Women’s Issues – Page 12 – Population Matters-USA

Know About Contraception

If you need contraception, use it; if you don’t, be a source of information for other people. For many people, particularly teens, abstinence is the ideal contraception. Since contraception is the best way of decreasing the need for abortion, most people agree that good contraceptive services are beneficial.
We have come a long way in the eighty years since Margaret Sanger started the first family planning clinic in this country. Contraception is legal, we have much more effective methods, and contraception is available from many sources. You don’t have to go to a special clinic any more. Furthermore, people talk about family planning more freely. Do you remember when “rubber” was a dirty word?
There is room for improvement, however. We need new, better methods of family planning. How about a pill for men, for instance? We especially need methods that protect against sexually transmitted diseases (such as AIDS) as well as prevent pregnancy. Most of all, we need less irresponsible sex, both in real life and in the media. In the average year of watching TV an adolescent is exposed to over 12,000 sexual encounters, but only 1 percent mention contraception. Abstinence is still the best way to avoid pregnancy for most teens.
For specific questions about birth control, you should contact your health care provider. The most authoritative source of information on contraception is Contraceptive Technology (Irvington Publishers, New York). My favorite web site is www.plannedparenthood.org; look under â€œHealth Infoâ€.
Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about contraceptive methods. For instance, some people are afraid to take birth control pills because they think that “the pill” causes cancer. The truth is that birth control pills protect against cancer of the uterus and of the ovary. They also help prevent anemia, ovarian cysts, breast lumps, menstrual cramps and pelvic inflammatory disease. Although they do have some serious side effects, these are amazingly rare with the newer, low dose pills.
The same hormones as in “the pill” also offer protection against pregnancy if a woman takes them after unprotected intercourse. Called emergency contraception pills (ECP’s) or “the morning after pill”, this is one of the best-kept medical secrets. ECP’s are indicated in cases of rape, a condom failure or if a couple fails to use contraception. ECP’s can reduce the proportion of unplanned pregnancies in the USA.
Innovative means of delivering hormonal contraception are available. Some women love the shot that lasts three months, Depo Povera, although it usually causes menstrual irregularity. It often eventually stops all bleeding, which many women like. There is also a monthly shot. Lunelle has the advantage of relatively normal periods. Using it means a trip to the office or clinic every month, but women appreciate its dependability.
Hormone patches have proven popular with menopausal women. Soon a contraceptive patch, Evra, will be available. Each Evra lasts seven days. The first is placed while the user is menstruating, then she replaces it at the end of a week. After the third, she goes patch-free for a week, during which her period will start.
The Nuvaring is a small ring placed in the woman’s vagina for three weeks. It is then removed, and during the week without the ring, her period will start. Neither man nor woman is aware of Nuvaring when it is in place. Both Evra and Nuvaring have been shown to be more effective than birth control pills, although women who cannot take hormones shouldnâ€™t use them.
Barrier methods are designed to prevent sperm and egg from getting together. They include male and female condoms, diaphragm and cervical cap and several different forms of spermacides (foam, creams, gels and film). Some barrier methods are available without prescription, and some provide partial protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
Perhaps the most cost-effective means of family planning is the Intrauterine Device (IUD). Recent studies suggest that it is even safer than previously thought. There are two available in the U.S.A. The Paragard lasts for up to ten years and uses copper to be 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. Mirena is good for up to five years. It is filled with a hormone to make it 99.7% effective while decreasing menstrual bleeding and cramps. Either can be removed in case of problems of if the woman wishes to conceive.
Fortunately, there are many contraceptive methods that are effective, safe, and some even stop the transmission of disease. Hopefully the future will bring even better methods. We should all be well informed about family planning techniques.

Â© Richard Grossman MD, 2004

Find 34 Million Friends

The best sign of character is how a person responds to adversity. Two wonderful women exemplify this. Congress voted money to support the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), but President Bush has impounded the funding four years in a row.

Responding to this obstacle, Lois Abraham and Jane Roberts proposed private funding to restore the shortfall. Until a few years ago they had not known each other. Each was appalled by our president’s action, and each wrote friends asking for donations to UNFPA. They suggested that thirty-four million individuals could each send one dollar to make up the $34 million deficit. The 34 Million Friends Campaign was established by the US Committee for UNFPA. Since then, Lois and Jane have become friends and have worked tirelessly to support international family planning.

Why would Bush stop payment of the UNFPA assessment? He maintained that some of the money was used for coerced abortions in China. This was despite his own staff reporting that no UNFPA money was used to support abortion services. Most likely he took this action to appease right wing supporters.

What is the effect of not paying this money? Without UNFPAâ€™s vital programs, it has been estimated that two and three-quarters MILLION women will be deprived of modern contraception. This projects to 1,300,000 unintended pregnancies each year, over a half million unsafe abortions, and an estimated 645,840 unwanted births. Worse, thousands of women and children will die because of Bush’s denial of the funding. Unplanned pregnancies are often spaced too closely, jeopardizing the mother and all of her children.

Ironically, Bush’s action has actually increased the number of abortions! Women take chances with unsafe abortions because of the large number of unplanned pregnancies.

With our population and consumption already out of control, it is obvious that the world does not need this many unwanted births. The additional unplanned babies will stress their parents, as well as stressing our overburdened planet.

Fortunately, several countries stepped up to help out. Members of the European Union, New Zealand and other countries have contributed much of the support that the United States had reneged on.

The 34 Million Friends Campaign serves two purposes. Part is to get the money that UNFPA deserves and needs. The campaign serves another important function, too. It has also raised awareness of the United Nations family planning program.

To find out more about the good work of UNFPA, go to www.unfpa.org. The Campaign also has its own site, www.34millionfriends.org. You can get an update, including the amount contributed (well over three million dollars!) Of course, there are instructions to make a donation. For those who donâ€™t have access to the Internet, send a tax-deductible contribution to: The US Committee for UNFPA Processing Center, 34 Million Friends of UNFPA, PO Box 681, Toms River, NJ 08754-9922

How has the money been spent? It has gone to poor countries to make pregnancy and childbirth safer by training midwives, and paid for equipment to deal with obstetrical emergencies. It has supported programs to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. It has paid for family planning commodities.

A large part of the money has been used for surgery for women with obstetric fistulas. These unfortunates are usually teens who conceived their first child too young. Living in areas without adequate medical care or the ability to save babies by cesarean section, these women suffer terrible pain when they are in laborâ€”often for days on end. Their babies are often born dead. The pressure of the fetal skull strangulates maternal tissues, leaving a fistulaâ€”an abnormal hole. The young victims cannot control their bowels or bladder. Shame, President Bush, that you withheld help for treating such a heartrending condition!

I applaud Jane Roberts and Lois Abraham, women of fine character, for taking positive steps to help world population efforts. They have received much deserved recognition for their hard work. Please join me in sending in dollars of support!