The Reproductive 'Zine

Online companion to an NC State University student-produced Reproductive 'Zine in print. Updated frequently with information regarding reproductive health technologies. Straight facts. No bull.

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you know you're a 90s kid when your vaccinations were mandatory and no one in your class got measles

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We were hoping for microscopic birth control robots. We’ll settle for origami female condoms that kinda look like those soft serve ice cream cones you get at McDonalds.

Behold, the future of contraception, laid out infographic-style.

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Master Source List of Sources Yet to Be Listed

Here we have consolidated all sources utilized thus far, including picture credits for the physical 'zine, class resources, and website accessed. 

(Sections not noted here are sourced on their original blog posts, alongside photo credits) 

Pictures

http://theoystersgarter.com/2008/02/01/planned-parenthoods-50s-comic-melodrama/

Socially Camouflaged Technology

Maines, Rachel. “Socially Camouflaged Technologies: The Case of the Electromechanical Vibrator.” IEEE Technology and Society Magazine. June 1989. Print.

  Types of Birth Control

For more information about each type of birth control, visit:

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-info/birth-control

Consent

http://spreadthehealthbu.com/2013/09/10/getting-a-yes-enthusiastic-consent-101/

Misconceptions

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/teens/sex/the-ten-biggest-myths-about-sex Sex Ed Statistics

  If you’d like to see more statistics on sex education in the US, see:

http://www.siecus.org/document/docWindow.cfm?fuseaction=document.viewDocument&documentid=203&documentFormatId=259  http://www.siecus.org/document/docWindow.cfm?fuseaction=document.viewDocument&documentid=203&documentFormatId=259

Sexuality and Gender

http://www.isna.org and ALSO

Kessler, Suzanne J. “The Medical Construction of Gender: Case Management of Intersexed Infants.” Signs, Vol. 16, No. 1, From Hard Drive to Software: Gender, Computers, and Difference. The University of Chicago Press. (1990). Print.

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The 411 on 911 Contraception

Most people have heard about emergency contraception (often known as the morning-after pill). Most likely, you will have also heard that women who take the morning-after pill are subject to a day of agonizing nausea and discomfort. But did you know that there’s more than one method for emergency contraception? And that what you can used varies based on your weight and the time since you’ve had unprotected sex?

Morning after pills work by preventing a woman’s ovary from releasing an egg, preventing sperm from meeting an egg. Sperm can take up to 6 days to reach an egg, which is why emergency contraceptives can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex. Emergency contraception is not abortion, it is a form of birth control. The most effective emergency contraceptive is a copper IUD (ParaGard IUD), followed by ulipristal acetate pills (known as ella) and levonorgestrel pills (known as Plan B One-step and Next Choice One Dose) .

Plan B is a pill available over the counter for anyone without a prescription and must be taken within 3 days after unprotected sex, but may also work on the 4th and 5th day. Effectiveness decreases for women with a BMI above 25 and Plan B may not work at all for women with a BMI over 30. Women who have already used ella since their last period should not use Plan B.

Ella may be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex and is available with a prescription from a doctor or nurse. The pill can be used by all women who are not breastfeeding, but may be less effective for women with a BMI over 35. Back up birth control (i.e. a condom) needs to be used for 14 days after using ella.

Morning after pill side effects: the morning after pill can cause an earlier, later, heavier or lighter period than usual. You may also experience breast tenderness, dizziness, headaches, nausea or vomiting. If you vomit within two hours of taking the pill you will need to re-take the pill.

The ParaGard IUD is the most effective method of emergency contraception. All women can use the IUD up to 5 days after unprotected sex. The IUD must be inserted by a doctor or nurse at a health center and can provide ongoing birth control for up to 12 years. The price ranges from $500 to $900. Make sure to review all risks and speak with your doctor before getting an IUD!

For more information, see: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-info/birth-control/morning-after-pill-emergency-contraception

http://ec.princeton.edu/questions/dose.html#dose

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The black and white version of our zine will be hitting the NC State Campus this weekend!!

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....and Side Two! 

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Side One of our first edition, out Tuesday! 

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Inter-what? Intersex.

Fast quiz: what determines if you are male or female? Well, truthfully, biology and gender aren't related in the slightest. 

While most individuals are born with clearly determined male or female genitalia (remember that biological sex does NOT relate to sexual orientation), and corresponding hormonal makeup, some people are born with ambiguous genitalia, or genitalia that is neither decidedly male or female. Some individuals are born with partial or complete parts of both. This creates and complex and confusing situation for parents following a birth, as they struggle to decide to how 1) attend to the medical needs of the child 2) figure out how to raise a child in a society that boxes people into "male" or "female" based on what is in between their legs. 

From the Intersex Society of North America: "“Intersex” is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male. For example, a person might be born appearing to be female on the outside, but having mostly male-typical anatomy on the inside. Or a person may be born with genitals that seem to be in-between the usual male and female types—for example, a girl may be born with a noticeably large clitoris, or lacking a vaginal opening, or a boy may be born with a notably small penis, or with a scrotum that is divided so that it has formed more like labia. Or a person may be born with mosaic genetics, so that some of her cells have XX chromosomes and some of them have XY"

How Common is Intersex?

Not XX and not XY   one in 1,666 births

Klinefelter (XXY)       one in 1,000 births

Androgen insensitivity syndrome    one in 13,000 births

Partial androgen insensitivity syndrome    one in 130,000 births

Classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia    one in 13,000 births

Late onset adrenal hyperplasia                   one in 66 individuals

Vaginal agenesis                                          one in 6,000 births

Ovotestes                                                      one in 83,000

birthsIdiopathic (no discernable medical cause)       one in 110,000

This is not an exhaustive list--for the complete statistical chart, please visit: 

http://www.isna.org/faq/frequency

Sources: 

Kessler, Suzanne J. “The Medical Construction of Gender: Case Management of Intersexed Infants.” Signs, Vol. 16, No. 1, From Hard Drive to Software: Gender, Computers, and Difference. The University of Chicago Press. (1990). Print.

 *http://www.isna.org

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Norplant: Not for This (Lady) Garden

Here's some history for our readers: 

Not to overuse the plant analogy, but... Norplant was the community garden that fed the women’s reproductive rights movement of the 90s. Its little branches spread only to be torn down by the bulldozer of public criticism. In 1990, the FDA approved the five year contraceptive method of Norplant. The system included 6 small silicone rods that would be implanted into a woman’s arm and slowly release a synthetic form of progesterone. It was reversible, but required a trained medical professional to be properly removed.

  Soon after the pill was introduced, the intrauterine device (IUD) came back onto the market (the IUD originated in the 1920s). Unlike the pill, which was marketed towards married couples, the IUD was marketed towards impoverished women thought to be likely to forget to take the pill and used as population control. The use of the pill by single women was still considered inappropriate in society. Norplant was then marketed by Wyeth-Ayerst towards upper class women who would be willing to pay the steep price of the implant,. This seemed to be an attempt to directly combat the image of ethically and morally questionable use of Norplant as population control for the underclass.

  States began to debate putting Norplant-related mandates in place. The mandates included Norplant as a condition for AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) recipients, probation, imprisonment or as a requirement for women who gave birth to children with fetal alcohol syndrome or drug addiction problems In ‘94, twelve states wanted to put mandates like these in place. This sparked massive debate in activist groups and courts.

  Removing the implant became a huge problem for women as their five years ran out or side effects appeared. Only a few locations had trained nurses and doctors for removal and training was not required to remove the implant. Some women required surgery, suffered scarring or dealt with hours of nurses digging in their arms trying to remove the tubes. Women’s reproductive rights activists pointed out these issues as motivations for women to take choice into their own hands - not rely on health care professionals to make the decisions for them.

  One of the unique and new factors that influenced Norplant was media involvement. Media coverage of the health and moral concerns surrounding Norplant supported movements for class action suits and public dislike for the product. By the end of the 20th century, Norplant was no longer commercially available.

  Norplant may have failed commercially, but it’s story shows a dramatic change in women’s reproductive rights. Conversation concerning birth control moved from population control to women’s individual control of their choices. The modern weighing of pros and cons by each women when choosing birth control developed as Norplant died.

  Sources: Watkins, Elizabeth Siegel. “From Breakthrough to Bust: The Brief Life of Norplant, the Contraceptive Implant.” Journal of Women's History, Volume 22, Number 3. The Johns Hopkins University Press. 2010. Print.

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History of the Pill…Or, Ovu-later!

How do you connect an activist, an heir to family fortune, a biologist and a catholic doctor? The search for a birth control pill.

  Margaret Sanger was an activist who pushed for the birth control pill in a time when women were married by the time they were 19 and spent the rest of their lives having children. Sanger pushed for the legalization of contraceptives in the United States and formed organizations which would lead to the development of Planned Parenthood. She felt that women could be equals in society but needed to be able to choose when to have children.

  Sanger found Gregory Pincus, a biologist who developed the pill to stop ovulation, but they needed funding for the project. Katherine McCormick was one of the first women to get a degree from MIT and, after her husband was diagnosed with Schizophrenia, wanted to be able to choose to not have children and funded the project for the pill. Later, John Rock would join the movement. Rock was unique because he was a Catholic doctor, but disagreed that Catholic doctrine prohibited contraception. He would become the first doctor to prescribe the pill and became “the face of the pill.”

  The pill was first test in Puerto Rico during the 1950s, as contraceptives were still illegal in the US. Women were given the pill without much information, but the tests were successful, the pill stopped ovulation. The problems came later - as complaints of side effects from the women were ignored, along with two deaths.

  In 1960, the pill was legalized by the FDA in the USA. By the late ‘60s, complaints of the side effects were rampant - ranging from extreme pains to cancer. In 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson held a senate hearing, but with no women present. Activists flooded the hearing, disrupting the hearing with complaints about the lack of disclosure from the FDA and doctors.

  The pill did what Sanger predicted - women became more equal in society. More women entered the workforce as education increased and companies hired women without fear of losing them to pregnancy. The relationship between women and their doctors changed too. Doctors were no longer “father figures,” women started asking questions and told doctors what they wanted directed. The FDA also started requiring warning labels on medications and the dosages (initially very high) of birth control decreased.

  The debates about birth control still continues. Do the risks of birth control outweigh the benefits? Does birth control encourage young women to have sex? Should birth control be universally available? Is birth control ethically sound?

  What do you think?

  Source (and for more information): The Pill. Dir. Chana Gazit. PBS Video, 2003. 

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Just another WordPress site

Amazing site that breaks down popular current generic and name-brand pills available on the market today. 

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"Cause Now I've Got the Pill"

17% of women in the US who use contraception use a daily birth control pill, also called “the pill” or “oral contraception.” So, how much do you know about the pill?

  There are two types of pills: combination pills (containing estrogen and progestin) and progestin-only pills (sometimes called Mini Pills). The pills are made of hormones which prevent ovulation - they stop eggs from leaving the ovaries. Cervical mucus is also thickened, stopping sperm from reaching the eggs.

  Some of the potential benefits include reduced menstrual cramps, lighter and protection against acne, bone thinning, non-cancerous breast growths, bad cramps, irregular periods, etc.

  Some side effects include hormone changes, bleeding between periods, breast tenderness and nausea. You may have to try more than one type of pill before you find one that comfortably works for you! If you have any serious side effects - contact a health provider immediately.

  Less than 1 in 100 women will get pregnant each year if they take the pill every day as directed. About 9 in 100 women will get pregnant every year if they don’t take the pill each day. Progestin-only pills, specifically, have to be taken at the same time every day.

  Cost: $0 - $50 per month

  The Pill DOES NOT prevent the spread of STIs. Use a condom to reduce the risk of infection!! Some medication and health conditions may reduce the effectiveness of the pill - so talk to your doctor!!

(For your pill-taking listening pleasure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DcdONaKSQM)

Source: 

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-info/birth-control/birth-control-pill

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_contr_use.html

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An example of the Mirena IUD inserted correctly inside of the uterus (note: Mirena contains small, locally-delivered hormones)

Source:  http://www.mirena-us.com/images/img-popup_uterus-diagram.png

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IU-What? All About IUDs

An intrauterine device (IUD) is a safe, long lasting and effective (in fact, the most effective, besides sterilization) method of birth control for women. About 4% of women using contraception in the US use an IUD. There are two types available in the US: the copper IUD (ParaGard – effective for 12 years) and the hormonal IUD (Mirena – effective for 5 years, Skyla – effective for 3 years).

The small, t-shaped device made of flexible plastic is inserted into a women’s uterus. Hormonal IUDs affect the way sperm move, preventing from joining with an egg. The IUDs also release progestin, causing a woman’s cervical mucus to thicken, which blocks sperm from joining with an egg. Some may also prevent the egg from leaving the ovary.

Less than 1 out of 100 get pregnant each year if they use an IUD. The ParaGard IUD can also work as emergency birth control, reducing the risk of pregnancy by 99.9% – but it has to be taken within 5 days after having unprotected sex.

Some other benefits:

-        Nothing needs to be put in place before having sex to prevent pregnancy

-        The ParaGard IUD does not impact a woman’s hormone levels

-        Hormonal IUDs can reduce menstrual flow and period cramps

-        IUDs can be used during breast feeding

-        IUDs are reversible. The ability to become pregnant returns quickly after removing the IUD

Some common side effects include mild pain during and after insertion of the IUD and spotting or irregular periods for the first 3 to 6 months. Make sure to research and talk to your doctor as always about your IUD to prevent any unforeseen complications!

  Cost ranges between $0 and $1,000 up front. Talk to your doctor about your options!

Sources:

 http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-info/birth-control/iud

http://www.mirena-us.com

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_contr_use.html

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What is A Reproductive Technology?

"Reproductive technology encompasses all current and anticipated uses of technology in human and animal reproduction, including assisted reproductive technology, contraception and others."-Wikipedia 2014

While "technology" can seem like too dramatic of a word to apply to, say, a condom, all items used to inhibit or aid in all aspects of reproduction are considered part of the technology. This extends past contraception to items like sex toys and lubricants. 

More invasive and advanced are the technologies like IUDS, which require placement by a gynecologist. Additionally, fertility treatments, sterilization, and gene manipulation of embryos. 

Sources: 

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reproductive_technology

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Laverne Cox named a Woman of the Year by Glamour magazine

2014 has truly been the year of Laverne Cox. Adding to her many successes and recognitions, Glamour magazine has named the actress to its list of Women of the Year.

Katie Couric provided the one-sentence summary of why Glamour picked Cox for its all-star lineup:

"Her unparalleled candor, courage, and eloquence have helped us understand a community that is far too often misunderstood. She teaches us that gender identity lives, first and foremost, in our hearts and minds." 

Glamour’s profile of Cox gives us a glimpse into her life before and after Orange Is The New Black. She says before she was cast as the now iconic Sophia Burset, she “played hookers a lot” because that’s what was available to trans actors. But since bringing the role of Sophia to life, both her character and Laverne herself have done incredible things for trans visibility and representation.

Cox’s empathetic portrayal of Sophia has made her the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy—and landed her on the cover of Time magazine. She’s met Barack Obama (“I thanked him for everything his administration has done for the trans community, which is a lot—more than any other president”). She’s producing a documentary on CeCe McDonald, a transgender woman who, after defending herself from an attack, spent 19 months imprisoned for second-degree murder, and a documentary for MTV. And she’s giving speeches nationwide too. “I always knew when I got a public platform, it was part of my job to educate people,” Cox says. “Being famous to just wear lovely clothes—which I do love doing—that’s not for me.”

What is for Cox is a breed of advocacy that is rooted in human connection: “When we get to know people as people, then all the misconceptions that we might have about folks who are different from us get knocked away,” she says. “And I think that’s what’s happening with this character. So much of the year I’ve had is historic, but this is a moment that is bigger than me. I meet people who say that my role has given them the courage to say, ‘This is who I am,’ and, ‘I can transition and be successful and be out as a trans person,’” says Cox, who keeps a daily list of what she’s grateful for. “We have this internal compass of the truth inside of us. And that is our job, really, to quiet all this noise around us and listen to that.”

I am forever in awe of this woman. She deserves this in every way.