Also, stylist Barry Fletcher wrote a book a few years back called "Why are Black Women Losing their Hair?". I just purchased a copy maybe two months ago. I skimmed through it but have not read it. But it is very interesting. I believe he touched on certain methods of birth control [and other prescribed medications]and it's chemical effect on our hair texture. I will look through it tonight to be sure.

You know I am on Estrostep birth control pills and they work well for me. One thing that it does is improve skin. My hair is still long. I can tell you other things ;) that it also works for but PM me.

I have another ques. If your hair doesn't take to a chemical treatment (i.e. relaxer), thought you still had to wait like 4-6 weeks, someone just told me that if you hair didn't take you can try to retreat in as little as two weeks? Has anyone else heard or done this, I wouldn't want to be BALD!!! Any beauticians on the board?

There is so much I could say, but I would take too long.

Estrogen analogs have been reported not to disrupt anything other than the "listed" side effects...

To tell you the truth, these drug companies care less about a sistah and her hair... They are probably "in" with it with Revelon so that we got to go every week if we must remove that "kink"...

The basic nature of relaxers have not changed since introduced... They use to make relaxers with eggs back in the day... Lye, which is sodium hydroxide--the opposite of an acid and the strongest of alkalines is the ONLY chemical they would like to use to break keratin's disulfide bonds that reshapes the hair strand. Since relaxers should NEVER be placed on your scalp, new growth's pace is a matter of your genetic background and any chemicals you have in your body.

Because most persons of Afrikan descent have short stubby hair follicles, which is the cause of the woolly hair, the wax that protects our scalp--meaning our skulls and our brains made by the sebaceous glands, has more UV protective oils and molecules from the immune system compared to those who are of indirect Afrikan descent...

Naturally, what estrogen does during the menstrual cycle is slow down egg releasal until such time that other elements build up in a woman's body to ensure the best time of implantation in the uterus... Estrogen also protects a woman's blood circulation to ensure the highest amount to fat to flow through her arteries in order to reach her "baby"... However, when reproductive health has stopped, estrogen is turned off completely and a woman begins to have more "manly" attritubes...

What the estrogen analogs do is completely blow out the menstrual cycle, and that one week you are off the pill, that drop, all I gotta say is hold-on for the ride... The concept of "birth control" has not improved since the pill's introduction--techonology of delivery has improved, but not changing what is is. And come to find out, it take at least 10-20 hormones to balance out a woman just to ensure conception! It's amazing that humans have gone forth and multiplied...

If the estrogen analogs completely block menstruation, then can you think of other things it might block?

I am not a medical doctor or a ob/gyn, but I do know the research and I have an opinion on it. All I can suggest to those concerned is pray and meditate about your choices. There are quick fixes to problems, but that is a band-aid approach. If you want complete removal and revelation, that is something that requires a lifestyle change and please get the support that you need no matter what choice you make.

Has anyone tried Ortho Evra?

I'm on it now and I ABSOLUTELY love it! It is so much easier than taking the pill and I haven't had ANY side effects from it. The only thing that I don't like about it is the beige color which doesn't look all that flattering on darker skin. If it were clear it would be perfect.

I started Sunday. I think I could be experiencing a side effect: nausea. :o The beige color doesn't look good at all. :p I was thinking that the company would create a transparent patch. I know there are patches for women going through menopause are clear/transparent/translucent.

:confused:

I know a soror who stopped using it because of a rash the patch caused on her skin. :o

A very good friend of mine was using Ortho Evra for seven months and she ended up pregnant. When she asked her doctor how this could have happened he told her that three other patients experienced the same thing. So I guess no form of birth control is 100%. Be careful.

In order to get preggers...ya gotta be doin summin' :p
 

Get the Gun! :o

Been on it for 4 months and I also like it. I never had a problem taking the pill, but this is so much better. I have to remind myself to take it off. The only side effect I've experienced was having night sweats for a few days after my week off.

The only thing that I've heard about it is that it is not as effective if the woman is overweight. :eek:

My doc just started me on Yasmin, a low-dose hormone...I was having 'issues'. :o I haven't had any problems/side effects.

She's 5'5 (maybe 5'6) and at least 140lbs. She's like this is it (their 4th)

This is true for most low dose pills. They are designed for women 150 pds and under. I read that in Allure or Shape magazine.

Uh-oh, that's true for pills too? I had only heard that about the patch! Ummmm...I'll 'talk' to ya'll later! :eek:

*Running to call my GYN....* :o

get outta here...150 lbs?
 

Are all BC pills 'low dose'?
I was on the pill for 11 yrs SCRAIT until last December. It was very effective for me...

Dis patch betta do it's YOB! :p Why should I worry...I'm sure that there won't be another Immaculate Conception (ova heya). :o :p