In the last fifty years, we have seen many products and hormones that challenge womanhood. The 1960s saw the spreading of the contraceptive pill in the West in order to give working women more control over family planning and full freedom of having sex without the threat of pregnancy. Sexually active teenagers also take it with parental permission to prevent accidental pregnancies. That is how the pill gained popularity in the last five decades. Let us see how it works.
The 21-day pill works by temporarily shutting the reproductive system (ovaries). No ovulation; no pregnancy. After the three-week course of hormones, the seven-day placebo pills allow a woman to experience her monthly period and make the uterus flush out its lining despite the absence of ovulation. Women take the contraceptive pill for the entire month for different reasons. Some suppress their menses to enjoy an uninterrupted holiday; others to perform and complete Haj in one stretch or to be able to fast the whole month of Ramadan without interruption.
After the year 2000, the notion of birth-control pill was taken a step further. The drug industry made it even more practical for women by manufacturing injections that put end to both ovulation and menses. Some products make the monthly cycle seasonal (3 or 4 times per year); others shorten menstrual days. These menstruation suppressors are made of the same hormone mix as the contraceptive pill; only the seven sugar pills are replaced by seven contraceptive ones in order to stop the period from flowing altogether. Such contraceptives are marketed not only to prevent pregnancy, but also to “free” women from the natural feminine monthly occurrence, thus stopping her reproductive functions at an early age. By inhibiting menstruation, these pills alter the hormonal composition of women, making them sterile. Remember, menstruation and pregnancies are not the only targets; the whole hormonal system is disrupted in order to accommodate certain freedoms.
Many women ignore the benefits of healthy hormonal functions that include normal menstrual cycles, ovulation, emotional and mental well-being, strong bones, fit heart and cardiovascular system (a natural protection for menstruating women), beautiful youthful skin and hair, sharp mental responses, and healthy reproductive system and libido.
Moreover, the contraceptive pill and menstruation suppressors interfere with the female hormonal balance. They supply four folds the amount of estrogen needed by the female body. Such elevated (synthetic) estrogen levels increase the occurrence of heart attacks, cardiovascular disease, clots, and strokes in young woman. High estrogen levels (let alone xenoestrogen through pesticides and other chemicals) circulating in the body augment the risk of hormone-related cancer like breast and cervical cancers, even though they may decrease the risk of ovarian cancer. Surplus of estrogen can counteract the functions of testosterone, dampening sexual desire and triggering depression.
Long-term use of contraceptives raises many health concerns plus the possibility of sterility. Then, what happens when women take them continuously without the seven-day break? Well, such women are changing their constitutional makeup as well as their feminine body curves to a more shapeless form.
Researches indicate that naturally menstruating women experience less heart attacks, strokes, and osteoporosis than men and postmenopausal women. The monthly cycle eliminates excess iron and other harmful substances; renews blood cells; regularly sheds uterus lining; protects bones; and stabilizes hormone balance.
A study showed significant bone loss and restricted bone development in teenagers who take the pill continuously. What happens to the bones when menses are completely suppressed? What happens to breast tissue with long-term pumping of estrogen? I expect to see more side-effects when nature is defied.
Short-term oral contraceptives may not be as harmful as the long-term suppression of menstruation, which can result in unexpected disorders to women’s mental, emotional, and physical health. Such a decision requires lengthy contemplation before rushing into altering one’s physiological and psychological makeup, thus inviting complications at a very young age.