Reproductive Rights Blog

Ovaries & the Pill

Two Science stories for you, from this week's papers.

1. Perhaps we can delay menopause. Or stop it. It seems particularly useful for women who have had radiation or who are infertile, but I guess that's me being judgey. Scientists have found cells that can replenish ovaries.

What's interesting about this, for those of you who don't know, is that ovaries are kind of like a gumball machine...What I mean is that a woman is BORN will all the eggs she's ever going to have. (Oh, and I stole that gumball machine thing). So the eggs pop out one a month (give or take), and then at some point your gumball machine is empty.

I think that until recently it was difficult to freeze eggs, although freezing embryos was a lot easier. Which was fine if a woman was married or knew who she wanted to have kids with, but say an 18 year old has ovarian cancer or something, there really wasn't a way to save her own eggs.

2. Now, the way the Pill works, generally, is by suppressing ovulation. All of us on these hormonal methods aren't popping out those eggs, which is why some theorize that at least a short term use of horomones increases fertility. More on that another time. So anyway, scientists also believe that suppressing ovulation decreases ovarian cancer. Of course (gah, because there has to be a drawback), use of the Pill may increase cervical and breast cancer.

I'm skeptical of the cervical cancer thing, and I'd like to make sure the methodology really does account for everything. Since cervical cancer is caused by an STD, women on the Pill are probably more likely to have otherwise unprotected sex, and get HPV. I'm sure more will be coming out on this... Oh, and speaking of, CNN has a little recap of types of contraception, stating that hormonal contraceptives are dominant.

I am a Fertility Genius

Personal story:

My friend, who had been sick a few years ago, got the ok from her doc to get pregnant. This was in the spring. After a few months she was starting to get frustrated, although that hardly seemed like enough time had passed. Anyway, she called me one day (at work) and so I started telling her she should chart her cycle, find out when she's most fertile etc. She didn't really understand, but I told her three days that she would be most fertile.

She only had sex those three days I told her about, and BAM, she's pregnant!

I knocked her up. Hee.

End of the week Link Dump

I'll be out of town tomorrow, and while online, not on this computer.  Here are the links I owe y'all:

Abortion, Public Opinion & Selling out (via feministe).  Actually, lots of good articles on this site.  Lawyers, Guns & Money.  There's lots of stuff out there on abortion, especially because of Roberts, and I spend a lot of my day researching him, so I'll just send you, once again, to NARAL.

The very scary Christian NewsWire - a great way to keep up with the radical right.  Oh, and radical right?  Why can't I buy your fetuses online?  I want some!  I'm stuck with these very cute but not the same fetuses from fetopia.

In foreign news: Portugal acquits two women for having illgal abortions, while a polygamist with 100 kids is now an advocate for birth control. 

Speaking of birth control, the makers of the patch, J&J, are being sued.  Blood clots, strokes, etc.  I guess we'll have to see if the patch really is worse than the pill.

And that is all for now.

New BC Methods?

A new study shows EC might be better administered vaginally (rather than orally). It seems to be just as effective.

And in other news, a scientist is developing a sperm vaccine.

(both via feministing)

Is Maternity Leave part of the Glass Ceiling?

This week's Economist discusses the continued existance of the glass ceiling.  According to the article, in 1995 women held 45.7% of America's jobs, were recieving over 50% of all master's degrees, held less than 5% of all senior management positions and that female managers made 68% of what male managers made. Today women hold 46.5% of jobs, and make up just over 10% of seniors managers. From 68% pay gap, we're now at a mere 72%. 

And it's not just an American thing. 

“Among the well-heeled battalions of executives”, she wrote, “only 5% are women.” Equality in the French workplace, claimed Ms Maier, “is a far-off dream.”

This despite the fact that Catalyst research "found a strong correlation between the number of women in top executive positions and financial performance among Fortune 500 companies between 1996 and 2000."

The management consulting business blames maternity leave (as does the legal business.  Read "Women Lawyers" for an in-depth discussion of why women don't perform as highly as men in the legal profession).  The article cites not only maternity leave, but 1) lack of women being in the club - networking, etc; 2) a perception that women aren't good leaders and 3) a change in corporate structure, which means promotions are a bigger deal; since women tend to take time off to care for both their children and parents, they have a hard time re-entering the work force or moving up to much higher positions.

Another theory floated is that men work more, and are at home less.  This means they help out with chores less.  I wonder if Spain's new law will help women advance in the Spanish workplace?

Anyway, interesting read.  It brings up a lot of issues about workplace discrimination, preganncy, and societal support of motherhood.  I find it interesting that in a society that apparently reveres motherhood (and looks down on women who choose abortion) that there isn't more support in being a good mother and a successful businesswoman at the same time.

p.s. An article on maternity leave in the US & other industrialized countries (via disenchanted forest)

Supreme Court Nomination

Because I work for a big pro-choice group, I've been swamped with calls & emails from friends asking me about Roberts.  I'll direct you to NARAL's Choice Highlights sheet on him. 

The large debate over abortion is whether, as principal deputy solicitor general, Roberts advocated overturning Roe as a matter of course (Bush administration), or because he actually believed it.  There are arguments on both sides, and I'm not sure how it'll shake out, although as soon as I can make any research public, I will.  Novak is also reporting that his wife is an anti-choice activist.

In his confirmation hearings Roberts said he would uphold precedent, and that Roe was settled law.  I'm wary, because as Supreme Court Justice, Roberts is not bound to uphold precedent, as a lower court judge is.  That is all for now, we are very busy here are HQ.

RU-486 use can cause infections

And somehow this is news. The FDA is reporting 5 deaths from RU-486 use (in five years). I don't know if this is a problem with follow-ups, or patients not being aware enough of side-effects. Women who take RU-486 need a follow-up appointment to be sure the pregnancy has been completely passed, and to ensure there is no infection. The FDA is worried about off-label use, however, all evidence shows the off-label use to be just as safe as the FDA-approved regimen.

Abortion is a 'hard decision'

An article in the BBC about Marie Stopes' report regarding late-term abortions says that they are a hard decision for women to make.  The article lists a number of reasons women have late-term abortions; the organization itself calls for keeping the 24-week limit in place, rather than the proposed reduction to 20 weeks (as do other British organizations).

From the Marie Stopes press release:

In our experience, no woman requests abortion at post 20 weeks for frivolous reasons. Most have thoroughly compelling reasons for doing so and have agonised over their decision, and as a society we should have compassion and offer our full support to them in making this most difficult of choices.

And from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service:

"Women seek late abortion reluctantly, because they believe it is the 'least worst' option they can take" explains Ann Furedi, "late abortion is difficult emotionally for the patient and those who care for her.  Women request it out of desperation and doctors provide it out of compassion."

I'm concerned about this.  I understand that the study and related comments are in response to media/public pressure about late-term abortions.  And in order to educate the public, data is necessary.  I get that.  But at the same time, I wonder why we have to justify abortion as being a difficult procedure, or a difficult decision to make.  Hillary Clinton said "I believe we can all recognize that abortion in many ways represents a sad, even tragic choice to many, many women." 

Why does abortion have to be sad or tragic or difficult?  And why do we have to sell the public that there are reasons why women need the option?  If a woman's partner is violent and she's 22 weeks pregnant, does that change the fetal age?  Sure, it changes her circumstances, and I understand that as a marketing tool, but it has no scientific use, in terms of the fetus.  I feel like it's not really our place to judge.  If a woman who's having a hard time, or being abused, can have an abortion at 22 weeks, why can't someone have an abortion and not be torn up about it?  Why would it be less legal for her?

Plus, also, why is it necessary to reiterate that women think about their choices?  Women think about their choices as much as men do, and I can't see how just the statement that women actually do think about abortion before they have one isn't completely demeaning.  Is the assumption that women have abortions willy-nilly?  'Oh, I don't feel like being pregnant today'? 

There are people who are ok with having an abortion, and there are people who are in really crappy situations.  How can we distinguish between the two, and say that the woman who has already made up her mind, and is ok with her decision is the one LESS deserving of an abortion.  And how dare we judge that reason?

Cartoon

In my continued effort to amuse you...I will direct you to this cartoon, and try to post it as well.

Availability of EC in OH

Not like we didn't know Ohio was bad, but this story from the Cleveland Scene (yay Becky!) shows how hard it was for one woman to get the Morning After Pill.  I know that there are a few Planned Parenthoods around (and at least one right near where the woman in the story was that is open Saturday mornings, one across town has longer hours, but it's OPEN) and at least one other clinic is open on Saturdays that has ECP.  It sucks that she can't just go to a normal doctor, I get that, and I guess you have to know where to go, but it's possible that you can avoid nasty judgmental people, although, when dealing with medical care, you shouldn't really have to.

Follow up: Response letters.