I’ve never needed mifepristone, but I might need it someday and you might, too.

This drug has been approved for use for the past 25 years and is regarded as safe, yet it’s coming under fire because it regulates the female hormone progesterone. It can act on men as well, by dampening cortisol, the stress hormone, so men, this is for you, too, although you aren’t why this drug is in jeopardy.

We’re all influenced by our hormones, chemical messengers that regulate bodily functions such as metabolism, growth, and even mood.

Once a female matures, she’s under the rhythmic sway of two hormones—estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen dominates the first half of the menstrual cycle, promoting growth of the endometrial layer in the uterus and making a nest so to speak. Estrogen gives us our secondary sex characteristics such as breasts. It protects our bones and keeps cholesterol in check. It can sometimes encourage cancer, too.

Progesterone stabilizes the uterine lining, thickening it if a pregnancy occurs. If a woman’s body doesn’t detect a pregnancy, the progesterone drops and the uterine lining is shed as menstruation. Once a placenta forms, it continues to produce progesterone throughout the pregnancy. In addition to supporting pregnancy, progesterone can promote growth of cancer cells and uterine fibroids—non-cancerous uterine growths which often cause pain. Fibroids may also cause heavy bleeding and result in anemia. Up to 80% of women will at some point in their lives have fibroids.

Birth control pills work by blocking ovulation and thickening cervical mucus, making pregnancy unlikely if they are taken as directed. The Pill evens out the hormonal cycle. The drop in estrogen and rise of progesterone needed for ovulation doesn’t happen. This is what happens during pregnancy, to keep women from getting pregnant while pregnant. The Pill offers the added benefit of reducing acne, preventing endometriosis, and reducing the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers. Some mini-pills  and shots work by simply increasing progesterone to prevent ovulation.

“Emergency contraception has been used by about one-quarter of American women of reproductive age, or more than 15 million U.S. women.” Plan B contains a synthetic hormone that prevents ovulation in part by preventing the progesterone rise that comes before ovulation. It affects cervical mucus much like a birth control pill.

One hormone altering treatment coming under attack is Mifepristone, RU-486, the “abortion pill.”  This drug works by blocking progesterone and cortisol. It works in conjunction with other hormones to induce abortion, not as a stand-alone. The uses of mifepristone don’t stop here. It treats a variety of conditions such as fibroids, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, breast cancer, depression, and Cushing’s disease. In China, it’s used regularly to treat fibroids non-surgically. Many studies have shown its benefits in treating depression. (Read here for an overview)

My mom was treated surgically for endometrial cancer and developed systemic fibroids following treatment. She effectively lost the will to live. Mifepristone may have helped.

Mifepristone might work to treat many other maladies including Gulf War Illness, lupus, endometriosis, alcoholism, prostate cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis. It has been called the best treatment for advanced cancer. However, data is limited because abortion foes descend like harpies and block studies whenever benefits of this drug are mentioned or examined. This delay has been going on for nearly as long as mifepristone has been around. George Bush was a prime proponent of halting the study of mifepristone and its many uses. We’ve all been denied knowledge thanks to extreme beliefs.

We may even be denied use of this drug altogether. Despite decades of safe use and approval by major medical organizations, politicians are drumming up fear about this drug and claiming it’s unsafe. Additionally, The Iowa legislature considering limiting its availability. This drug is 14 times safer than pregnancy and has wide ranging potential to help both men and women with psychological problems. It’s safer than penicillin and Viagra.

Conservative politicians are censoring a useful treatment and a possible cancer cure and opening the door to ban other forms of birth control. This short-sightedness will deny us a top tier medication as well as bodily autonomy. Afterall, in some circles women are simply property. That’s where this bill is coming from, not from any medical evidence.

Inspiration came from this source, which provides further information.

I’ve never needed mifepristone, but I might need it someday and you might, too.

This drug has been approved for use for the past 25 years and is regarded as safe, yet it’s coming under fire because it regulates the female hormone progesterone. It can act on men as well, by dampening cortisol, the stress hormone, so men, this is for you, too, although you aren’t why this drug is in jeopardy.

We’re all influenced by our hormones, chemical messengers that regulate bodily functions such as metabolism, growth, and even mood.

Once a female matures, she’s under the rhythmic sway of two hormones—estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen dominates the first half of the menstrual cycle, promoting growth of the endometrial layer in the uterus and making a nest so to speak. Estrogen gives us our secondary sex characteristics such as breasts. It protects our bones and keeps cholesterol in check. It can sometimes encourage cancer, too.

Progesterone stabilizes the uterine lining, thickening it if a pregnancy occurs. If a woman’s body doesn’t detect a pregnancy, the progesterone drops and the uterine lining is shed as menstruation. Once a placenta forms, it continues to produce progesterone throughout the pregnancy. In addition to supporting pregnancy, progesterone can promote growth of cancer cells and uterine fibroids—non-cancerous uterine growths which often cause pain. Fibroids may also cause heavy bleeding and result in anemia. Up to 80% of women will at some point in their lives have fibroids.

Birth control pills work by blocking ovulation and thickening cervical mucus, making pregnancy unlikely if they are taken as directed. The Pill evens out the hormonal cycle. The drop in estrogen and rise of progesterone needed for ovulation doesn’t happen. This is what happens during pregnancy, to keep women from getting pregnant while pregnant. The Pill offers the added benefit of reducing acne, preventing endometriosis, and reducing the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers. Some mini-pills  and shots work by simply increasing progesterone to prevent ovulation.

“Emergency contraception has been used by about one-quarter of American women of reproductive age, or more than 15 million U.S. women.” Plan B contains a synthetic hormone that prevents ovulation in part by preventing the progesterone rise that comes before ovulation. It affects cervical mucus much like a birth control pill.

One hormone altering treatment coming under attack is Mifepristone, RU-486, the “abortion pill.”  This drug works by blocking progesterone and cortisol. It works in conjunction with other hormones to induce abortion, not as a stand-alone. The uses of mifepristone don’t stop here. It treats a variety of conditions such as fibroids, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, breast cancer, depression, and Cushing’s disease. In China, it’s used regularly to treat fibroids non-surgically. Many studies have shown its benefits in treating depression. (Read here for an overview)

My mom was treated surgically for endometrial cancer and developed systemic fibroids following treatment. She effectively lost the will to live. Mifepristone may have helped.

Mifepristone might work to treat many other maladies including Gulf War Illness, lupus, endometriosis, alcoholism, prostate cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis. It has been called the best treatment for advanced cancer. However, data is limited because abortion foes descend like harpies and block studies whenever benefits of this drug are mentioned or examined. This delay has been going on for nearly as long as mifepristone has been around. George Bush was a prime proponent of halting the study of mifepristone and its many uses. We’ve all been denied knowledge thanks to extreme beliefs.

We may even be denied use of this drug altogether. Despite decades of safe use and approval by major medical organizations, politicians are drumming up fear about this drug and claiming it’s unsafe. Additionally, The Iowa legislature considering limiting its availability. This drug is 14 times safer than pregnancy and has wide ranging potential to help both men and women with psychological problems. It’s safer than penicillin and Viagra.

Conservative politicians are censoring a useful treatment and a possible cancer cure and opening the door to ban other forms of birth control. This short-sightedness will deny us a top tier medication as well as bodily autonomy. Afterall, in some circles women are simply property. That’s where this bill is coming from, not from any medical evidence.

Inspiration came from this source, which provides further information.