August 14, 2008
Has the Pill led to increased rates of autism?
The BBC reports:
The contraceptive pill could lead to women choosing the wrong partners, scientists believe.The article does not make any connection to the rise in autism, but that is certainly what first popped into my head when reading this report.Researchers found that women chose different partners after taking the pill in tests on nearly 100 women. . .
But the joint Liverpool and Newcastle universities' study suggested the pill disrupted this process, the Proceedings of the Royal Society B journal said.
By passing on a wide-ranging set of immune system genes, couples increase their chances of having a healthy child that is not vulnerable to infection. . .
Women are naturally attracted to men with immune system genes different from their own because of their smell, experts believe.
Posted by David on August 14, 2008 11:24 PM
Now there's an interesting thought! I've read a couple of the stories from this study and not had that one cross my mind.... Hmmm.
Posted by: Michael Tinkler on August 15, 2008 9:26 PM
The rise in autism reminds me of the rise in peanut allergy.
Posted by: dearieme on August 17, 2008 6:49 PM
Yes -- this could explain the rise in a host of autoimmune diseases, from asthma to food allergies.
Posted by: David on August 18, 2008 4:41 PM
Oh christ, it's bad enough that selfish parents who fear autism refuse to have their kids vaccinated, thus endangering everyone else. Now we get baseless claims that the pill causes autism, when it could just as well be Nutrasweet.
Posted by: Jon H on August 20, 2008 3:07 AM
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