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Effect of Birth control pills

ttg
  • By ttg
  • Posted March 5, 2009 at 2:45 pm · 14 replies
  • In Living with NF2
  • Shared with the public
1 Recommendation

Does anybody know if birth control pills suppress tumor growth in young women?

Explore topics in this discussion:

Surgery Glioma Pregnancy

14 replies

Anne33

I have been on birth control pills since i was 18 due to heavy periods. i havent had any problems with supress tumor growth since i been on it.

ttg

I guess my real question is, will they help to supress tumor growth since the teen years for a young woman is such a time for hormornal surge and does that hormornal surge increase tumor growth?

ttg

Also, do all people diagnosed with NF2 have eye problems and do they all get the tumors in the ocular area?

CindyLouWho

I'm wondering if you could be confusing NF1 and NF2....or maybe it's me but I can't think of what types of ocular problems you could be referring to. People with NF2 do not generally get optic nerve tumors, 1 in 15 NF1 children do get them. People with NF2 can sometimes get cataracts though which can usually be treated. People with NF2 get tumors mostly in their brains which effect hearing and on their spines. They do not generally get the external tumors like we see in NF.

Cindy

ttg

I am talking about optic gliomas. Do most NF2 people get those or just the cataracts?

CindyLouWho

Women with NF2 are more likely to get optic nerve meningioma I think but I didn't think that was very common at all, certainly not as common as optic glioma is in NF1. Maybe someone has a statistic for that? 80% of the gliomas in NF2 are spinal. 60-80% of NF2 folks get cataracts. A certain percentage (less than 20% I think) get harmatomas on their retinas.

Sorry not sure that helps.

Cindy

nf1family

It would make more sense to me that it would make tumor production worse.
Birth control pill mimic pregnancy so you will not produce an egg.

I have always stayed far away for that reason. I used merena iud with no problems.

nf1family

Whoa....this train went off the tracks...lol

Poster asked if Birth control pills would effect NF1 by suppressing (or stopping) tumor growth.

My opinion is no.
As a woman with NF that has had pregnancies. I believe it is the opposite. I have never seen studies so it is only my opinion.
=] BUT
I believe it causes an increase in tumor production.
The pill causes your body to release pregnancy type hormone so you do not release an egg.

I see other here didn't have any problems? We could do a study right here! For those that did take birth control pill and saw no change can you tell us what kind of pill it was? Like low dose of estogen or what ever it is lol, I don't even know,

If everyone answers yes or no we could see what the percentage is among this NF community.

My opinion is no. It does NOT suppress tumor growth.
birth control pills cause tumor GROWTH.

=]
Alana

blissful09

Hi

I have been told by my doctors that certian birth control pills the ones with the high doses of hormone can increase tumor growth not suppress them, this goes for NF1, i have been given very low dosage BCP's but that is about it

hasjohns

Hi--

I just saw the original question. Regardless of whether BCP's suppress tumor growth or increase tumor growth, BCP's have other problems. Read the labels, blood clots are a big problem. I have NF 2 and suffered from a left leg DVT (blood clot). Four years post blood clot, my leg still hurts on a regular basis. This wouldn't normally be a problem, but when trying to recover from surgery post tumor removal, you don't want to be worrying about clots.

Dogsrule

I have not had any problems at all with the pill. I have not got worse at all. it has been a great deal of help for me since I took it for medical female issues. I was on it for 10 years with no medical problems or NF problems. All meds have side effects if you read the labels and ask your Dr. No meds are without side effects to everyone.

Tanissaurus

Estrogen in the general populus can cause tumors to grow... ie) breast tumor --- they will take you off of birth control if you are on it.

I myself have been on birth control since i was a teenager... I need it to regulate my period... otherwise i get a heavy flow.. or it comes late.. or early and is painful. I would keep an eye on how your body feels and any changes it has while you are on or off of B.C. If you note anything irregular call your geneticist right away.. they are pretty understanding with that sort of thing.. and typically should be able to get you in for an appointment right away.. if not you should call your genetic counsellor (they sit in when you see your geneticisit), they should be able to help you with any info you may need.

Stangchick98

Hi I'm curious as well to know how bcp's effect people with Nf. Doctors said low dose would be good yet you still have the risks of the pill. I have a very mild case of NF 1 and don't want to make it worse, I'm curious to know if there are other options out there besides the pill

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