In the new May*June 2010 Weight Watchers Magazine, they published a true or false quiz about bone knowledge and one thing I read made me wonder about my daughters health and whether they were aware of this vital fact.
Researchers from the University of Texas recently reported that nearly half of the women receiving a birth control shot called Depo-Provera, lost about 5 percent of their bone density in both their hip and lower spine, within 2 years. To me that would be taking huge risks-by telling us about this side effect, does it let the drug company off the hook for causing skeletal bone-mass damages or injuries as a result of women getting this shot?
Honestly, I don't always give credence to research-the results from some research testing do tend to come unglued after awhile-in other words, the findings are usually in doubt after a little time has passed, or the findings have been ruled out all together-but the potential risks here are what set the red flag waving to me-whether the facts get proven or not, in the long run, my daughters risk of a hip injury or chronic lower back strain due to a birth control shot is not within what I consider a safe alternative. Thank goodness I do happen to know neither of my DD's use this product, but I will be shooting off an e-mail to my DIL in a minute! This is something every women using birth control, should know!
3 comments:
Cindy, have you heard much about Boniva or the other drugs to prevent osteoporosis? I went off the drug because I had heard some people's teeth were cracking! My doc didn't argue with me so there may be something to it, altho maybe they just don't know. So far my last two bone density tests have been good. I eat lots of calcium....now I'll prob get a kidney stone!!! LO
Being a certified herbalist since 1986-I tend to be hesitant to jump on any new drugs that come out just because they are touted to be the greatest thing for everybody. I'm a skeptic at heart, I want proof-not just one year, but 10 years worth of proof. I have great respect for people who volunteer to be tested for new drug trials-without them, we wouldn't have half the medicines we have at our disposal-but sometimes the testing doesn't go on long enough and the side-effects aren't reported until after the damage has been done. Cracking teeth is a terrible side effect-one that will affect the individual for the rest of their lives-and will incur major dental expense. One crisis into another if they don't have dental insurance. Hopefully this is just a rumor!
Cindy, just now read your post. I agree they sometimes push drugs that are questionable. If they can crack teeth, what else might they do??
Pat
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