriol may be appropriate.

Estriol is considered the safest of all the estrogens. It is the dominant

form of estrogen made during pregnancy. It is often recommended for vaginal

dryness and urinary problems. Estriol, in fact, governs the harmonious

workings and the suppleness of the lower third of the urethra, located in

the vagina. However, even then, women have a variety of vitamins and herbs

to choose from to eliminate that problem. Some of the most effective

alternatives include natural progesterone topically and intervaginally, the

herb maca, vitamin E capsules, vitamin E suppositories (made by Carlson

Laboratories), royal jelly, folic acid (10 mg) with a B-Complex, female

tonic herbs and Chinese herbal medicine.

 

Mary Shomon: What are your thoughts regarding soy foods and soy isoflavone

powders and supplements for menopausal symptoms? Do you have any thoughts

regarding the effects of soy on people with thyroid disease? Are there food,

supplements or natural options to deal with menopausal symptoms for women

with thyroid disease who don't want to use soy products?

 

Sherrill Sellman: I used to be quite a big soy fan until I began to do more

research into this subject. Now I err on the side of caution and actually

advise women to cut way down on their soy intake. The most preferred kind of

soy would be the fermented versions such as tempeh and mise because that is

the most digestible form of soy. The fermentation process destroys the

harmful toxins found in soy. Unfermented forms have potent enzyme inhibitors

that block the action of trypsin and other enzymes needed for protein

digestion.

 

Soy blocks the uptake of the essential minerals - calcium, magnesium,

copper, iron and especially zinc - in the intestinal tract.

 

It is now known that soy, in it's unfermented forms, does have an inhibiting

effect on the thyroid. It is also a very allergic food and hard to digest.

Contrary to the popular myth, Asians do not eat soy as a staple food but

rather only as a condiment. I have lived for several years in Southeast

Asian and know this to be a fact.

 

From my 8 years of research into women's hormonal health issues, I have

learned that all hormonal problems is do to a body that is out of balance..

The greatest hormone wreckers, as I like to call them, are sugar, caffeine,

alcohol, dairy, refined carbohydrates, hydrogenated oils, fatty foods,

margarine, aspartame ( diet drinks), pharmaceutical drugs, dehydration, lack

of sleep, skipping meals. junk food, dieting, eating pesticide-sprayed foods

and hormone laden meat. Long periods of emotional and physical stress are a

sure recipe for hormonal imbalance.

 

To regain hormonal balance and support thyroid function, we really need to a

commit to a healthy diet filled with adequate protein, essential fatty acids

and good quality carbohydrates (mostly from fruits and vegetables).

 

It is also important to embrace a healthy life style filled with physical

exercise, stress reduction, and a loving and supportive community of

friends.

 

I strongly recommend that women find a competent holistic practitioner who

can be a compassionate and qualified ally on in her quest for regaining

hormonal health and well-being. Healing the thyroid, as with any health

problem, is an holistic journey.

 

Mary Shomon: How can people find out more about your work?

 

Sherrill Sellman: My book " Hormone Heresy: What Women MUST Know About Their

Hormones " is available from bookstores, or from my web site

http://www.ssellman.com or by calling toll-free number 877-215-1721. I can

be contacted via e-mail at golight

 

My publisher is offering a wonderful holiday special for my Women's Wisdom

Pack which includes my book, audio tape and Hormone Heresy Compendium which

has 6 of my indepth articles revealing hidden truths about The Pill,

tamoxifen, osteoporosis, the myths of menopause, hysterectomies and much

more. Included is a special package of discount coupons with savings up to

$100 for some of the best natural products for balancing hormones naturally.

For further information contact http://www.ssellman.com/specialoffer.html or

call 877-215-1721.

 

I have also developed a personal one-on-one hormone coaching program through

phone consultations called The HormoneWise Program. It is a unique program,

designed to offer ongoing education, support, personal strategies,

resources, referrals and counseling to women seeking hormonal balance and

personal empowerment. For further information contact golight

or (918)437-1058.

 

Warmest regards,

 

Sherrill Sellman

P.O. Box 690416

Tulsa, OK USA 74169-0416

Ph: 918-437-1058

Fx: 918-437-1258

http://www.ssellman.com

 

Part 1: The Role of the Thyroid in the Hormonal System

Part 2: The Myths and Realities About Osteoporosis

Part 3: Too Much Estrogen, Not Enough Progesterone?

Part 4: How to Take Estrogen / Progesterone, The Soy Issue

 

 

Reprinted with Permission of Sherrill Sellman