So despite the fact that Plan B (which is NOT an abortion pill, but a form of emergency contraception) is completely legal, the U.S. military is not required to supply it for its 200,00 female military personnel. You know, the same military personnel who have been reportedly subject to at LEAST 2,688 sexual assault cases in 2007 alone? Yep, those women.
In 2002, the Department of Defense, relying on its technical experts, initially approved emergency contraception for its Basic Care Formulary, which would have required that it be stocked at all military treatment facilities. That approval was quickly rescinded when it reached the radar of political appointees. Sounds like what was going on at the FDA: scientists support access to emergency contraception, political pressure shuts it down. Now, it’s available only at those military health facilities that decide to make it available. In the meantime, the lack of the contraceptive doubly victimizes servicewomen – some of whom suffer from trauma serious enough to impair their military careers.
So this is clearly a hold-over of the Bush administration, but under Robert Gates’s lead of the Defense Department, who knows if anything will actually come of this.
As reported a while ago, Sen. McCain isn’t too keen on making sure women are able to earn the same wages as an equally qualified man. And here’s him being squeamish on birth control.
Now, I’ve always believed that actions speak louder than words — especially the words of campaign advisers. Via the Wall Street Journal:
At a breakfast with reporters, Fiorina suggested that individuals–and women in particular–be given more flexibility to determine what their health insurance plans should cover. “There are many health insurance plans that will cover Viagra but won’t cover birth-control medication. Those women would like a choice,” she observed.
When McCain was asked for his position on the issue, he said—with a nervous laugh–“I certainly do not want to discuss that issue.”
The reporter pressed. “But apparently you’ve voted against—“
“I don’t know what I voted,” McCain said.
BTW, I didn’t realize that Carly Fiorina is a McCain adviser. While it’s nice to see the Republicans are going after the “woman vote,” I do with that John McCain were in on the strategy himself. Anyway, Jessica from Feministing gives her 2 cents on McCain’s hypocrisy, the first missive of many through November.
Taking a pill every day at the exact same time really sucks if you can’t remember to do things as elementary as brushing your teeth or watch Lost whenever it’s on. But with birth control, there’s that extra scary side effect of not taking the pill — you know, birth. Ever since you convinced your parents that you needed the pill at 16 to “keep your skin clear and your periods regular” you’ve taken it every day at the same time. But for those of us just starting out with the daily baby blockers or switching contraceptives, here’s a few ways not to remember to take the pill:
Planning on taking them right in the middle of your daily staff meeting
Tattoo “No babies” right on your forehead
Tie a little piece of string around your cervix
Knock them back right before your daily martini lunch
Have the office assistant bring them in on a tray every day at noon
Keep them in a PEZ dispenser for whenever you “just need a taste”
Just take all of your pills once a week at the same time — you may grow a second uterus, but at least you’re not having a baby anytime soon
Swap pills with the smelly guy on the subway. His stuff is more potent, anyway
Public Citizen is pushing a petition to get the Federal Food and Drug Association to ban Ortho-Evra (you know, quitting babies one step at a time). According to the petition, the patch releases waaaay too much estrogen (60 percent more on average exposure), an increased risk of blood clotting, and even worse side effects than other hormone-based birth control.
Also, there has been a crazy drop in demand for the patch, probably because it’s not the most pleasant thing to deal with. In 2004, nearly 10 million women were knocking down the pharmacy door to get a supply of patches. In 2007, prescriptions dropped 73 percent, to 2.7 million. Oh, and there are those women who have died or become sick using the patch.
Sucks for Ortho-Evra. Well, it really sucks for the women who take it and then have to deal with a lot of terrible side effects — you know, like death. Many women turned to the patch as a way of convenience, but then it turns out that the side effects are worse than a daily dose of the regular old bc pill… and how do you wear that thing to the beach? How do you hide your baby quitting patch?
