1

To put this in perspective - according to my doctor the risk is still less than the risk of blood clots while pregnant.

Posted by: Cala | Link to this comment | 02-19-06 12:43 PM

2

Really, I'm pretty sure that the best thing for any woman's health is just to be a lesbian.

Posted by: bitchphd | Link to this comment | 02-19-06 1:26 PM

3

"may face double the risk of blood clots than women taking the pill"

That is one poorly structured comparative statement

Posted by: washerdreyer | Link to this comment | 02-19-06 1:44 PM

4

The risk of clots from BC pills is 3-5 cases per 10,000. The approximate risk for the patch, then, would be 6-10 per 10,000. That's still an awfully low AE rate. For any drug.

Posted by: apostropher | Link to this comment | 02-19-06 2:39 PM

5

re: 2

I think I read somewhere that regular pregnancy early in life has a preventative effect vis a vis certain cancers -- something about having 9 month time-outs from menstruation, etc.

It was a hypothesis connecting rising ages at which women first give birth and increasing rates of certain types of cancer. It may have been thoroughly debunked by now.

See http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=23093

'Course, pregnancy is pretty damn dangerous so the chances of dying pregnant but cancer free will probably override the overall effect on mortality.

['course I know that lesbians have kids, but the whole having kids thing would sort of overrule the health benefits of lesbianism]

Posted by: Matt McGrattan | Link to this comment | 02-20-06 4:52 PM