Birth Control, Part 1: FDA Approval & What Happened Next (feat. Mike Gaskins)

Are doctors telling us the truth about hormonal birth control? Do our doctors even know all of this? Tune in today to learn the facts behind hormonal birth control (IUD, pill, etc.) and how it may be affecting you or someone you love. Trigger warning: this episode mentions death and suicide. 

This episode is part 1 of a 2-part conversation about birth control. Part 1 features author and media producer, Mike Gaskins. Mike has become a women’s health advocate when it comes to birth control and its side effects. Jenn and Mike walk through the history behind hormonal birth control, how it came to be, and the impacts we are seeing in people’s health 50+ years later. Tune in to hear shocking truths about how birth control has affected (and continues to affect) women’s health. 

The Salad With a Side of Fries podcast is hosted by Jenn Trepeck, discussing wellness and weight loss for real life, clearing up the myths, misinformation, bad science & marketing surrounding our nutrition knowledge and the food industry. Let’s dive into wellness and weight loss for real life, including drinking, eating out, and skipping the grocery store. 

IN THIS EPISODE:

●   [4:53] Mike shares his story about how he came to be a women’s health advocate.

●   [8:14] Where does Mike’s research on birth control stories begin?

●   [11:22] Mike talks about the history, economics and politics of birth control’s approval and widespread use. 

●   [16:00] How is the FDA’s analysis on the benefits and risks of hormonal birth control like apples and oranges?

●   [20:30] What was the green plasma that was found in the donated blood of women?

●   [26:46] What health effects are we seeing now, 50+ years later after hormonal birth control was introduced?

●   [34:28] Jenn reviews a list list of side effects/diseases that can be caused by contraceptives and Mike highlights a few of them for us. 

●   [38:21] What is the multi-generational impact that birth control is having?

●   [40:35] With all the research Mike has done, what are his findings about doctors and the honest information they are sharing when prescribing birth control? 

●   [42:37] Where is the accountability about gathering information and understanding the side effects? Does it lie in the individual or the doctor?

●   [43:57] What are some alternatives to birth control?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

●   Because overpopulation was thought to be such a threat, the FDA changed the benefit to risk paradigm to approve birth control. The concern of overpopulation globally was weighed against the individual risk of a woman taking birth control. 

●   It's really easy to find the good stuff about birth control on the internet, but unless you know what you are looking for, it’s really hard to find the negative information. (search oral contraceptives and get to Google Scholar or PubMed).

●   Fertility awareness is just as, or more, effective than hormonal birth control with far fewer side effects. 

●   Trust your questions more than the answers. If you are not comfortable with the answers, keep pushing and researching until you feel confident that your question has been answered.

QUOTES: 

“I found this article that women who took birth control were 50% more likely to be diagnosed with Lupus.” - Mike Gaskins

“Why are 10 million women being used as guinea pigs?” - Alice Pelton

“This was the first time, in the history of pharmaceuticals, that we were giving a pharmaceutical to otherwise healthy people.” - Jenn Trepeck

“It all comes back to informed consent...I don't think you've been properly informed about just how dangerous this is.” - Mike Gaskins

“At that time (1970) 1 out of every 20 women was diagnosed with breast cancer. Today 1 out of every 8 women is diagnosed with breast cancer. We have seen the dramatic increases they predicted and the numbers are far worse than their greatest fears.” - Mike Gaskins

“You have no idea how many people you meet each day who have been negatively impacted by these drugs.” - Mike Gaskins

“That's one of the things I tell women who talk about their breasts feeling fuller or whatever, and it's like well you may see that as a good thing, but really have you questioned what that means? It means things are changing at a cellular level in your breasts.” - Mike Gaskins

RESOURCES:

Become A Member of Salad with a Side of Fries

Jenn’s Free Menu Plan

A Salad With a Side of Fries

A Salad With A Side Of Fries Merch

A Salad With a Side of Fries Instagram

GUEST RESOURCES:

In the Name of the Pill Instagram

In the Name of the Pill Facebook

In The Name of The Pill Book

In The Name of The Pill Website

GUEST BIO:

Mike Gaskins is an author and media producer who began his journey as a women’s health advocate after a world-renowned physician lied to him about birth control side effects. This chance encounter triggered a passion for research that led Mike to discover many shocking levels of deceit and misinformation surrounding these potent drugs. 

He frequently writes for a number of websites, and his book, In the Name of The Pill, explores the dubious nature of both the history and science of hormonal birth control.