Putting Contraceptive Risk into Perspective

I made a chart and had to share

I just finished a very large project (as in heading out for a celebratory dinner now that it’s finished and large as in it took 1.5 years to complete). I had to cut some things that didn’t fit, as one does. One of those things was a chart about the risk of death from estrogen-containing contraceptives.

There is so much disinformation about hormonal contraception I can barely keep up. And I get that it’s scary. For example, I know that The Business of Birth Control, essentially an infomercial for naturopaths disguised as a documentary, painted contraception as incredibly scary. But either the people involved were willfully uninformed or they had a bad grasp on medical facts. Or both. Who am I kidding, it’s always both.

So, I thought a chart that puts the risk in perspective might be helpful, because when you see the risks of the pill in relation to other things, it provides some perspective. All the serious risks from contraception come from the estrogen, hence why none of the progestin-only methods are listed in the chart.

The chart is risk of death in one year. Obviously, there are other risks, but since some people are in the business of creating the ultimate fear, I thought I’d tackle the biggest fear.

Another take home from the chart is just how unsafe pregnancy is for women in the United States, especially Black women. It’s absolutely shocking and unacceptable.

Here’s what’s coming up in the next week….

I know a study just came out about the risk of breast cancer and progestin-only contraception. There is no reason to panic, but I will have something up by Sunday on that paper.

And later in the week I am reviewing a new scammy supplement aimed at women and that may be part of a disturbing new trend.