arrrggghh

Really, when will it end? Stupid pharmaceutical ads that reduce women to inane stereotypes to get their "message" across. Seasonique's recent ad

Found this on the well-timed period, whose website I greatly appreciate. I don't always agree with her feelings about menstruation, but I am glad she's stirring up the debate a bit. She objects to the insistence of pharma and media that the placebo week of bleeding is still being called "menstruation" -- I object to the grab to keep hold of the contraceptive market by introducing "new" pharmaceuticals. I wonder if insurance companies agree to cover Lybrel (the no-withdrawal bleeding pill just approved) or Seasonique (4x a year bleeding). If so, then shouldn't they also cover more than 12 months of other oral contraceptives? (You can accomplish the same no-bleeding effect by taking any contraceptives without their placebo week, which a number of sources have pointed out.)

Malcolm Gladwell's article "John Rock's Error," from a number of years ago (2000), is an interesting explanation of how the Pill was developed and why certain attributes (28-day cycle) were standard for so long.

I have lots to say on this, but no time right now -- trying to finish the exams!