Taking the contraceptive Pill may increase a woman’s chance of developing multiple sclerosis. An [s]IoL[/s] report says that this is according to a new US study which found that the risk of MS could be up to 50% higher among women on the Pill. The findings also show young obese women are at greater risk of the disease, probably because they produce higher levels of a hormone known to regulate appetite. Lead researcher [b]Dr Kerstin Hellwig[/b] said: ‘These findings suggest that using hormonal contraceptives may be contributing at least in part to the rise in the rate of MS among women.’ The report says previously animal research led experts to believe female hormones might delay the onset of MS, and a British study suggested Pill users had a 40% lower risk. The new research will be presented at the [b]American Academy of Neurology’s[/b] annual meeting in April/May 2014.
[link url=http://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/multiple-sclerosis-linked-to-the-pill-1.1655491#.Uxb8Oj-SzE0]Full IoL report[/link]
Contraceptive pill may increase chance of developing MS
