Customer Reviews

A Consumer's Guide to the Pill and Other Drugs

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This book contains essential information for anyone who would prescribe, use or research oral contraceptives. As a physician, I have found this book to contain all of the necessary information required to make a truly informed decision about oral contaceptives and other similar medications. This information is either ignored by the general public, but usually buried by the pharmaceutical companies in technical jargon that the average person finds impossible to understand. Mr. Wilks' book cuts through all of this and presents all of the information about these drugs; their risks, side-effects and complications, in an easy to read format that cannot be found anywhere else. Professionals and consumers alike will find this book extremely informative and probably more than a little disturbing, as the truth about these drugs is seldom told.

I have made this book required reading for my students when I started teaching Medical Ethics here at the university. Most of my students and colleagues (both groups include nurses, doctors, med. students, P.A.'s, etc.) are astounded by what they learn from this book. It's tragic that almost no one is telling women about the inherent dangers of the Pill. Likewise, I think it is criminal that most "HIV education programs" on college campuses do not include Wilks' information on condoms and spermicides. He shows that counting on latex to save your life or prevent pregnancy is a dangerous illusion. Also, he makes clear that HPV (the most common, communicable and deadly viral STD) is transmitted even when condoms are used "correctly and consistently" (even assuming the latter criteria were actually attainable!). This book can save lives. It is must-reading for health professionals, guidance counselors, teachers, parents. I can't wait for a third edition!

Having read volumes on the subject and having a doctorate in pharmacology, I highly recommend this tome of wisdom from Dr Wilks. He has with over 1000 references silenced the critics of the Pill and other common abortifacients masquerading as "contraceptives". He has also laid out carefully and with precision all the devastating side effects from these powerful steroids which are wrecking havoc on women all over the globe, especially on poor Third World women who have little or no access to support health services.

I am a practicing pharmacist who has had many instances of side-effects due to taking the pill present themselves by women in the pharmacies in which I have worked. Reading the pharmaceutical manufacturers' material and much of the media articles, one would think that these are rare and not very serious. John Wilks has amassed an enormous amount of research showing the true nature of these chemicals being presented as safe and effective for contraceptive purposes. Dr. Wilks' work is useful for both lay people and professionals. This is a very insightful work that sheds scientific light on the true nature of the birth control pill and other chemicals and devices used for contraceptive purposes.

After reading this book, my eyes were opened to the dangerous and sometimes fatal side effects of the Birth Control Pill and other contraceptives. I was also horrified to find out that alot of so-called contraceptives actually take the life of a baby in the womb and are really abortifacients. I highly suggest that anyone interested in uncovering the untold truth about the dangers of birth control read this book, it might just save your life!

While I agree with John Wilks that side effects and risks of hormonal contraceptives are significantly downplayed, I reading his book didn't tell me anything I didn't know about it already (I have probably read more papers on birth control than he did) and book left me dissapointed and angry. This is mainly because the book is thinly disguised pro-life drivel. Also, his frequent statements "natural fertility is not a disease" made me extremely angry, since I don't think that I would be very healthy if I had a child every year or every two years. Not to mention overpopulation problem. Also, information in the book, although it contains some good points, is presented in scare mongering way and case studies included are calculated to provoke emotional response. Not very scientific in my opinion. Chapters on Depo Provera and Norplants are very short, though side effects and complications of those are usually worse than the pill. "Minor" side effects are not discussed at all for any of the methods. He entirely missed to address the issue of liver problems for pill users. Based on what I know about hormonal contraceptives (and I don't care at all whether they are abortificaent or not) I would never use them, but I don't find John Wilks' book objective and thoroughly researched.