Sounding, Looking, and Meaning Different

Abstract

The birth control pill has helped revolutionize family planning. Not only does it prevent unwanted pregnancy, but one of its active ingredients, progestin, is said to help prevent cancer of the ovaries and uterus. By the 1980s, however, the other active ingredient, estrogen, began to be suspected of causing breast cancer. This issue was researched by a Dutch oncologist, Dr. Michael Cohen, who, in conjunction with AMR Pharm Holland (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Applied Medical Research, Ltd. in the US), developed an estrogen-free contraceptive, which he called B-OVal. In it, estrogen was replaced with the hormone melatonin, secreted from the pineal gland of the brain, which plays an important role in the reproductive cycle of females. Melatonin inhibits the monthly cycle of lactation. Dr. Cohen’s theory was that when pregnancy does not occur, a residue of cells sometimes remains in the breast and can lead to cancer. His idea was that by substituting melatonin for estrogen, cancer development could be prevented.