Sunday, November 27, 2011

Best Cyber Monday Deal, Guaranteed

I have the absolute best deal for you or your loved one:


Check out this ECP carousel I put together to make it easier for you to buy the ECP in advance and have it handy:



I added the condoms because the carousel had to have 6 items minimum, and, for some reason, Nextime (out-of-stock) and Next Choice came up as not found.

Also notice we're now back to the i-Pill on Amazon, with Nextime unavailable, but let's not get sidetracked by that. The i-Pill and Nextime are different brand names for the same drug, a one-pill progestin (levonorgestrel) ECP. Whichever brand is available, it's easy to order at a good price.

The important thing to remember, if you are sexually active and do not plan a pregnancy, is to buy the ECP now, in advance, when you don't need it and keep it handy and use it in case of an emergency.

Have I mentioned it's important to buy ECP in advance and keep it handy?

If you think I'm belaboring the point, think again. Every single day, mostly via this post, I get comments and emails with questions about ECPs. Common questions, nothing out of the ordinary, from an obviously self-selected sample. And on an encouraging note, a good number of these questions come from men. Still, even I managed to be surprised by one common characteristic, one that stands out and not in a good way.

Not once have I seen it mentioned that the person in need of ECP had it handy. It's always 1) unprotected intercourse, 2) mad dash to find and buy ECP, 3) problem.

Combine the anecdotal findings from my blog with the fact that [o]nly 3% of respondents to the 2006–2008 NSFG [National Survey of Family Growth] indicated that they had received any counseling about EC in the past year, a number relatively unchanged from the 2002 survey, and you have a recipe for disaster.

It's enough that you have to deal with an unprotected intercourse emergency. Don't add to the stress of the situation by being unprepared.

Two more brief points related to the trends I noticed in my readers' ECP questions before I give you, once more, my Carousel o' ECPs:

I) One dose (one pill for Plan B One-Step, iPill, Nextime; two pills for Next Choice, Postinor) only covers one act of unprotected intercourse.

II) Doubling down on the dose (two pills for Plan B One-Step, iPill, Nextime; four pills for Next Choice, Postinor) will not, repeat, will not be more effective than a regular dose.

Bottom line: This holiday season do yourself, or a loved one, a favor and buy ECP in advance and keep it handy in case of an emergency.

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Monday, November 07, 2011

ACOG Statement on Mississippi's "Personhood Amendment" Proposition 26

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) strongly believes that the autonomy of women to make personal health care decisions must be respected. As the nation's leading organization of women's health physicians, dedicated to all aspects of women's health, ACOG supports quality health care appropriate to every woman's needs throughout her life, including the full spectrum of clinical and reproductive services. Mississippi's "Personhood Amendment," Proposition 26, does not respect the autonomy of women and jeopardizes women's health. We urge the citizens of the State of Mississippi to reject this Proposition on November 8th. Proposition 26 substitutes ideology for science and represents a grave threat to women's health and reproductive rights that will have long-term negative outcomes for our patients and society.

Proposition 26 defines the term person to "include every human being from the moment of fertilization", which has wide-reaching implications that will impact access to women's health, including treatment for cancer, infertility treatment, birth control options, and pregnancy termination. This proposal unnecessarily exposes women to serious health risks and significantly undermines the relationship between physicians and our patients. The vague and overly broad terms in Proposition 26 will prevent physicians from providing the care vital to women's health.

Proposition 26 must be defeated in the best interest of women's health.


(link mine)

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