Comments | ageofscience: How I learned to stop worrying and love my hormones!

ageofscience

How I learned to stop worrying and love my hormones!

Feb 17, 2006 05:19

As I've mentioned, I'm working on a conference paper proposal on the use of oral contraceptives for menstrual suppression. Although paper is less about oral contraceptives themselves and more about why the idea of menstrual suppression is really messed up, in doing my research I've learned an awful lot about that little thing we call The Pill ( Read more... )

Comments 88

in_spite_of_all February 17 2006, 06:46:09 UTC

i'm always interested in reading up about these things, so thanks so much!
i'm not on the pill, but luckily i have a super sensitive body that i can "feel" my cycle.
still risky, but i'm not sure it's worth it to go on the pill...

ageofscience February 17 2006, 08:54:23 UTC

You're welcome! It's the kind of information that needs to be shared more widely, I think. Also, anything that promotes ladies talking about their bodies and periods is highly condoned by me!

Risky, but in a different way. And there are also so many barrier methods of contraception you can use in conjunction with that that won't put your health at risk. Lots of ladies have tons of success with "fertility awareness" through basically what you desribed- being sensitive to what their body is telling them. Many also chart their periods and take their temperature inside their v every day to be a little more sure. It's great if something like that works for you!

aolianharp February 17 2006, 06:52:43 UTC

Very good post, Pam! Thoughtful and informative/terrifying. It's so depressing that this information isn't readily presented to women who are thinking of going on that thing. I'm so happy that my special lady does not take this stuff.

One thing about the "male pill" (and this isn't to contradict what you wrote, but to add a bit to it), my friend, who is a doctor, pointed out that part of the problem is that there are millions and millions of sperm to take care of as opposed to one egg and that makes developing an effective, "safe" male pill a bit dodgy (though, probably only as dodgy as the female one, but yeah...) Anyway, what's wrong with a vasectomy?

ageofscience February 17 2006, 09:31:55 UTC

"Special lady", awww! What a cute term!

Women are definitely given some warnings when they start taking the pill, but I think it's mostly pretty insufficient. They tell you to worry about three or four things that everyone already knows about (blood clots, spotting, no sex drive, weight gain, mood changes...) but neglect the things that are long term and terrifying, or short term and creepy. The "partner choice" stuff weirds me out like nothing else!

Mmm, that's for sure an aspect, but I think mostly it just ends up being an excuse that oversimplifies female biology and overcomplexifies (okay, that totally isn't a word, but still) male biology. But then I am tainted by feminist bias! While it's certainly something to consider, I don't think that necessarily makes it more dangerous, or more difficult to develop. But yeah, I mostly think drug companies know it won't be really marketable or a big seller, so they use that as an excuse about why they don't need to bother trying to develop it. If one existed it probably WOULD be bad for ( ... )

athoos February 17 2006, 12:02:14 UTC

And what's wrong with a vasectomy indeed!

particularly since there is a reversible option.

bezier February 17 2006, 12:41:15 UTC

It's not always reversible (the effectiveness of the reversal is not 100%, and the amount of time between the operation and the reversal also will affect the amount of sperm that are capable of returning, due to blockages /ruptures of the epididymal tubules) and also doctors frequently will refuse to perform the surgery on those of us who are younger.

Not that I like the pill. Condoms / cervical cap / spermicide (but be careful with nonoxynol-9) are profoundly better options.

Thread 6

le_odyssey February 17 2006, 07:38:02 UTC

somebody told me they were testing a male pill in europe.

personally i'd feel it my duty to take it since girls have had to take it for so long

ageofscience February 17 2006, 08:50:24 UTC

Now that's the right attitude!

Although, the solution is definitely not to "counter" how bad the female pill is by developing a male pill that's just as harmful. I just kinda feel like they wouldn't let a pill that harmed men equally go on the marketplace anyway. When there are so many non-hormonal contraceptive options, I'm not convinced that a pill is the right answer for either sex. But I mean, fair's fair. No reason the girl always has to take one for the team!

cannibal_x February 17 2006, 07:46:00 UTC

Good rundown, Pam!

ageofscience February 17 2006, 09:02:05 UTC

Ohhh, I try!

cannibal_x February 17 2006, 09:11:50 UTC

I wish I were pulling my weight like you on livejournal!

ageofscience February 17 2006, 09:23:44 UTC

What's that supposed to mean? You fool, you provide more delightful anecdotes to the world than anyone I know!

Thread 6

birdflew February 17 2006, 08:07:13 UTC

Great post ( ... )

ageofscience February 17 2006, 09:40:04 UTC

Thanks! And yeah, it's depressing that all these years after "Our Bodies, Ourselves!" and everything, we're still fighting the same fight. Grr ( ... )