The Pill : Fifty Years Young

Today marks the fiftieth anniversary of the oral contraceptive pill, more popularly kown simply as the Pill.

An exerpt from Pharma in Focus records that " It was on 11 May 1960 that Searle Pharmaceutical Corporation introduced the first oral contraceptive Enovid (norethynodrel and an estrodial called mestranol) to the US market. Nine months later on 1 February 1961, Australia was the first country in Asia Pacific to launch the oral contraceptive pill. Known as Anovlar, it was marketed by Schering Australia, now part of Bayer Schering Pharma, and only accessible to married women.

In 1964, Anovlar was offered in a calendar pack for the first time, following a regimen still in use today: 21 days of hormones followed by a seven day break to allow for menstruation. This 21/7 regimen was introduced to help make it easier for women to keep track of their Pill. By 1967, over 12.5 million women worldwide were on the Pill.

Now, about 100 million women worldwide use combination hormonal contraception."

Whilst there is no question, the Pill brought immense change to women's lives, like most things in life, there's no such thing as a free lunch.

Debate has raged for many years as to whether the Pill might increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Clinical research would seem to indicate that genetically 'at risk' women, with the BRCA1 gene may have up to 11 times higher risk, however the consensus has been that within 10 years of ceasing to take the Pill, all women are on a level playing field of risk.

Common sense would suggest that the less chemical substances generally, we put in our bodies over time, the better the odds of remaining healthy.

If you would like further information on this topic, and strategies for detoxing your system from prolonged contraceptive use, call Patricia on 02 66559400.

In Good Health
Patricia