Sex: Recreation Not Procreation
Unprotected sex is sex for procreation. Safer sex is sex for recreation; but, unfortunately, pregnancy isn’t the only unintended side effect or complication of certain types of birth control. The other day, as I read Brandweek’s cover article (page 1, page 2) on Johnson and Johnson’s drug Ortho Evra, I grew a little unsettled. I don’t use the drug more commonly called “the patch”. But, I have friends that do. In the article, “Wherefore The Warning Signs?”, Brandweek says:
Today, at least 1,500 women and their families have sued J&J and its Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical unit, the maker of the patch. These parties contend that the company failed to warn them in its advertising that women who wear the Ortho Evra patch run a greater risk of developing potentially fatal blood clots than do women who elect to use other contraceptives—and that some patients have suffered heart attacks, brain injuries and strokes. The suits allege that at least 23 women have died after using the patch.
Basically, the problem seems to be that the patch introduces 60% more estrogen into the blood stream than the pill. So if the patch is so unsafe, I can’t help but wonder why the media hasn’t covered this story more? “All across the country,” Brandweek claims, “young, seemingly healthy women who had worn the patch were literally dropping dead.” This couldn’t be true. Could it? Ever the wary and untrusting consumer of information, I googled the patch and I was surprised to see that Brandweek seems to be right. ABC, MSNBC, CBS and others already covered the story. And, several attorneys have launched a website to manage the caseload of claims. Scary. In any case, if you or any woman that you know uses the patch, be sure to alert them of the risks.
August 9th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Why not use the Nuva ring? Half of Europe seems to be using that.
BTW, this might sounds strange, but if I were still single I’d prefer women who were NOT on any form of contraception.
That way I’d be much more confident that the chance of ‘random lapses of judgment’ (i.e. “oh rats, we have no condoms, oh well.. he looks pretty clean, and didn’t he just tell me he hasn’t had sex in 6 months, I’m horny as hell”) are slim to none.
Cf. this recent gem Rate of STDs skyrockets
I also like the ‘test’ by the guy in that recent NY Mag article you referenced, i.e. propose risky sex, if there’s as much as a little doubt, skip the person altogether.
August 10th, 2007 at 9:42 am
I’m usually not on any form of contraception when I’m not sexually active. No need to dope the body up with hormones just for the hell of it.
Thanks for the link by the way. The reminds me, I need to edit my stylesheet to change the a link colors on my comments section so that they don’t blend in to the background.
By the way … If you like what I wrote about that NY Mag piece, check out the current issue because the wonderful folks over there actually gave me nod.