Can Birth Control destroy a women's Circadian rhythms? Which Can lead to Cancer.

**Yahmeesh** · 10-07-2009, 03:50 AM

Can Birth Control destroy a women's Circadian rhythms? Which Can lead to Cancer.

Mechanism of action

The effect of hormonal agents on the reproductive system is complex. Overall, while secondary methods have been theorized, combined hormonal contraceptives work by preventing ovulation.

Progestin-only contraceptives can also prevent ovulation, but rely significantly on secondary mechanisms such as the thickening of cervical mucus. Ormeloxifene does not affect ovulation, and its mechanism of action is not well understood.

Combined

Combined hormonal contraceptives prevent ovulation by suppressing the release of gonadotropins. They inhibit follicular development and prevent ovulation as their primary mechanism of action.

Progestagen negative feedback decreases the pulse frequency of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release by the hypothalamus, which decreases the release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and greatly decreases the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) by the anterior pituitary.

Decreased levels of FSH inhibit follicular development, preventing an increase in estradiol levels. Progestagen negative feedback and the lack of estrogen positive feedback on LH release prevent a mid-cycle LH surge. Inhibition of follicular development and the absence of a LH surge prevent ovulation.

Estrogen was originally included in oral contraceptives for better cycle control (to stabilize the endometrium and thereby reduce the incidence of breakthrough bleeding), but was also found to inhibit follicular development and help prevent ovulation. Estrogen negative feedback on the anterior pituitary greatly decreases the release of FSH, which inhibits follicular development and helps prevent ovulation.

The rhythm method was developed in the early 20th century, as researchers discovered that a woman only ovulates once per menstrual cycle.

Not until the 1950s, when scientists better understood the functioning of the menstrual cycle and the hormones that controlled it, were methods of hormonal contraception and modern methods of fertility awareness (also called natural family planning) developed.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a hormone found in humans and other animals. It is synthesized and secreted by gonadotropes of the anterior pituitary gland. FSH regulates the development, growth, pubertal maturation, and reproductive processes of the body. FSH and Luteinizing hormone (LH) act synergistically in reproduction.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), also known as Luteinizing-hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) and luliberin, is a tropic peptide hormone responsible for the release of FSH and LH from the anterior pituitary. GnRH is synthesized and released from neurons within the hypothalamus.

GNRH activity is very low during childhood, and is activated at puberty.

During the reproductive years, pulse activity is critical for successful reproductive function as controlled by feedback loops.

However, once a pregnancy is established, GNRH activity is not required.

Pulsatile activity can be disrupted (*Ed.note birth control end note) by hypothalamic-pituitary disease, either dysfunction (i.e.,hypothalamic suppression) or organic lesions (trauma, tumor).

Elevated prolactin levels decrease GNRH activity. In contrast, hyperinsulinemia increases pulse activity leading to disorderly LH and FSH activity, as seen in Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

GNRH formation is congenitally absent in Kallmann syndrome.

The GNRH neurons are regulated by many different afferent neurons, using several different transmitters (including norepinephrine, GABA, glutamate). For instance, dopamine appears to stimulate LH release (through GnRH) in estrogen-progesterone primed females; dopamine may inhibit LH release in ovariectomized females.

*(ED note. Women on birth control control) end note.

Kisspeptin appears to be an important regulator of GNRH release.^[3] GNRH release can also be regulated by estrogen. It has been reported that there are kisspeptin-producing neurons that also express estrogen receptor alpha.^[4]

Medication

GNRH is available as gonadorelin hydrochloride (Factrel) for injectable use. Studies have described it being used via an infusion pump system to induce ovulation in patients with hypothalamic hypogonadism.

Question:

What happens with a lack of estrogen, due to Hypothalamus suppresion, brought on by "Bio-chemical Birth Control Methods"?

Why would would a women need

If Your Body Clock Is Disrupted, It Can Speed Cancer Growth

The destruction of the body's natural rhythms accelerated the growth of cancerous tumors in laboratory animals.

In mice whose body clocks -- also known as circadian rhythms -- were disrupted, "the body's defense system was apparently less able to control tumor growth." Others were following up on recent reports that the disruption of the body clock of those who perform shift work seems to result in a higher propensity for cancer.

In half the mice in the experiment, the researchers destroyed a part of the brain that controls the body's natural rhythms (The hypothalamus), including sleep-wake cycles as well as body temperature, hormone release patterns, immune response and metabolism. The remaining "control" mice received mock surgery.

(*The hypothalamus is responsible for certain metabolic processes and other activities of the Autonomic Nervous System. It synthesizes and secretes neurohormones, often called hypothalamic-releasing hormones, and these in turn stimulate or inhibit the secretion of pituitary hormones. The hypothalamus controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, ^[1] fatigue, and

circadian cycles).

The mice with part of their brains destroyed lost proper functioning of their body's natural rhythms, remaining at a more constant level throughout the day and night.

Researchers then implanted tumors into all of the animals, and monitored the animals for tumor growth as well as long-term survival rates.

The investigators found that the tumors grew two to three times faster in the animals whose rhythms had been disrupted. Those animals also experienced a significantly worse survival rate, living only 22 days after the tumor graft, compared with 26 days in the other group.

The study authors speculate that the part of the brain that controls the circadian rhythms may play a role in fighting off disease by its influence of the body's immune responses or hormonal fluctuations.

Human health is at its best when we have regular routines. This need is magnified in cases of chronic illness, so regular schedules in patients are well advised.

The findings may also point to ways that proper functioning of the body clock checks tumor growth. Journal of the National Cancer Institute May 1, 2002;94:690-697
While being underweight may support longevity, too little sleep may hasten aging. Decline in sleep is one the earliest events of aging. People should preserve the quality of their sleep as carefully as they look after their nutrition, exercise and attitude.

Birth Control - Birth Control Methods

Birth Control-Birth Control Methods