Dr. Plank's Weight Loss & Nutritional Nuggets

Hi! On today's episode I want to delve into the ethical, medical and nutritional issues of oral birth control pill usage. “The pill” was first marketed in the 1960’s, it’s purpose was contraception, but with any medication comes side effects and quickly, the pill side effects included increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular events. Interestingly, the manufacturing companies listened and lowered the dose of estrogen in the original pill due to these concerns. The market for the pill became fierce, to improve marketing and the manufacturers financial bottom line, birth control pills started being marketed for: acne, to reduce the number of menstrual cycles and to alleviate premenstrual syndrome (PMS). These marketing claims by pharmaceutical companies promised women they would be more comfortable with themselves, by being free of the constraints of menstruation and hormone imbalance. As marketing campaigns do, it changed the perception of the pill for unwanted pregnancy to a “lifestyle drug.” This is