Marla Ahlgrimm: Oral Contraceptives and Cancer Risk

There are two primary types of oral birth control available in the US. Both are prescriptions formulated with synthetic hormones. One type, combined oral contraceptive, contains progesterone and estrogen. The second, the mini pill, contains only progestin, a synthetic progesterone used for contraceptive purposes.

Scientists know there is a link between naturally occurring sex hormones and the growth of certain types of cancers. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, it is suspected that since birth control pills contain these hormones, there may be a link between these cancers and contraceptive use. Interestingly, the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer appear to be reduced in women who regularly use oral contraceptives. Adversely, the rates of liver, cervical, and breast cancer are higher in the same demographic.

Breast cancer risks

Marla Ahlgrimm explains that a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer is dependent upon numerous factors. Many of these are related to her natural hormone production. Early menstruation, late-onset menopause, advanced-age pregnancy, and not having children all increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer. In 1996, a collaborative study found that women who were recent birth-control users had a slightly elevated risk of breast cancer, says Marla Ahlgrimm.

Marla Ahlgrimm Explains Hunger and PMS

If you have ever wondered why you can’t seem to put the candy and chips away just before your period, read on for information provided by Marla Ahlgrimm, retired pharmacist and hormone expert.

Sex hormones an appetite stimulant

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, females across most mammalian species, including humans, tend to experience nearly insatiable hunger in the days before their “active” period stage.  Many women crave carbohydrates and sugars with an uncharacteristic urgency. This binge eating is triggered during the premenstrual phase by the release of progesterone – the pregnancy hormone.

Sex hormones also appetite depressant

Ironically, another hormone associated with reproduction, estrogen, is a known appetite suppressant. Marla Ahlgrimm explains that estrogen peaks in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, just before ovulation. This happens about two weeks into the cycle.

Menopausal Hormone Therapy | Marla Ahlgrimm

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), which was formerly referred to as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), is a type of hormone treatment specifically administered to treat the symptoms of menopause, explains industry pioneer Marla Ahlgrimm.

Hormone therapy works to regulate the body’s systems and can reduce hot flashes, slow bone loss, and treat vaginal symptoms such as dryness and discomfort during intercourse. Hormone therapy may also lessen the effects of mild depressive disorder when triggered by waning estrogen levels. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, menopausal hormone therapy is often used as a short-term treatment until the body transitions. It is rarely prescribed to treat osteoporosis and other age-related diseases.

Who should not take MHT

Menopausal hormone therapy is not for women who may be pregnant or who plan to become pregnant. Marla Ahlgrimm asserts that those with bleeding disorders and women who have had breast and uterine cancer should not use hormone therapy. Additionally, women with heart and liver disease or blood clot disorders should speak to their doctor about alternative treatments.